It was a dynamic and productive three-day expo weekend for Thessaloniki from 18 to 20 November, with the hosting of Philoxenia, Hotelia, and the new kid on the block, Real Estate Expo North. In total, of 24,153 people visited the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre to learn about the most recent developments in tourism, hotel equipment, catering and coffee-catering, as well as real estate.

Thessaloniki’s classic expo duo attracted the interest of the tourism sector, while it sent out a message of optimism regarding Greek tourism, with a number of institutional agencies, tourism enterprises, enchanting destinations, and local authority representatives in attendance. Present at the two expos were 350 exhibitors from 18 countries, 115 hosted buyers from 35 countries, and a 158-member business delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan, coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Erbil.

Exhibitors and visitors were in agreement with regard to the high-quality upgrade of the exhibition result and in the opportunities for making trade contacts. In fact, more than 3500 meeting between exhibitors and hosted buyers from 32 countries were held during the expos. The wealth of side events organised by important tourism agencies and exhibitors filled all the halls of the exhibition centre, imbuing the two events with a particularly lively atmosphere, while also highlighting their educational character.

Exhibitor response to Philoxenia was very positive, and they were very satisfied from their contacts with the hosted buyers and other trade visitors of the major exhibition event. There was also increased traffic in all visitor categories, Greek and foreign, while this year’s Philoxenia lived up to its name as an “International” event, with direct exhibitors from 17 countries and several state participations.

Philoxenia’s Honoured Country was Armenia and the Honoured Region was the municipality of Heraklion, Crete, while other participants included the Deputy Ministry of Tourism of Cyprus, the Tourism Organisation of Armenia, the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria, and the Tourism Organisation of Serbia. There was also a dynamic presence by the Ministry of Tourism, EOT (which has both trade fairs under its auspices), and the most important institutional bodies of the sector — XEE (Hellenic Chamber of Hotels), SETE (Greek Tourism Confederation), HATTA (Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies), POX (Hellenic Hoteliers Federation), and SETKE (Greek Confederation of Tourist Accommodation Enterprises) — which have placed the expo under their auspices. Philoxenia was sponsored by EPSILON HOSPITALITY.

Philoxenia’s well-established conference was also a glowing success. This year it focused on sports tourism and its growth prospects, opportunities for Greece from organising major sports events, and the creation of the right infrastructure. The proceedings were attended by large numbers of people, while distinguished speakers shared their knowledge with the public. Fraport Greece was the Hospitality Sponsor of the conference.

The Hotelia hotel equipment exhibition attracted many visitors and garnered significant interest. In fact, the All About Gastronomy and All About Café thematic units were sold out.

More specifically, All About Gastronomy’s gastronomy events, organised by Chef Stories, were dedicated to the dynamism of Greek products, which incorporate the values of tradition, authenticity, quality, and flavour, and provide added value to Greek hospitality. This year’s theme, ‘My Local Greek Choice’, was presented at 8 events, with 400 visitors, and through 16 dishes prepared by Chef Giorgos Psyllos and his team, using exceptional products from 11 award-winning producers, all served in a unique dining area. Furthermore, global gastronomy trends that were reinforced during the pandemic were also presented, such as the interest in foods with a high nutritional value and a local identity. At one of the presentations there was a special tribute to Cretan gastronomy, given that the municipality of Heraklion was Philoxenia’s Honoured Region. In fact, students from the Culinary and Hotel Departments of Thessaloniki’s IEK DELTA 360⁰ schools gave the events a youthful character.

All About Café was organised by Valenio and attracted high numbers, mainly of professionals, who came specifically for information, highly interested in forming new partnerships. Furthermore, there were many visitors who wanted to try the products and learn about new coffee-catering trends. Regular consumers attending the expo were excited with the options and new coffee varieties. The seminars that were open to the public were also very popular, as the audience was given the opportunity to learn about coffee developments from established professionals. But it was the Latte Art Throw Down 2022 competition that stole the show, providing Baristi with the opportunity to be tested and have their skills evaluated in a friendly environment.

Barista’s Gold by Nounou was the Grand Sponsor at All About Café and Eurogat was the Equipment Sponsor.

Lastly, Real Estate Expo North, organised by RM International in partnership with TIF-Helexpo, attracted enterprises from the realty and construction sector, setting the bar high as regards visitor numbers from its very first event in Thessaloniki. In fact, it was visited by, among others, 30 international investors from Dubai, Hong Kong, Germany, the Netherlands, Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel, as part of a business delegation formed by the organising company. Also, an event was held in the framework of Real Estate Expo North to celebrate the centenary of operation of the Realtors Association of Thessaloniki.

24/11/2022 – 12:34

Μία από τις μεγαλύτερες εκθέσεις του πρωτογενούς τομέα στη Νοτιοανατολική Ευρώπη, η 12η Διεθνής Έκθεση για την Κτηνοτροφία και Πτηνοτροφία, «Zootechnia», θα πραγματοποιηθεί από τις 2-5 Φεβρουαρίου 2023 στο Διεθνές Εκθεσιακό Κέντρο Θεσσαλονίκης.

