Rendezvous in Bologna

Zoomark International, one of the most important biennial trade shows in Europe, will take place from 11 to 14 May 2017 in Bologna. The 2015 event welcomed 615 exhibitors, of which 394 were foreign companies from 35 different countries. The fair attracted a total of 22 299 visitors: 15 526 Italian and 6 773 foreign buyers, equivalent to an increase of 15 per cent compared to the previous event in 2013. They came from 85 countries.

The organisers are expecting record numbers in 2017 too. Two months before the event, the fifth pavilion that was created in response to demand, above all from abroad, has also sold out. The total area of the event is now 50 000 square metres, hosting around 670 exhibitors. There is also a significant increase in the number of countries represented, which now stands at 43 (2015: 35). 
223 are Italian companies (2015: 221), while the quota of foreign exhibitors has risen to 68 per cent (2015: 65 per cent). The top countries are China with 116 (2015: 73) and the United States, Britain, Germany and France. Large delegations from Canada, China, the United Kingdom and the United States have been confirmed, joined this year by groups from Brazil and Taiwan. This is the first time companies from Taiwan have taken part in the fair, with six companies that specialise in breeding tropical fish in attendance. Other new entries include firms from Eastern European countries such as Croatia, Estonia, Lat­­via, Lithuania and Ukraine.

"Zoomark 2017 promises to be a record edition, which is a powerful indicator of the vitality of the pet market, and above all confirms the show's international profile," commented Mark Momoli, BolognaFiere's business manager for Italy. "Exhibitors and visitors from all over the world will be in Bologna to present their products, learn about the latest innovations and do business. Zoomark has always had an international outlook: the geographical position of Bologna facilitates communication with foreign markets and with the Mediterranean area and Eastern Europe in particular, meaning that the number of visitors from all over the world has grown every year. This has also been fostered by our direct participation in the leading international fairs, and partnerships with associations and foreign government agencies."