We're not aware of the benefits we could all experience
Janez Erjavec, Pomurski sejem
April 20, 2012
2011, Intervjuji, Kongres intervjuji, PR intervjuji, St. 5/2011 (V.)
What do you think about this year’s trade fairs and what are your company’s biggest business challenges?
Considering the economic and general state of Slovenia and the world I can say this year was good. We’ve managed to carry out all three projects and plenty of additional events, which were successful for the exhibitors and well as other participants. At the moment it is important to stay present in the market with all our products and programmes with tradition. We are also looking for new challenges, but we are aware there are few truly successful new opportunities at our location.
Are Slovenian trade fairs internationalised and open enough? How can we improve this?
I think Slovenian fairs are open enough but the Slovenia market is too small to host international fairs which are highly important for a certain industry or in the international sense. We all try to get as much domestic and foreign exhibitors and institutions as possible but the most important international fairs will stay in the most developed countries of Europe and the world. The state can improve only through extreme growth of the Slovenian economy and with that a better purchasing power of companies and the populations.
What is your view on the possibility of cooperating with other fair companies on common projects in Slovenia and the region?
There has been formal cooperation among Slovenian fairs and in the Alps- Adriatic region, but they didn’t bring much. I don’t see a lot of potential here. Pomurje Fair is a member of the UFI with the seat in Paris and the experience of this association is that large fair houses in Europe already divided key markets among themselves.
If we put all our exhibitions under one roof, the venue will still not be used to its fullest. For Slovenia new possibilities could arise from ex-Yugoslavian countries joining the EU.
What is the future of general fairs as opposed to specialised ones?
Both types of fairs have a future, but it depends on the industry. The leading specialized fairs will stay in economically developed regions, general and smaller specialized fairs are staying in smaller less developed environments and the periphery.
Are the national and regional tourist organisations fulfilling their role in promoting trade fairs?
Tourist organizations are important for cooperation on the local, regional or national level, but for the initiative for development of tourism should come from individual subjects.
Tourist organizations haven’t played a crucial role in the fair industry so far. Fair industry also leads to tourism industry and fair events should include tourist promotions of the individual region or country. Fairs should cooperate more with tourism organizations so there is a lot of room for improvement.
What is Pomurje currently missing to make a developmental breakthrough?
Pomurje and Pomurje Fair host the fair AGRA, which has long outgrown the frames of this region. The question remains whether we are aware of its potential. We certainly don’t use it enough for our own promotion. Pomurje is also missing a strong coalition for sustainable development with a clear vision which would not only depend on the strategy of the region but would have its own development units. People who have travelled around can see that there is no richer region than Pomurje. We just need to harvest these riches from the sun, earth and water.
Successful models such as ABC Pomurka, Radenska and similar should come back to life. Beside them we need to develop new sustainable projects to place Pomurje among the leaders. The people here are certainly industrious, diligent and fair enough.
When do you think Slovenia will be ready to host an internationally renowned fair?
Slovenia will be ready to host an internationally renowned fair when it will have an internationally renowned economy or at least one industry competitive in the global scale. The fair VINO is certainly one of the possibilities since we have a number of top ranging wines. We could also host a fair of skiing equipment, since Elan is one of the best ski makes around. If Slovenia really wants to host a world renowned fair, we could certainly pull it off, but we would all have to want it and work on it. Current fair organizers cannot do it since there isn’t enough awareness of the benefits we could all experience.
What are your ambitions for the development of Pomurje Fair in the future?
Pomurje Fair has a half a century of tradition of organizing fairs adjusted to the needs of the region around Mura and the neighbouring Austria, Hungary and Croatia. In this wider region the biggest natural treasure is agriculture and industrious, open, modest and honest people. The Pomurje Fair is responsible to offer events, which make the region comparable to more developed regions, since the fair representing it can promote regional economy and the region itself. Other than rich agriculture this region has produced many construction companies, hunting, fishing and tourism are important and this is the region which produces the largest number of professional soldiers.
Therefore the vision of Pomurje Fair is to develop fairs in areas of Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Hunting and Fishing and Defence, Security, Protection and Rescue. These projects and many sub-projects will help us adapt to trends and develop further.
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