As President of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, I am pleased to have this opportunity to send you greetings on the occasion of the 3d International Forum of Exhibition Industry 5pEXPO.

We have all watched with great interest as the exhibition industry in Russia has developed over the years. Tradeshows are business multipliers. UFI statistics estimate that every year 30,000 exhibitions welcome 350 million visitors to face-to-face meetings with 3.2 million exhibitors. Now that’s an incredible marketing opportunity in any language.

I am convinced that 5pEXPO - 2009 will continue to provide a forum bringing together exhibition industry professionals and exhibition service providers.

I send you my best wishes at this industry gathering and look forward to working with you in the years ahead as we continue to improve the quality and variety of services offered to the exhibition community.

John Shaw
UFI President

Dear Colleagues,

I’m glad to welcome the exhibitors and visitors of the 5pEXPO Forum!

This is the third time that the International Forum of the Exhibition Industry starts its work at Expocentre Fairgrounds opening the 2009 programme of exhibitions with a showcase of ideas and projects of Russian exhibition organizers.

5pEXPO performs tasks and implements ideas which represent the essence of the Forum, it gains momentum, expands the programme of events involving more and more Russian and foreign representatives of the exhibition industry as well as more and more countries-participants. The success of the Forum is based on innovative thinking of the organizers and the aim to raise the role of exhibitions and fairs in a marketing mix.

The previous editions of the Forum proved its significance to the industry professionals: exhibition organizers and consumers of their services. 5pEXPO enables the participants to view achievements of the domestic exhibition industry, establish prospect relations and keep abreast of the industry innovations.

It is notable that this year the Forum will be co-located with a conference dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Expocentre. All these together make the event even more significant for the Russian exhibition industry.

On behalf of the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs and the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry I congratulate Expocentre on its 50th anniversary and may it remain the flagship of the Russian industry of exhibitions and conferences.

Sergey P. Alekseyev
Chairman
European Chapter of UFI -
Global Association of the Exhibition Industry,
President
Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs

Dear Friends,

The exhibition industry plays an increasingly important role in the development of national economies and international cooperation in the modern world.

The Russian exhibition industry shows stable and rapid growth today. The level of venue facilities and equipment is improving, as well as the qualification of staff. The Russian exhibition business is successfully integrating in the world’s exhibition industry.

In these circumstances the 5pEXPO International Forum is a very important event, brining under one roof the exhibition industry leaders and local companies which are ready to offer their products and services to prospect customers.

The current Forum encourages application of the newest exhibition technology and display equipment and promotes dissemination of information on the Russian and global exhibition industry. The Forum helps to involve local manufactures and suppliers in exhibiting which opens great opportunities for their development.

I sincerely wish the participants successful work, beneficial communication and bright impressions at the 5pEXPO Forum.

Eugeny Primakov
President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
of the Russian Federation<

Dear Friends and Colleges,

I heartily wish you a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas and hope that your participation in the 3rd International Forum 5pEXPO will be a success!

This year is very special for us as Expocentre is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In the jubilee year Expocentre’s exhibition programme will feature not only traditional trade shows but also rather new and already respected exhibition projects. The 5pEXPO International Forum of the Exhibition Industry is among them and is opening the large programme of celebrating events.

The 5pEXPO Forum is recognized by the international and Russian exhibition industry which is confirmed by participation in the Forum of the most established exhibition industry associations: UFI – the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, IFES – the International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services, and RUEF – the Russian Union of Exhibitions and Fairs.

The participation of major exhibition and congress organizers, developers and suppliers of the exhibition and display equipment opens up broad opportunities to exchange experience, promote innovative exhibition technologies, to share unique knowledge and disseminate it in Russia and other countries.

The 5pEXPO Forum deals with consumers of exhibition services, with the companies which regard exhibitions the most important tool to promote their products and develop their business. The Forum will help them to streamline exhibiting strategy, assess the participation effectiveness and optimize promotion expenses.

Over years 5pEXPO Forum has been attracting exhibitors and visitors with a substantial programme of events. This time it features a workshop, which will be attended by directors of leading Russian and foreign exhibition companies, training seminars, presentations and round tables.

I am positive that 5pEXPO will have a great impact on the development of the domestic exhibition industry and the expansion of the strategic network of industry professionals and consumers of their services.

I wish you every success.

Vladislav Malkevich
Director General
Expocentre

On behalf of Yekaterinburg City Administration, I heartily welcome the exhibitors and visitors to the 3rd International Forum of Exhibition Industry 5pEXPO’2009.

As an effective tool to gain a competitive edge to Russian products the exhibition industry undoubtedly plays an increasingly important role in the development of the Russian economy. One of the key tasks facing exhibition organizers is to raise the quality of exhibition services, to introduce new technologies, prepare professionals to staff exhibitions and develop venue infrastructure and facilities.

Basing on its 50-years’ experience within the exhibition industry Expocentre has created a unique project for the development of the Russian exhibition business. The showcase, which brings together industry leaders, and thoroughly thought-out programme of events make 5pEXPO a remarkable event for the global exhibition industry.

I am sure that the Forum is a very important opportunity to demonstrate prospects of development of the exhibition industry and to concentrate attention of the participants on difficulties in the industry development, specifically in Russia’s regions and to find ways to solve them during the interaction between the authorities, scientists, public and business.

I whole-heartedly congratulate Expocentre on the 50th anniversary and wish it successful work for the benefit of our country.

V.V. Konteyev
Chairman of the Division of the Consumer Market of URC (Union of Russian Cities)
Deputy Mayor of Yekaterinburg
Chairman of the City Coordination Council for the Development of Exhibition Activity