Η Zootechnia θα αποτελέσει σημείο αναφοράς για όλες τις νέες εξελίξεις στην κτηνοτροφία και στην πτηνοτροφία, προσφέροντας το απαραίτητο πεδίο για τη διενέργεια B2C και B2B συναντήσεων.

Η έκθεση είναι η μοναδική εξειδικευμένη διοργάνωση στον τομέα των παραγωγικών ζώων στην Ελλάδα και στα Βαλκάνια. Παρούσες θα είναι όλες οι μεγάλες επιχειρήσεις της κτηνοτροφίας-πτηνοτροφίας, οι οποίες και θα ενημερώσουν τους επισκέπτες για τις δυνατότητες εκσυγχρονισμού και αναβάθμισης της παραγωγής τους.

Η Zootechnia πλαισιώνεται και από ένα πλούσιο πρόγραμμα παράλληλων εκδηλώσεων, μεταξύ των οποίων ξεχωρίζουν το Pet Festival -έκθεση ζώων συντροφιάς και ζωοφιλίας- και το Σαλόνι Αλόγου, που αποτελεί ένα αφιέρωμα σε φυλές αλόγων.

Ακόμη θα πραγματοποιηθεί το 7ο Πανελλήνιο Συνέδριο για το κρέας και τα προϊόντα του, ενώ το Εργαστήριο Ζωοτεχνίας και το Εργαστήριο Διατροφής του Τµήµατος Κτηνιατρικής της Σχολής Επιστηµών Υγείας του ΑΠΘ, με την υποστήριξη της ΔΕΘ-Helexpo, θα αναδείξουν το ελληνικό αυγό µέσα από την µακρόχρονη ερευνητική τους εµπειρία στην ανάπτυξη καινοτόµων προϊόντων αυγού και στην υιοθέτηση ορθών πρακτικών εκτροφής.

24/11/2022 – 11:22

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The Philoxenia and Hotelia trade fairs will open on 18 November and last until 20 November, with 335 exhibitors from 18 countries, 115 hosted buyers from 35 countries, a 158-member business delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce of Erbil, 3500 planned business meetings, and a number of side events. During the same period, TIF-Helexpo will welcome Real Estate Expo North to the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre. The Expo is here to cover all the real estate investment needs of northern Greece and it is being co-organised by RM International.

The Honoured Country at this year’s Philoxenia is Armenia and the Honoured Region is the Municipality of Heraklion, Crete. There will be 235 exhibitors participating, while 97% of the hosted buyers have never attended the expo before. In fact, following the conclusion of this year’s event there will be three fam trips for the hosted buyers, organised in collaboration with the Region of Eastern Macedonia-Thrace, the Municipality of Epidaurus, and the Chamber of Commerce of Kilkis. Also participating in the tourism expo are the Deputy Ministry of Tourism of Cyprus, the Tourism Organisation of Armenia, the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria, and the Tourism Organisation of Serbia. EPSILON HOSPITALITY is sponsoring Philoxenia.

Philoxenia will be framed by a wealth of side events with thematic presentations and colloquiums. The Philoxenia Congress stands out among these side events, as this year it will be focusing on sports tourism, and its good practices and development opportunities on an economic and tourism level. The Congress is sponsored by Fraport and will be held on 19 November at Pavilion 14. The opening speech will be made by Minister of

Tourism Vassilis Kikilias, while established speakers will also be participating.

The Ministry of Tourism, EOT (which has both trade fairs under its auspices) and the most important institutional bodies of the sector — XEE (Hellenic Chamber of Hotels), SETE (Greek Tourism Confederation), HATTA (Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies), POX (Hellenic Hoteliers Federation), and SETKE (Greek Confederation of Tourist Accommodation Enterprises), which have placed the Expo under their auspices — will also be participating in Philoxenia.

Meanwhile, TIF-Helexpo in partnership with the Greek Instagrammers Events team invited photographers of all levels (professionals and amateurs) to submit their photographs to participate in the open competition on the subject of ‘Philoxenia & Travel’. The goal of the competition was to create a group photo exhibition that would highlight Greece as a beautiful and hospitable travel destination, and a total of 87 photographers participated. Alongside the exhibitions, the largest job fair in Greece will be held at the I. Vellidis Congress Centre, where meetings and job interviews will be held for tourism positions throughout the country.

Hotelia is also being held at the same time as Philoxenia. Hotelia is the trade fair that presents the very latest in the sectors of hotel, restaurant, and café equipment, and this year it has attracted 100 exhibitors.

Hotelia’s side events include the following: a. All About Gastronomy (curated by Chef Stories) will present events with special tastes and ideas, unique product combinations, and award-winning producers, who will add to the knowledge of all interested professionals. During the 3 days of the Expo, the special dining area table in pavilion 9 will host master-classes, presenting tasty, high-quality, low-energy footprint local products from various parts of Greece in unique combinations, as part of the ‘My Local Greek Choice’ theme, and b. All About Café, an event dedicated to the art of creating coffee, with workshops and the unique Latte Art ThrowDown Competition. Distinguished baristas and roasters will impress with their techniques and skills, and, through a series of seminars and presentations, they will reveal their aromatic coffee “recipes” to sector professionals and coffee lovers at Pavilion 12, with Barista’s Gold by Nounou as the Grand Sponsor and Eurogat as the Equipment Sponsor.

