The General Assembly of the Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA) was successfully held in Klagenfurt, Austria, hosted by Kärntner Messen, bringing together exhibition organizers and trade fair operators from across Central and Southeast Europe.

The meeting provided an important forum for discussing the current state of the exhibition industry, emerging challenges, market opportunities and future developments. CEFA members shared updates on their organizations, including upcoming exhibitions, new initiatives, infrastructure investments, expansion plans and strategic priorities, reaffirming the value of regional cooperation and knowledge sharing within the Alliance.

A key outcome of the General Assembly was the unanimous election of Mr Nikola Banković, Chief Executive Officer of Belgrade Fair, as the new President of CEFA.

During his term of office, Belgrade Fair will host the next CEFA General Assembly in Belgrade as part of EXPO 2027 Belgrade, a milestone event that will further strengthen the Alliance’s profile and regional engagement.

The Assembly also unanimously approved the admission of Mr Emil Kucković, Chief Executive Officer of Poslovne Novine (Bosnia and Herzegovina), as an Associate Member of CEFA. Members further agreed that the next meeting of the CEFA Executive Committee, scheduled for October 2026, will be hosted in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Alliance’s newest Associate Member.

The General Assembly also paid tribute to the outgoing CEFA President, Dr Kyriakos Pozrikidis, recognizing his outstanding leadership, dedication and many years of service to the Alliance. In appreciation of his significant and lasting contribution to CEFA, members presented him with a commemorative plaque and unanimously conferred upon him the title of Honorary President of CEFA.

This year’s General Assembly also marked the first participation of Mr Andreas Mavrommatis as Chief Executive Officer of HELEXPO-DETH, succeeding Dr Kyriakos Pozrikidis. The meeting provided an opportunity for him to meet fellow CEFA members, establish new relationships and contribute to discussions on the Alliance’s future priorities.

Commenting on his participation, Mr Mavrommatis said: “It is a great honour to represent HELEXPO-DETH within CEFA, an organization that brings together some of the leading exhibition organizers in Central and Southeast Europe. My first General Assembly was an excellent opportunity to get to know the CEFA community and experience first-hand the strong spirit of collaboration that defines the Alliance.

We are committed to further strengthening our partnerships with fellow members and developing joint initiatives that will enhance the exhibition industry across the region, create new business opportunities and reinforce the role of trade fairs as powerful platforms for economic growth, international business development and cross-border cooperation.”

The decisions taken in Klagenfurt reaffirm CEFA’s commitment to closer collaboration among exhibition organizers, a stronger regional presence and a shared strategic vision for the sustainable development of the exhibition industry across Central and Southeast Europe.

About CEFA

The Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA) is a regional network of exhibition centers and trade fair organizers committed to fostering cooperation, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and best practices, and promoting the exhibition industry across Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe.
For more information, visit www.cefa-org.com.