Tue 18 - Thu 20 November 2008 - Frankfurt am Main, Exhibition Grounds, Hall 5.1
End-of-show report European Banking & Insurance Fair 2004
5. November 2004 - Frankfurt, Germany - 272 exhibitors from 15 countries - Approximately 7,000 industry visitors - MFA and the Maleki Group, organisers of the E.B.I.F., state that event sends positive signals for finance and IT industries - New plans for 2005 to make the event even more attractive.
The European Banking & Insurance Fair (E.B.I.F.) closed its doors on the 28th October in an atmosphere of restrained optimism for the future. Around 7,000 industry professionals found out more about the latest industry trends during the three days of the show. More than 2,500 delegates took part in the banking conference as well as the workshops and expert discussions.
Last year, a total of 7,300 visitors attended the specialist event. "The German financial services industry is still in the midst of a severe crisis. We're happy, though, that visitor numbers have remained largely stable in spite of the difficult market conditions," declared Thomas Schütz and Nader Maleki representing the E.B.I.F. organisers, Messe Frankfurt Ausstellungen and the Maleki Group. "We are particularly pleased about the number of delegates taking part in the conference."
And there is more good news: according to exhibitors, the quality of contacts made has also remained high despite the difficult economic situation. Holger Follmann, Managing Director of Thales Information Systems GmbH, expressed his satisfaction with the event, stating: "At the E.B.I.F. we get to meet decision-makers from the finance community. Every year that we've exhibited, we have taken home one new customer from the event." Andrew Clayton, Corporate Account Manager Central Europe at the software company, Scansoft, also drew a positive conclusion: "Our first visit to the show has been a complete success. We've had 25 to 30 high-level contacts on our stand every day."
The financial services sector is still subject to severe cost pressures. "Needless to say, this fact has also had some effect on the E.B.I.F., since exhibitions are good indicators of the state of the industries they represent", notes Schütz. Even so, a moderate upward trend is perceptible. "There is a more positive mood among German businesses. This is something we also noticed at the fair“, stated Armin Klingler, Managing Director of Wey Technology AG, an exhibitor from Switzerland.
From 2005 onwards, the specialist conference and exhibition will be held in the same week as the renowned Frankfurt European Banking Congress (EBC), which has been drawing senior politicians with from the fields of economy and finance, as well as leaders from the banking sector, for more than ten years now. "By combining these three events with the eighth Euro Finance Week, we expect that Frankfurt will become a Mecca for the international finance industry", says Maleki. "This will be of benefit to everyone. Participants at the E.B.I.F. will see an increase in the political significance of the event. Similarly, delegates at the European Banking Congress will be able to find out about the latest technological trends."
With the E.B.I.F. now being brought together with the EBC, it will be moved forward by two weeks in future to take place in November – a fact welcomed by exhibitors. It will be opening its doors in Frankfurt from 14 to 17 November 2005. And next year, the E.B.I.F. will continue to occupy Halls 5 and 6 at the Frankfurt Messe trade fair grounds. This means that both the conference and the exhibition will once again be situated more closely together – saving both exhibitors and visitors any lengthy trips.
8th Euro Finance Week 2005
Conference: 14 to 17 November 2005
Exhibition: 15 to 17 November 2005
European Banking Congress: 18 November 2005
Financial Centre Gala: 18 November
