The 5pEXPO 2016 Forum is an important event for professionals in the trade show industry

From June 6 to 8 Expocentre Fairgrounds hosted the 9th International Forum of the Exhibition Industry 5pEXPO 2016. This joint project of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Expocentre AO was a key networking platform for Russian and foreign specialists in the trade show, convention, and event industries.

5pEXPO 2016 was supported by the Russian Ministry of Industry of Industry and Trade and the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs (RUEF). The general contractor was Expoconsta OOO.

The Forum participants were representatives from all areas of the trade show and convention business and event industry as well as authorities, chambers of commerce and industry, industry associations, business community and foreign associates. They discussed the most relevant topics and issues connected with the development of the exhibition industry and solved the challenges it faced in the current tough conditions.   

This year the 9th International Forum of the Exhibition Industry 5pEXPO 2016 was co-located with the 6th Russian Conference on Effectiveness of Exhibition, Fair, and Congress Activities and Promotion of Russia-Made Products and Services to Domestic and Foreign Markets on the eve of the Global Exhibitions Day announced by UFI and celebrated on the 8th of June all around the world.

The forum and the conference were Russia's main events timed to the new professional holiday.

The participants in the official opening ceremony of the forum and the conference were President of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, President of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs, Vice President of ExpoForum International Sergey Alexeev, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vladimir Dmitriev, General Director of World Trade Center Vladimir Strashko, and General Director of Expocentre AO Sergey Bednov.

Sergey Alexeev said that 85 major trade shows were held daily. The floor space of trade show centres equals to 30,000 pitches. The annual visitor attendance amounts to 260 million people. The trade show industry involves 700 thousand employees. Some people call the trade show industry "an implied giant".

The conference and the forum programs featured round tables and seminars.

The noticeable associated events were presentation of the opportunities provided by KAZAN EXPO International Exhibition Centre and EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre as a multifunctional arena for sporting and other events.

An integral part of the 5pEXPO Forum was the show of technology and equipment, design and services expoPRODUCT. It is Russia's only project set up to put forward new ideas and technology for the trade show business and event industry.

This year the trade show attracted 94 companies from Russia, Germany and Belarus. The stands occupied the area of more than 2,000 sq m. The number of visitors exceeded 3,000 people.

The project participants were major trade show companies such as Restec, Euroexpo, World Trade Center, ExpoGlobal Group, Negus Expo International, Expolink, the Belgorod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and BESTLY.

Representatives of the largest European trade show companies such as Messe Dusseldorf, Messe Frankfurt Rus, SYBA Messebau GmbH (Germany) also participated in the trade show.

The Exhibiting Ekaterinburg group stand provided information about the Ekaterinburg-EXPO International Exhibition Center, Ekaterinburg Convention Bureau and a number of the Urals trade show companies.

The visitors and participants were greatly interested in the stands of the new international fairgounds in the Republic of Tatarstan KAZAN EXPO and the trade show company of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Belinterexpo. Newcomers to the trade show took an active part as well e.g., the Expo Event Hall multifunctional exhibition center from Voronezh, Org-Expo Group engaged in the construction and design of stands, and Altervia, a provider of industrial fittings.

The trade show was divided into salons. The Exhibition and Congresses. Exhibition and Event Services Salon showcased the stands of exhibition operators involved in organization of trade shows, fairs, corporate, and other events. They demonstated interactive technologies, lighting, audio and video equipment, advertising and marketing services.

The participants in the Expostand Salon were companies engaged in design and construction of exhibition stands, portable stands, prefabricated constructions, equipment, materials, floor coatings, etc.

On the last day of the 5pEXPO 2016 Forum the results of the Expodesign 2016 competition were summarized. Its aim was to demonstrate innovative design, promising trends and materials in design and construction of exhibition stands. The competition was organized by Professional Club Hi-Design non-profit partnership and Expoconsta OOO and supported by Expocentre AO.

The competitors were 22 companies, among them stand constructors, creative departments of advertising agencies, architectural and design bureaus, designers, artists, and students. They presented 198 projects.

The final display of competitors' works was arranged at the 5pEXPO trade show.

The Commission selected the best design and technology solutions for exhibition stands and highlighted the works of some students and young designers.

In the Stand Exclusive category the 1st prize was awarded to 4 Vida, the 2nd prize - to Sol Lab, the 3rd prize - to Expo Global Group.

In the Project Exclusive category the 1st prize was given to 4 Vida, the 2nd prize - to Interform Design, the 3rd prize - to Dart Expo.

In the Functional category the 1st prize was presented to Rasko Expo, 2nd prize - to Interform Design, the 3rd prize - to 4 Vida.

In the Art Stands category the 1st prize was awarded to Expo Global Group, 2nd prize - to Sol Lab, the 3rd prize - to Rasko Expo.

In the 5p expo category the 1st prize was given to Negus Expo, 2nd prize - to Global Events, the 3rd prize - to 4 Vida.

According to the organizers, participants and trade visitors, useful networking and exchange of opinions and best practices at the forum and the conference once again demonstrated their relevance for the industry professionals and consumers of exhibition services and fully met their expectations.