The Press conference

The heart of tourism will be beating in Thessaloniki from 18 to 20 November, according to the statements of President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas, at today’s Press conference on the upcoming events of the national exhibition agency, while he characterised the Philoxenia-Hotelia trade fair duo as the most important tourism event in Greece, while he welcomed Real Estate Expo North to Thessaloniki.

On his side, the exhibition agency’s CEO, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, underlined the internationalisation of the two trade fairs and the significant interest of the more than 115 hosted buyers from 35 countries.

Philoxenia, with its many years of experience, is now facing a much better prepared tourism environment in Thessaloniki, noted the mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr Konstantinos Zervas, who pointed out that after two difficult years, Thessaloniki is now sold out and every month is its best month.

Philoxenia already has a strong brand name and it keeps getting stronger every year, according to the President of the Tourism Organisation of Thessaloniki, Ms Voula Patoulidou, who noted that the popularity of TIF-Helexpo trade fairs has improved drastically.

It is the first time that Armenia has been named Honoured Country at an expo in Greece, as mentioned by the honorary consul of the Republic of Armenia, Mr Takis T. Dagazian, who characterised the event as a landmark in the relationship between the two countries, while he noted that there is still room for their further improvement.

The municipality of Heraklion chose Philoxenia as the first expo in which to present its renewed tourism product, as explained by the deputy mayor of developmental programming-digital transformation, integrated rural development, and tourism, Mr Giorgos Sisamakis. In fact, he stressed that besides this promotion, the municipality will put forward the experience of Heraklion and Crete in general through its presence at the expo. He also made it known that a major municipality delegation should be expected at Philoxenia.

The desire of hoteliers for Thessaloniki to level up in the future was expressed by the president of the Thessaloniki Hotels Association, Mr Andreas Mandrinos.

More than 50 international investors will attend Real Estate Expo North, according to the CEO of RM International, the co-organiser of the real estate expo, Mr Kostis Moschonas. He noted that Thessaloniki’s geographic location and its relationship with the Balkans are significant factors in developing the region’s real estate marker.

Philoxenia selected the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau (TCB) to present the Greek Meetings Alliance, a strategic alliance it has made with This is Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau and HAPCO, as stated by TCB president, Mr Giannis Aslanis, who noted that MICE development is an important opportunity for tourism and local economies.

The general director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, highlighted the dynamism with which the national body will continue its exhibition activities.

Lastly, Mr Valantis Lambrianidis of the Valenio company referred to All About Café to be hosted by Hotelia, which will present the evolution of coffee through events, seminars, and competitions. Ms Sylvia Koumentaki from Chef Stories spoke of seven different master classes, and one additional master class dedicated to the municipality of Heraklion, which will be held in the context of All About Gastronomy, Hotelia’s thematic section.

Thessaloniki was characterised as a top real estate investment destination by President of the Realtors Association of Thessaloniki, Mr Konstantinos Tzaros, who expressed his satisfaction with the organising of Real Estate North in Thessaloniki.

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16/11/2022 – 16:58

KOSMIMA and Art Thessaloniki bring culture to the heart of the city

The Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre is hosting six events in just four days, proving its multidimensional character, which will combine everything from culture and jewellery, to recreation and education. KOSMIMA, Art Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Boat & Fishing Show 2022, Pharma Point, ‘Crete. The great meeting’, and the thematic exhibition titled ‘Is there a solution for everything? A Journey into the World of Ancient Greek Mathematics’ will all be running concurrently.

More specifically, from 3 to 6 November TIF-Helexpo is co-organising with Mr Pantelis Tsatsis the 6th Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Fair, the established Greek and international art gallery exhibition. The Honoured Artist at this year’s Art Thessaloniki will be George Zongolopoulos, while in the context of the side events it will also be hosting the exhibition, Multimedia project of the OSTEN Museum of Drawing, ‘Dreams & Reality – four stories of Escapism’, by internationally renowned artists Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, who are sending their own loud message against the war in Ukraine through their work. Furthermore, for the third consecutive year the Cultural Association of Entrepreneurs of Northern Greece, in partnership with Art Thessaloniki, is organising the MATAROA awards, selecting 10 young artists up to the age of 33, who will have the opportunity to exhibit their work in individual pavilions. This year’s event will also be attended by the ‘Konstantinos Xenakis Art Gallery’ Museum of Contemporary Art.

The 36th KOSMIMA International Exhibition for Jewellery, Clocks and Watches, Precious Stones, Machinery and Equipment will commence two days after the opening of Art Thessaloniki. KOSMIMA will operate from 5 to 7 November, highlighting Greek jewellery. This year’s event has attracted an increased number of participations, while, besides the significant domestic interest from the sector’s largest enterprises, there are also international participations from Turkey, the USA, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Italy.

