Exhibition World Issue 6 — 2019 | Page 44

Case study EuroTier passes its first Abu Dhabi beauty parade EuroTier, a successful biennial livestock and agricultural fair that has run in Germany for 30 years, has now expanded the brand with launches in Brazil, China and the UAE. Organiser DLG shares some insights on the challenges involved in making the show a success in Abu Dhabi this past September. The financial centre of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its capital, Abu Dhabi, has now become a hub for animal farming and agricultural innovation. In March this year the UAE government rolled out a US$273m investment into an agricultural technology initiative designed to bring related tradefairs and exhibitions to the city. The new incentives are aimed at companies that develop technologies to support precision farming and agriculture robotics, bioenergy and indoor farming. Abu Dhabi is a gateway to the MENA region and its Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) flagship venue was the natural home for the launch of a Middle East edition of EuroTier, a successful tradefair for animal farming professionals. The biennial fair has been running in Germany for the past 30 years and has launched in three emerging markets in 2019, Brazil, China and now Abu Dhabi. EuroTier Middle East’s objective was to bring together the latest global technology and innovation in the animal production sector along with the most up-to-date knowhow tailored to the local market. At its inaugural edition, 2-4 September, EuroTier Middle East hosted 10,000 professional visitors, 120 exhibitors and 150 companies from 16 countries, including Saudi Arabia (country of honour). In addition to the exhibition, the event included two technical conferences and a forum with technical presentations on a variety of topics such as cattle and “EuroTier Middle East’s objective was to bring together the latest global technology and innovation in the animal production sector along with the most up-to-date knowhow tailored to the local market.” Below: Beauty in the eye of the EuroTier beholders poultry production, camel genetics, aquaculture, biosecurity and more. There were also region-specific feature events like the beauty contests and animal auctions that featured over 6,500 animals and drew 175 breeders. ADNEC allocated 7,000sqm gross of exhibition space for the event which was attended by dignitaries including Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Al Mehairi, Minister of State for Food Security and Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development. Protocol can be a major consideration in the Middle East and organiser DLG International was able to rely on ADNEC’s own protocol and government relations department to organise the opening ceremony and receptions for all VIPs in attendance. ADNEC also assisted in publicising the event, with its marketing team handling mailers and an SMS campaign, as well as advertising the event on ADNECs network of indoor and outdoor digital screens and promoting the show via its website and Instagram account. Christopher Armstrong, Project Manager (International Trade Fairs) for DLG International praised the “high quality content” created by the ADNEC team with regard to banners, video and previews of the show. Results In-house caterer, Capital Hospitality, and production company, ADNEC Services were also integral to the success of the show and its attracting 10,892 visitors over three days. Much of the EuroTier’s focus was on attracting an audience of regional stakeholders and local farmers, so the live animal auctions and beauty contests proved to be a key draw for such visitors. Twelve research papers were presented at the conference which ran alongside the tradefair and the 44 Issue 6 2019 w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk