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North Rhein-Westphalia (NRW) Minister President Hendrik Wüst at MEDICA: Düsseldorf trade show with highest U.S. exhibitor participation
Düsseldorf, November 15, 2023. A total of 422 U.S. companies are currently exhibiting at MEDICA and COMPAMED in Düsseldorf. The number one international trade shows for the healthcare and medical technology sectors have accounted for more than half (51.4%) of all U.S. participations at Düsseldorf trade shows over the past 30 years. From 1993 to 2022, a total of 20,986 companies exhibited in Düsseldorf directly from the U.S. In the same period, 405,216 visitors from the U.S. travelled to the NRW state capital, making them the largest non-European visitor nation at Messe Düsseldorf. In terms of exhibitors, the U.S. ranked second after China.
Hendrik Wüst, Minister President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, states: “Düsseldorf’s world-leading trade shows let you experience global economic activity live. Market leaders and decision-makers from all over the world come together in North Rhine-Westphalia to shape the future of their industry. With the U.S. being the most important non-European visitor nation as well as the second-largest exhibitor nation for 30 years now, Messe Düsseldorf is actively promoting the transatlantic economic relationship, in particular. This underlines the significance of our state as an internationally oriented destination for business and industry.” The state government of NRW and the U.S. Consulate General in Düsseldorf are currently celebrating the long friendship between the state of NRW and the USA with the NRW-USA Year 2023/24.
Wolfram N. Diener, President and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf, points out the latest milestone in strengthening the economic exchange between Europe and North America: “By cohosting XPONENTIAL, we’re now even more strongly represented as a show organizer in the U.S. At the same time, we’re launching a European spinoff of the leading international trade show for uncrewed systems and robotics in Düsseldorf in 2025. XPONENTIAL Europe will carry this topic of the future across the Atlantic to the NRW state capital and turn Düsseldorf and NRW into a hub for autonomous mobility in Europe.”
The participation in XPONENTIAL represents the largest event acquisition in the history of the Messe Düsseldorf Group. In May, the show was jointly organized for the first time by the industry trade group Association for Uncrewed Vehicles Systems International (AUVSI) and the U.S. subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf North America (MDNA) in Denver, Colorado. Brian Wynne, President and CEO of AUVSI, highlights the success of the premiere event: “The first XPONENTIAL with Messe Düsseldorf’s participation saw a 65% increase in international attendees compared to the previous year, and all eyes are looking ahead toward the show’s expansion into Europe. XPONENTIAL will benefit from Messe Düsseldorf’s extensive international networks in the industries represented at its shows, which offers numerous opportunities for uncrewed systems and robotics.” The first XPONENTIAL Europe will take place from February 18 to 20, 2025, at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre.
First Mover Messe Düsseldorf
Messe Düsseldorf has been committed to transatlantic relations since its founding as a trade show organizer. After the Second World War, the Bizone economic administration commissioned the company, which at that time still operated as Nordwestdeutsche Ausstellungsgesellschaft mbH (NOWEA), to organize an industrial exhibit for the U.S. military government in New York. In 1948, it was not only the first foreign event organized by a German trade show company in the post-war period, but also the first foreign presentation of German industry. It laid the foundation for successful economic relations between the U.S. and Germany and NRW even before the Federal Republic of Germany was founded.
The next pioneering achievement followed in 1982: Messe Düsseldorf was the first German trade show organizer to open a permanent office in the U.S.: Düsseldorf Trade Shows in New York. In 1990, the company moved to its current headquarters in Chicago, and, in 1997, it organized its first trade show in Miami (Avenida Moda). The subsidiary has been operating under the name Messe Düsseldorf North America since 1998. MDNA not only organizes “USA Pavilions” and helps individual U.S. exhibitors at trade shows in Düsseldorf, but also assists U.S. companies to exhibit or attend Messe Düsseldorf events worldwide. Since 2011, it regularly organizes VALVE WORLD AMERICAS in Houston, Texas, and starting this year, it’s hosting XPONENTIAL at various U.S. locations. The next XPONENTIAL will take place from April 22 to 25, 2024, in San Diego, California.
The Messe Düsseldorf Group
Messe Düsseldorf is one of the most successful trade show companies in the world. About 40 trade shows, including 20 world-leading shows, are held at its 613,000-square-meter (6.6 million-square-foot) exhibition center on the banks of the Rhine River. Every year, the international market leaders and top decision-makers of various sectors come together in the 18 exhibition halls to present and discover innovations and to exchange ideas and network. Messe Düsseldorf’s areas of expertise include “Machinery, Plants and Equipment” (including drupa, K, interpack, glasstec, wire and Tube); “Retail, Trades and Services” (EuroShop, EuroCis, ProWein); “Health and Medical Technology” (MEDICA, COMPAMED, REHACARE), “Lifestyle and Beauty” (BEAUTY, TOP HAIR); and “Leisure” (boot, CARAVAN SALON). In addition, the subsidiary Düsseldorf Congress hosts numerous conventions, corporate events, conferences and meetings each year. Outside Germany, Messe Düsseldorf organizes or participates in 65 events. The corporate group’s global network consists of 77 foreign representatives for 141 countries – including six international subsidiaries.
Contact
Dr. Andrea Gränzdörffer
Head of Corporate Communications/Press Spokesperson
Tel.: +49 (0) 211/4560-555
Fax: +49 (0) 211/4560-87555
E-Mail: GraenzdoerfferA@messe-duesseldorf.de