The pieces of the 33rd Panhellenic Jewellery Design Competition will also be presented in the framework of KOSMIMA. The subject of the Competition is ‘1922-2022: Asia Minor and Greek Jewellery 100 years later’ and it is being organised by the Panhellenic Federation of Silver- and Goldsmiths, Jewellers and Watchmakers (POVAKO) in partnership with TIF-Helexpo.

At the same time, two third-party organiser exhibitions will also be hosted at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre: Thessaloniki Boat & Fishing Show 2022, to be held from 4 to 6 November with 120 exhibitors, as well as Pharma Point on 5 and 6 November.

Meanwhile, for the first time in three years TIF-Helexpo is welcoming a unique theme park to the Exhibition Centre: ‘Is there a solution for everything? A Journey into the World of Ancient Greek Mathematics’ will open on 5 November and will continue until 30 March 2023. Placebo Events is presenting for the first time in Thessaloniki the emblematic exhibition of the Foundation of the Hellenic World, which will review the history of mathematics and — in an educational, interactive, and entertaining way — highlight how mathematics can be interesting, pleasant, and comprehensible.

Also underway at the YMCA Gate will be the exhibition of Cretan products and Greek tastes titled ‘Crete. The great meeting’, which will end on November 6.

The Press conference

The existence of the Fair is a blessing for a city like Thessaloniki, stressed the President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas, at the press conference today, underlining its benefits for the local economy and its contribution to organising and hosting side events on a variety of subjects, and of various forms and sizes.

In turn, president of POVAKO, Mr Petros Kalpakidis, noted that KOSMIMA is back, stronger than ever, while he had very encouraging messages about its traffic. In fact, he called upon people to purchase Greek jewellery this holiday season, while he also announced that the tourist season went very well for the sector, as there was a lot of interest in making purchases, as well as actual purchases made.

The Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre will be a park of culture and recreation over the weekend, according to the CEO of TIF-Helexpo CEO, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, who noted that KOSMIMA will be held in pavilion 6, Art Thessaloniki in pavilions 10 and 9, the thematic exhibition on mathematics in pavilion 1, Fish and Boat in pavilion 13, Pharma Point in the ‘I. Vellidis’ Congress Centre, and the Cretan product expo at the YMCA Gate, all at the same time. He also stressed that the exhibition agency will continue dynamically until the end of the year.

The 6th Art Thessaloniki event is back with a very strong programme, as noted by the event’s artistic director, Mr Pantelis Tsatsis, who underlined how balance was achieved between Greek and international participations at this year’s event.

The press conference was also attended by Ms Kornelija Koneska, director of Osten museum in Skopje, through which the museum multimedia exhibition of Ilya and Emilia Kabakov will come to Art Thessaloniki. In fact, a video message from Emilia Kabakov was played during the press conference.

With respect to the thematic exhibition ‘Is there a solution to everything? A Journey into the World of Ancient Greek Mathematics’, Mr Vasilis Zarkadoulias of Placebo Events thanked TIF-Helexpo for the hospitality and the opportunity of reviving a project that was operating and packed for 8 years in Athens. He also announced that the exhibition has been adapted to 2022 and enriched with digital projections and 3D depictions, while it also includes 8 stops, at each of which four to five experiments will be held.

The General Director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, referred to the important role of the Exhibition Centre to the heart of the city, while he stressed that it can also host smaller, but equally important exhibition events, which could not be held outside the city centre.

03/11/2022 – 20:01

The 29th Agrotica International Fair for Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies was the focus of the agricultural world of Greece and the broader Balkan region. It welcomed 113,850 visitors from 20 to 23 October at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

Centred around the mechanisation of agriculture, innovation, and high technology in agricultural production, this year’s Agrotica, following the pandemic, once again laid out the main priorities of the primary sector on an international level.

At the same time, the event created a number of benefits for Thessaloniki, its enterprises, and the local economy, by hosting thousands of exhibitors and many tens of thousands of visitors.

Agrotica attracted 1650 exhibitors from 49 countries, and welcomed both individual hosted buyers and business delegations from 15 countries. More specifically, this year’s event was visited by individual hosted buyers from 12 countries (Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates), groups from Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria, and two business delegations fro Iraqi Kurdistan; specifically, one business delegation from the region of Sulaymaniyah and another from Erbil, coordinated by the local Chamber of Commerce.

There was also a rich programme of side events with specialised conferences and colloquiums outlining the latest developments in agricultural production.

The 9th AGROTICA Panhellenic Conference was of critical importance among side events. It featured scientists, entrepreneurs, technocrats, academics, agronomists, and others, who highlighted all the critical issues facing agriculture. The 9th Panhellenic Conference on ‘New technologies as a driver for sustainable growth in Agriculture’ was held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October at the ‘N. Germanos’ Congress Centre, while it that have co-organised by the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Environment of AUTH. Other events held in the context of the event included ‘Producers-Agrotechnology-Bioeconomy in digital transformation’, which was co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the Institute of Bio-Economy and Agro-Technology (iBo)/CERTH, as well as the colloquium organised by TIF-Helexpo and Alegre Growshop on pharmaceutical cannabis.

