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Exhibition participations from 46 countries, exhibition coverage of 41,000 sq.m. and all global agricultural technology at this year’s event From 30 January to 2 February at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre
A historical record of exhibition participations was recorded by the 28th Agrotica Agricultural Machinery, Equipment & Supplies International Trade Fair, which has passed the 2000 exhibitor mark for the first time. In fact, this year’s event, which will be held from 30 January to 2 February, has been sold out for approximately two months, while it has covered every last square metre of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre.
More specifically, there will be 2077 direct and indirect exhibitors from Greece and another 45 countries, in contrast to 1903 exhibitors in 2018, 1503 in 2016, and 1349 in 2014. Agrotica will cover an exhibition area of 41,000 square metres, in contrast to 39,000 square metres covered by the previous event. It is estimated that the economic footprint of the 28th Agrotica on Thessaloniki and the broader region will be in the area of 30 million Euros.
The exhibition shall also be visited by approximately 550 international hosted buyers from 21 Balkan, European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. They shall include international visitor groups, who shall arrive en masse and by the dozens at Agrotica. Major organised delegations with many thousands of visitors are expected from all over Greece, as there has been intense interest
in the exhibition from farmers’ cooperatives, groups of producers, etc.
The exhibition, held under the auspices of the Ministries of Rural Development & Food and the Interior (Macedonia-Thrace), records the overall presence of 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.
A large number of associations, organisations, and bodies are also participating, including the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, the Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery of Greece, the Machinery Importers’ - Representatives’ Association, and the Hellenic Fertiliser Association.
There will also be a wide variety of side events, including the 8th Agrotica Pan-Hellenic Conference, on ‘Climate Change and Agriculture’, co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the AUTH Faculty of Agriculture, which shall be held on 1 and 2 February at the ‘N. Germanos’ Congress Centre’.
Furthermore, the ‘New Agriculture-New Cooperatives-Towards a modern cooperative model for the new generation’ shall be held in ‘A. Riadis’ hall on 31 January (co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the New Agriculture for a New Generation programme, under the auspices of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food). In addition, the Four Eyes for Farm robotic system shall also be presented at Agrotica (at an event co-organised by TIF-Helexpo and the Institute of Bio-Economy and Agro-Technology of CERTH), along with many other models of professional farming vehicles.
The Press conference
The importance of the agricultural sector to the Greek economy was underlined at today’s press conference in view of the 28th Agrotica by the President of TIF-Helexpo, Mr Tasos Tzikas. “The agricultural sector helped us get ahead during the crisis”, he mentioned, while he pointed out the historical record of this year’s event.
On his side, the deputy general director of TIF-Helexpo Mr Alexis Tsaxirlis stressed that Agrotica is the third largest agriculture trade fair in Europe, and the most international event of the national exhibition agency. He also made it known that he is in contact with two of the largest European agriculture trade fairs, those of Italy and Germany (EIMA and Koelnmesse), in order to develop synergies in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe in the near future.
The readiness of Greek agricultural machinery manufacturers to support the needs of the market was underlined by the President of the Association of Manufacturers of Agricultural Machinery (EKAGEM) of Greece Ms Dimitria Emmanouilidou, who also mentioned that EKAGEM is participating in Agrotica with 110 enterprises-members, covering an area of 8500 square metres, both indoors and outdoors. “Agrotica is a multi-tool and it is up to us to utilise it”, she stressed.
The vast requirements that have been created for agricultural machinery due to the recession were mentioned by the President of the Machinery Importers’ - Representatives’ Association (SEAM) Mr Savvas Balouktsis, who stated he was especially optimistic as regards the future of Agrotica. He also made it known that SEAM is participating in the event with 44 enterprises-members, covering an area of 15,000 square metres.
The dynamic presence of all of the market leaders at Agrotica was underlined by the head of the trade fair Mr Vassilis Spyrou, who, in fact, apologised that TIF-Helexpo could not grant all requests due to the incredibly high demand.
Lastly, professor and president of the Faculty of Agriculture of AUTH Mr Christos Dordas referred to the 8th Agrotica Conference, characterising it as an important tool for extroversion.
The exhibition’s opening will be held on Thursday, 30 January, at 19:00, at the ‘N. Germanos’ congress centre by Minister of Rural Development and Food Makis Voridis. The opening hours of the exhibition on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday are from 10:00 to 19:00, and on Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00.