Epoc, Messe Frankfurt in tie-up

Messe Frankfurt, the third largest trade fair organiser in the world, has tied up with Dubai-based Epoc to form a new regional company - Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

It has been set up to tap the expanding trade fair business in the Middle East, enhance standards of existing exhibitions and explore new areas for the Arab market.

The formation of the company marks the first time the German group has made a move into the region's fast growing trade fair and exhibition market.

"Messe Frankfurt regards this tie-up with Epoc as a strategic step to make inroads into the trade fair industry in the Arab world," said Dr. Michael Peters, board member, Messe Frankfurt.

"There has been a tremendous increase in the number of international trade fairs and exhibitions in the Gulf and Middle East in recent years and we feel that this is the right time to explore opportunities in this region."

Epoc Messe Frankfurt will initially manage a portfolio of trade fairs in Dubai with a focus on consumer goods, said Peters.

"Our ultimate goal is to expand our base in this important market by enriching existing exhibitions and, more importantly, sounding out new themes customised to suit the Arab markets."

Epoc Messe Frankfurt already manages Hardware and Tools, Houseware and Hometech, Materials Handling and Distribution, Toy Fair, Autotech and GardenX.

It is expected that the company will add a new trade fair to its portfolio each year, said Michael El Nayal, managing partner, Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

Messe Frankfurt, which organised more than 100 events worldwide last year, reported revenues of euro 318 million.

During the year, 36,098 exhibitors and 2.2 million visitors attended the 38 fairs, exhibitions and public events in Frankfurt. Outside Germany, the company's subsidiaries organised a total of 48 fairs in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.

At the end of last year, Messe Frankfurt had 11 foreign subsidiaries, which were joined by new ones in Paris, Shanghai and Moscow in the first half of this year, plus 49 representative offices worldwide.