The 29th Agrotica was organised with the support of the Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery (EKAGEM), the Machinery Importers’ – Representatives’ Association (SEAM), and the Association of Fertiliser Producers and Traders (SPEL), while it was placed under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, and the Ministry of the Interior (Macedonia Thrace).

02/11/2022 – 12:12

1650 exhibitors from 49 countries  The entire spectrum of agricultural enterprise  at this year’s event,  from 20 to 23 October

The Agrotica Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies Trade Fair is back with a sold out event, after two years of absence. With 1650 exhibitors from 49 countries, a broad programme of individual hosted buyers and organised business delegations from a total of 15 countries, and the entire business world of the sector, this year’s Agrotica is proving to be one of the largest events in recent years.

The 29th Agrotica, being held from 20 to 23 October, has attracted the overall presence of businesses from the entire spectrum of agricultural production and technology from all over Greece, while participations include the largest companies in the trade and sale of supplies and agricultural machinery, as well as all tractor firms. This year’s event is also welcoming individual hosted buyers from 12 countries (Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates), group visits from Albania, North Macedonia, and Bulgaria, and two business delegations fro Iraqi Kurdistan; specifically, a business delegation from the region of Sulaymaniyah and a business delegation from Erbil, coordinated by the Erbil Chamber of Commerce. At the same time, large organised delegations consisting of many thousands of visitors from all over Greece are expected, as major interest is being expressed in this year’s event by agricultural cooperatives, producer groups, etc.

This year’s event is framed by a rich programme of side events, with the following highlights:

-The 9th Agrotica Panhellenic Conference, with the participation of scientists, entrepreneurs, technocrats, academics, agronomists and many others who will highlight all the critical issues facing agriculture. The Conference on ‘New technologies as a driver for sustainable growth in Agriculture’ will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 October at the ‘N. Germanos’ Congress Centre, while it is co-organised by the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Environment of AUTH.

-The ‘Producers-Agrotechnology-Bioeconomy in digital transformation’ event, which is co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the iBo/CERTH, as well as

-The colloquium organised by TIF-Helexpo and Alegre Growshop on pharmaceutical cannabis, being organised on Friday 21 October in ‘Emilios Riadis’ Hall.

The 29th Agrotica is being held with the support of the Machinery Importers’ – Representatives’ Association (SEAM), the Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery (EKAGEM), and the Association of Fertiliser Producers and Traders (SPEL), while it has been placed under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Ministry of the Interior (Macedonia Thrace).

The opening of the Trade Fair will be held on Thursday 20 October by the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr Giorgos Georgantas.

The opening hours of the exhibition on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday are 10:00 – 19:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, while parking for exhibitors and visitors will be available within the AUTH.

The Press conference

President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas, characterised the 29th event as truly international and one of the best Agrotica events ever, during today’s Press Conference held in view of the opening of the trade fair.

On his side, the CEO of the exhibition agency Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis underlined that Agrotica is completely sold out, stressing that this exhibition has a lot to give to Thessaloniki, both with regard to quantity and quality.

The members of EKAGEM at the 29th Agrotica have covered an area of 6000m2 according to the Association’s president, Mr Panagiotis Fotiadis, who hoped that the farmers find what they need to help them move forward at this year’s event.

In turn, the president of SEAM Mr Savvas Balouktsis noted that the Association continues to embrace the trade show, as 41 of its members are participating, covering more than 40% of the total available area, specifically, 15,185 m. He also stressed that upgrading agricultural equipment is now a strategic choice. According to Mr Balouktsis, the market has recorded a fall of about 42% in 2022.

The president of SPEL Mr Dimitris Rousseas express his satisfaction on the meeting of all stakeholders of the agrifood sector after two years of the pandemic. He also referred to the challenges the sector is currently facing in the the supply chain and in production, and more specifically to the impact of the war in Ukraine.

The general Director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, noted that Agrotica is the largest trade show in Greece from the perspective of combined square metre coverage, exhibitors, and visitors, while he stressed that after the TIF and Beyond, the return of the exhibition agency is now a given.

The head of Agrotica, Mr Vassilis Spyrou, underlined the presence of all fields of the agricultural sector, with particular activity surrounding technology, especially with regards to energy savings.

21/10/2022 – 17:48

More than 200,000 visitors were welcomed by the 86th TIF from 10 to 18 September, in scenes reminiscent of pre-pandemic traffic, confirming that it is indeed the largest exhibition event in Greece. More specifically, there were 212,363 visitors, a number significantly increased in comparison to the 85th TIF, and closer to 2019 levels. The people returned to the TIF, which created an atmosphere of celebration in central Thessaloniki for 9 days, also providing the opportunity for a wealth of business contacts.

The 86th TIF was enhanced both as regards quality and quantity, with almost 1500 exhibitors and 19 international and state participations, including the United Arab Emirates, while 343 businesses attended the event under the umbrella of the Union of Hellenic Chambers and 46 Chambers from all over Greece. The TCCI, the PCT, and the ACCI participated individually.

