Official recognition by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.
Fira de Lleida remains the 6th largest trade fair institution in the country in terms of the number of international shows, after Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza and Barakaldo.
The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has ratified the “Full Internationality” seal for the year 2023 for the Eurofruit show – an event held jointly with the Sant Miquel Fair – and Municipalia, recognitions that maintain the Fira de Lleida as the 6th trade fair institution in the country in terms of the number of international shows, behind only Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza and Barakaldo. This year, the Sant Miquel Fair and Eurofruit (Professional Trade Fair for Fruit Industry Suppliers) will take place from 28 September to 1 October, while Municipalia (International Municipal Equipment and Services Fair) will be held from 17 to 19 October.
The basic criteria for awarding this accreditation are to have held at least three editions of the show in question and to accredit, with audited data, that the number of direct foreign exhibitors reaches a minimum of 10% of the total or 5% of foreign visitors. In addition, the International seal requires compliance with a series of specific requirements (regularity of the show, sector support for the fair and that the event allows the acquisition of new technologies, among others).
Fira de Lleida’s continued commitment to the internationalisation of its main shows is ratified once again this year by these certifications. It is worth remembering that this year’s Sant Miquel and Eurofruit had exhibitors from Finland, France, Italy and the USA, while the last edition of Municipalia registered the presence of exhibitors from Germany, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Both shows also welcomed visitors and institutional and business representatives from various countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The granting of full internationality allows the selected shows to enter the Official Calendar of International Fairs, which is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) and implies their “official status”, which means recognition and a high degree of prestige for these fairs. It also involves dissemination and publicity, given that Spanish trade offices and chambers of commerce abroad, among other bodies, recommend these fairs when they receive enquiries from potential interested parties.
It also implies customs facilities, such as, for example, that exhibitors from other non-EU countries can temporarily exhibit their products without having to pay customs duties. And the inclusion of a fair in the Official Calendar is a prerequisite for it to be eligible for subsidies from the State Budget allocations for this purpose.
