84th Thessaloniki International Fair – The colourful exhibition

The most important exhibition event in Greece, and one of the most important B2B, B2C and B2G events in Southeastern Europe, the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), will be held on 7-15 September 2019. TIF’s 84th edition will feature 1500 exhibitors from Greece and abroad, promoting a huge variety of Greek and foreign traditional and modern products and services, with a special focus on startup companies.

TIF fosters entrepreneurship and innovation, promoting Greek economy as well as international trade cooperation, especially in the wider region of Southeast Europe. Visitors are also introduced to some of the most interesting markets of the global economy, through the institution of the Honoured Country. For the 83rd TIF, this country was the USA, while this year’s Honoured Country is India, a rapidly growing economic and investment superpower and one of the world’s largest markets.

As Kyriakos Pozrikidis, CEO of TIF-Helexpo SA, told ANA-MPA, the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair will showcase the “New India”, a country of Bollywood and pashminas but also technology, aerospace and high-tech companies. High technology, innovation, agriculture and tourism are some of the fields of common interest between India and Greece. Greek exports to India will be discussed by representatives of bilateral trade support agencies, investment and export companies experienced in the market of the honoured country.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy Indian cuisine, traditional dances and music –including a Kathakali recital organised by the Indian Embassy- and a three-day tribute to Indian cinema, with a focus on women’s place in India. Additionally, MOMus-Museum of Contemporary Art will host the group exhibition “Brief Parables of Dystopia” featuring paintings, sculptures and videos by contemporary Indian artists, which will take place on 7-22 September 2019.

The International Exhibition & Congress Centre of TIF HELEXPO, distributed into a complex of 17 pavilions, hosts the main events and exhibitions of the Fair. Unity sections cover vast areas such as Energy (high-tech photovoltaic systems, environmental technologies and waste management), Education and career opportunities (featuring state universities, private colleges and technological institutions), “Greece and Entrepreneurship” (featuring more than 400 Greek businesses, organisations and government agencies) and the “Gastronomy Corner” (featuring traditional and innovative products from around Greece).

The “Digital Greece” section was introduced last year, with the aim of promoting innovative entrepreneurship. This year’s event, an initiative of the Ministry of Digital Governance and TIF-Helexpo, in collaboration with Industry Disruptors – Game Changers, will map the country’s digital ecosystem, presenting startups and scaleups, company structures supporting young entrepreneurs, universities and research centers. Workshops, lectures and discussions will highlight emerging trends and dynamics, as well as opportunities arising in the specific business sector.

Also, the 84th TIF will host Salonica Cannabis Expo 2019, an exhibition promoting products and innovations, and presenting the latest advancements in the medical, pharmaceutical and industrial use of cannabis. The event also provides investment opportunities, bringing visitors in contact with foreign companies with years of experience in the hemp market. This is of particular interest in light of Greece’s latest efforts to promote its nascent cannabis economy.

A number of side events are hosted during the TIF, aiming to present products, services and innovative ideas; these include symposiums, workshops, discussions and shows. Some examples are the interdisciplinary event ReBrain Greece, an initiative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the USA Talks & Events, a series of lectures and events related to various areas of innovation and business organised by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce and the US Embassy in Greece.

Other events include the 52nd Rally – TIF, one of the most historic and exciting rally races in Greece held by the Thessaloniki Automobile Club, as well as a number of music concerts featuring some of Greece’s most popular contemporary artists.

N.M. (Photos from TIF-HELEXPO official site)