Pavilion 13 of the United Arab Emirates, this year’s Honoured Country, was a pole of attraction. It was constantly filled with regular visitors who were excitedly attending the side event, as well as entrepreneurs exploring potential partnerships with 65 enterprises and entities of the public and private sector of the UAE. In fact, the number of business meetings between Arab and Greek enterprises exceeded 1000, with the help of the Federation of Greek Industries (SVE). Many of the meetings were held outside the original schedule, indicating the major interest for making business contacts. In fact, several partnerships were achieved with

Greek SMEs during the week. The United Arab Emirates companies participating in the 86th TIF came from the sectors of investment management, energy, foods-beverages, defence, space technology, tourism, shipping, real estate, etc. The head of the delegation was the Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, His Excellency, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri. At the same time there was a wealth of side events by the Honoured Country, with traditional dances, local gastronomy, and falcon hunting presentations, during which the royal falcons made quite an impression.

The Centenary Tribute to the Asia Minor Catastrophe was attended en masse, turning heads with the interactive nature and wealth of the exhibits. In fact, many of the people who visited pavilion 6 were visibly moved. The first section of tribute was the audiovisual homage ‘CENTURY… in Ionia, Thrace, and Pontus’, organised by TIF-Helexpo in partnership with the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece. Historical curating and the collection of archive materials was overseen by alternate professor of Contemporary Balkan History at University of Macedonia, Mr Vlasis Vlasidis, the original music was composed by Mr Giannis Aiolou, and the tribute was overseen-directed-technically composed by N-CODE LLC Audiovisual Productions. TIF-Helexpo came up with the concept and implemented its production. The second section of the tribute explored the periodic exhibition of the Municipality of Thessaloniki titled ‘1922-2022: waves of refugees, amalgams of memory’. The exhibition material was designed by a multi-member, interdisciplinary interaction by museologists, prestigious historians, and external partners.

There was also a lot of traffic at the 9 thematic features of the 86th TIF, which covered a broad range of interests. Greece and Entrepreneurship, Digital Greece, Akademia, Circular Economy, Vehicles – e-mobility, Gastronomy, International Participations, e-politeia, and Furniture-Household Equipment composed a multifaceted exhibition, satisfying business and consumer interests. TIF-Helexpo adopted the FORWARD FOR GREEN slogan at the 86th TIF and it hosted interesting activities and initiatives on recycling in action.

The music events returned to this year’s event and left their mark. Renowned popular artists took to the stage of the TIF and got the crowd going.

The Thessaloniki Helexpo Forum was held for the third time this year in the framework of the 86th TIF, in partnership with bilateral chambers of commerce (the German-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, the Hellenic-Italian Chamber of Thessaloniki, the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development, and the French-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Industry), with the participation of dozens internationally distinguished speakers.

The Official Supporter of the 86th TIF was Papastratos, the Official Air Travel Sponsor was Aegean, the Official Telecommunications Provider was WIND, the Official Bank was the National Bank of Greece, the Official Energy Provider was PPC, the Official IT Partner was Singular Logic, and the Beer of the 86th TIF was ‘NYMFI THESSALONIKIS’.

The Music Event Hospitality Sponsor was Capsis Hotel, the VIP Transportation Sponsor was Limousines VIP Services Greece, the Transportation Sponsor was Drive, and the Catering Sponsor was Samiotakis.

The gold sponsor of the TIF-Helexpo tribute ‘A century… in Ionia, Thrace, and Pontus’, organised in partnership with KEDE, was IPIROTIKI FACILITY SERVICES and it is supported by HAITOGLOU BROS SA.

The TIF was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior (Macedonia – Thrace).

In the coming period TIF-Helexpo will start preparing for the 87th TIF, while it will have organised some of its largest trade fairs by the end of the year.

21/09/2022 – 14:47

Presentation of the preliminary design for the regeneration project

Architect Juan Lucas Young of ‘Sauerbruch Hutton’ characterised the new exhibition and conference centre (ConfEx Park) as an “amazing gift” for Thessaloniki, during today’s presentation of the redevelopment project’s preliminary design. Representatives of the team consisting of Sauerbruch Hutton (Germany), Gustafson Porter + Bowman (UK), and Elena Stavropoulou (Greece) were in Thessaloniki to present the most recent design developments of the redevelopment project.

In the framework of the preliminary design that was prepared from November 2021 to May 2022, and which essentially adapted the initial design to the realities of Thessaloniki and its exhibition needs, the percentage of the area provided for city use rose from the initial provision of 50% to more than 55%, constructed surfaces were reduced by 12%, the logistics were streamlined, traffic between exhibitions was improved, and the volume of the business centre was limited.

As was stressed during the preliminary design presentation, the time schedules of the project are being observed and all the designs will completed during the 2022-2023 two-year period, the tender invitation for the construction of the new exhibition and conference centre will be launched in 2023, and construction work will commence in 2024. In fact, it was underlined that during the works the Fair will not stop operating for a single day. As noted by the president of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas, the opening is estimated to take place in 2026, however a small extension may be necessary, in order to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the Fair. At this stage the file to secure the approval for funding from the European Commission is being prepared. The project will be funded from two sources, public and private funds.

The updated budget of the redevelopment comes to 240 million Euros on the technical side, with a total of 280 million Euros when including unforeseen expenditures.

In reference to the park, the landscape architect of Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Mr Neil Porter, underlined that it was designed to enhance local biodiversity, and to utilise rainwater in the green spaces.

On her side, Elena Stavropoulou of Elena Stavropoulou Architects stressed the catalytic contribution of the team of Greek designers, in soundly completing the preliminary design, while she mentioned that all issues were studied to cover the needs of both the conference centre and of the city of Thessaloniki.

The CEO of TIF-HELEXPO, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, noted that all goals have been achieved, from environmental to architectural, and he characterised the new exhibition and conference centre as an architectural attraction and a joy for the city. The president of the exhibition agency, Mr Tasos Tzikas, made special mention of the excellent, as he characterised it, partnership with the architects-designers throughout this period.

Lastly, the general director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis, underlined the necessity of the project for Thessaloniki.

Vimeo https://vimeo.com/747193474/382339639a

The 3D rendition has been created by the landscape architects of ConfEx Park, Gustafson Porter & Bowman.

09/09/2022 – 18:39

1500 exhibitors, sold out exhibition spaces, and the United Arab Emirates are the Honoured Country with a 400-person delegation

The 86th TIF (10-18 September) is turning out to be one of the best events of the past decade, with exhibitor numbers approaching 1500, sold out exhibition spaces, and the United Arab Emirates as the Honoured Country.

There will be 19 countries participating at the 86th TIF, including the UAE, the USA, Luxembourg, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia, Iran, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Cyprus, Georgia, Romania, India, Nepal, and Egypt.

Forty-six Chambers and 320 businesses will also be attending under the umbrella of the Union of Hellenic Chambers, while the TCCI, the PCT, and the ACCI will be participating individually.

The delegation of the Honoured Country consists of 400 people and 65 very important undertakings and entities from the private and public sector, spearheaded by the sectors of investment management, energy, food-beverages, defence, space technology, tourism, shipping, real estate, and others. The UAE delegation will be led by Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, while there will also be a government delegation from the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Industry and Advanced Technology. The Honoured Country will cover an exhibition space exceeding 4500 sq.m. In fact, the UAE pavilion will host more than 600 meetings between Greek and Arab enterprises, which have been scheduled with the contribution of the Federation of Greek

Industries. There will also be a wealth of side events for the Honoured Country, including daily traditional dance performances, Emirate gastronomy and hospitality events, and folk art and painting exhibitions.

There will be nine thematic sections to the 86th TIF, from entrepreneurship, electromobility-vehicles, and new technologies, to gastronomy, education, and circular economy. In fact, this last section will cover an area of 3000 sq.m., indoors and outdoors, with more than 45 participations. TIF-Helexpo is adopting the FORWARD FOR GREEN slogan, and within the framework of that section is hosting interesting actions and initiatives on recycling in practice.

The 86th TIF will also have a very impressive backdrop, which is one of the largest exhibition constructions in the history of the Exhibition, the centenary tribute to the Asia Minor Catastrophe, which consists of two unique and continuous sections: The audiovisual tribute of TIF-Helexpo in partnership with KEDE (Central Union of Municipalities of Greece), ‘A century… in Ionia, Thrace, and Pontus’, which is the result of a collaboration with the Network of Cities and Communities of the descendants of Greeks from the near East, interactively promoting the historic narrative of the flow of Greek refugees from Asia Minor, Thrace, and Pontus. There will also be the Periodic exhibition of the Municipality of Thessaloniki titled ‘1922-2022: waves of refugees, amalgams of memory’, honouring the centenary since the dramatic events of the Asia Minor Catastrophe with a collection of heirlooms, and archive and photographic material, utilising new technologies.

Among the thematic features of this year’s Fair, Digital Greece stands out. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Digital Governance and TIF-Helexpo. At the same time, the Ministry of Development & Investments is hosting startup companies and development-investment entities at its pavilion. CERN will also be present at pavilion 15, where the audience will have the opportunity to learn about basic research in physics, as well as its applications in medicine.

The highlights of the 86th TIF will include the impressive displays at the pavilion of the Ministry of National Defence and the Armed Forces, with the first ever Rafale fighter aircraft simulator, the new acquisition of the Hellenic Air Force, as well as an F-35 simulator.

Recreation and entertainment will have a special place at the 86th TIF, with a wealth of popular Greek artists performing every day. On Sunday 11 September Paola will take to the stage with Anastasios Rammos, Christina Salti, and Biased Beast, on Monday 12 September the concerts continue with Vassilis Lekkas, on Tuesday 13 September Giorgos Mazonakis will take over, on Wednesday 14 September it’s the turn of the Tsarouchidis brothers, on Thursday 15 September the stage will belong to Giorgos Dalaras with Estudiantina and Aspasia Stratigou, on Friday 16 September it’s time to get the youth going with Dimos Anastasiadis, Demy, and the Kings, on Saturday 17 September Giorgos Sampanis will take over, and the final concert will take place on Sunday 18 September with Vassilis Karas and Katerina Lioliou.

The TIF will also act as the framework of the Thessaloniki Helexpo Forum for the third consecutive year, with thematic panels touching on major economic and developmental issues, to be held in partnership with the joint chambers of Greece.

The Official Supporter of the 86th TIF is Papastratos, the Official Air Travel Sponsor is Aegean, the Official Telecommunications Provider is WIND, the Official Bank is the National Bank of Greece, the Official Energy Provider is PPC, the Official IT Partner is Singular Logic, and the Beer of the 86th TIF is ‘NYMFI THESSALONIKIS’.

The Music Event Hospitality Sponsor is Capsis Hotel, the VIP Transportation Sponsor is Limousines VIP Services Greece, the Transportation Sponsor is Drive, and the Catering Sponsor is Samiotakis.

The gold sponsor of the TIF-Helexpo tribute ‘A century… in Ionia, Thrace, and Pontus’, organised in partnership with KEDE, is

IPIROTIKI FACILITY SERVICES and it is supported by HAITOGLOU BROS SA.

The TIF is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior (Macedonia – Thrace).

The Press conference

“The TIF is back, the city is celebrating once again”, noted the president of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas, during the Press Conference in view of the opening of the 86th TIF, while he stressed that the exhibition spaces are sold out and that this will be one of the best events of the decade. He made specific reference to the participation of the United Arab Emirates as the Honoured Country, noting that this is an opportunity to improve bilateral relationships, which will enter into a period of significant growth after this September.

On his side, the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), Mr Stavros Kalafatis, stressed that the 86th TIF is throwing open its doors in a completely new environment, and that the participation of the United Arab Emirates in this year’s event sends the message that we are broadening and enhancing our relationships with the countries in our extended neighbourhood.

The director of the Department of Trade Promotion of the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, Mr Rashed Al Teneigy, addressed an invitation to the people of Thessaloniki and to the business community to visit pavilion 13 of the UAE, stressing that there is a lot of room for growth in the relationships between the two countries, both on an entrepreneurial and on an investment level. In fact, he pointed out that even outside Fair open hours, the UAE delegation will welcome business contacts. He also thanked the TIF and all Greek partners.

The deputy governor of Thessaloniki Voula Patoulidou wished the 86th TIF every success, stressing that after last year’s general rehearsal, the time has come for us to taste the fruit of our labours.

The mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr Konstantinos Zervas, characterised the TIF the city’s window to the world, stressing that it is an institution, and during periods of crisis institutions are pillars of stability and growth. In reference to this year’s Honoured Country, he noted that this is an opportunity to strengthen the ties of friendship between the two countries, and for Thessaloniki and Macedonia to pop up on the “investment radar” of the United Arab Emirates.

“It will be an exhibition like the ones we used to have, but better, perhaps the best of the past ten years”, stated the CEO of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, noting that it is the first time an Arab country is participating as the Honoured Country at the TIF. He also stressed that the exhibition centre will operate at full capacity this year, while companies are all choosing the TIF. As regards the United Arab Emirates, he noted that the public will have the opportunity to see a spectacular pavilion, where, besides the entrepreneurial side of things, there will be daily cultural events.

Papastratos is supporting the TIF for the fifth consecutive year as Official Supporter of this year’s event, as mentioned by Mr Iakovos Kargarotos, Vice Chairman of the company. He also stressed that during periods of crisis we should speak with actions, not with words, and that that is part of Papastratos’ DNA. Papastratos and the TIF are joining forces and gradually transforming the I. Vellidis Congress Centre into an events centre with the smallest possible environmental footprint.

Athenian Brewery’s head of sponsorships and events in Northern Greece, Mr Lazaros Vogiatzoglou characterised this year’s event as very strong and successful, while underlining the presence at the TIF of Nymfi Thessalonikis Beer, which is produced in the city.

The TIF is the largest event in the Balkans, based on its duration and number of visitors, as mentioned by the general director of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis.

The 86th TIF will operate on the weekends from 10:00 to 22:00 and on weekdays from 16:00 to 22:00.

09/09/2022 – 18:31

The thematic exhibition of the 86th TIF on Circular Economy will be more timely than ever, as it will present the latest technological developments, solutions, and products in the fields of energy and environmental protection, from 10 to 18 September at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.

Focused on heating-cooling products, energy providers, bioclimatic building design, environmental technologies, and waste management and recycling systems, the Circular Economy thematic exhibition will cover, just before the winter period starts, the needs of TIF visitors in exploring their options in the field of energy.

The thematic exhibition on Circular Economy will be hosted in pavilions 9 and 10, as well as in outdoor areas, while, among others, it has attracted exhibitors with recycling/cleaning systems, environmentally friendly food packaging, natural gas installations, water treatment companies, renewable and alternative energy sources, biological treatment, sector agencies, etc.

Visitors can learn how to prevent waste production, how to plan in an environmentally friendly way, and how to reuse materials to reduce their environmental impact, aiming at saving consumers money and improving their quality of life.

Innovative technological applications for the best exploitation of solar energy and products for modern construction will be presented at the Circular Economy thematic exhibition.

08/08/2022 – 15:37