Paris / Bulgaria – 21 September 2023:  UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and the International Fair Plovdiv have jointly announced “PharmaLytica”, by Head of Design, Parag Bandodkar and Senior Visualiser, Kamlesh Murudkar, for Informa Markets India as the Premium Grand Award Winner of the 25th International Fair Poster Competition.

Held annually, the competition celebrates creativity and originality of modern exhibition marketing, in the classical poster format. The 2023 edition had two categories: Category 1, which had the theme of “Generic Promotion: General image posters promoting the exhibition industry as a whole”, and Category 2, which had the theme “Promotion of the exhibition industry on the subject of ‘face-to-face’ or post-pandemic recovery.”

The jury evaluated the entries based on topic interpretation, design concept, originality and integrity of technical parameters. They were particularly impressed by the clever execution of “PharmaLytica” for Category 2, and “International Tourism Fair 2019” for Category 1.

Emil Zahariev, Chairman of the jury of the International Fair Poster Competition (IFPC), commented: “Once again the Competition was traditionally held at the International Fair Plovdiv within the framework of the International Technical Fair. The exhibition of the posters aroused great interest among the visitors. The jury evaluated the posters according to the originality of the means of expression, conceptual design, colour construction, the manner of presentation, completeness and original ways of presenting the technical parameters – dates, location, name of the event, venue. I am pleased to congratulate the team at Informa Markets India for their creative efforts during the years. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up. I kindly invite all members of UFI to participate in the 25th edition of the International Fair Poster Competition in 2024.”

For Category 1, the jury selected “International Tourism Fair 2019”, designed by Kreativa Unlimited d.o.o. Belgrade for Belgrade Fair as the winner. “Bridging the gap”, designed by Manager – Design Love Gupta for Messe Dusseldorf India Pvt Ltd. was selected as runner-up.

For Category 2, the jury selected “BEC-PUMPS & VALVES”, designed by TRUPP from Bilbao Exhibition Centre (Spain) for second place. “Affiche Foire de Paris 2022”, from COMEXPOSIUM PARIS (France) and designed by Les Petites Madeleines (Fidback), followed in third place.

Runners-up – Category 2:

• “Lion Dance with Textile Elements”, designed by Dale Young from made of DNA (Shanghai) Visual Consultancy Co., Ltd for GL Events (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
• “MADRID COMIC POP UP 2022”, by ANEKE of MAKING SCIENCE for IFEMA MADRID

The jury, on behalf of International Fair Plovdiv:

• Hristina Koleva – Director, International Fair Plovdiv
• Emil Zahariev – Chairman of the IFP Jury, Marketing and international cooperation manager, International Fair Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• Gueorgui Gueorguiev-Ashata – Academy of Fine Art
• Petar Chuchuligov – Poster Artist, Poster lecturer, Academy of Fine Art

The jury, on behalf of UFI:

• Nidhi Grelaud – Programme Manager, Content & Communities
• Noor Shalghen – Marketing Coordinator
• Molly Thornberg – Social Media & Media Relations Coordinator

For more information on the competition, and to see the winning posters, please visit: https://www.ufi.org/awards/international-fair-poster-competition/.

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• Annual UFI MEA Conference to be held from 15-17 April in Kigali, Rwanda
• Conference hosted by Rwanda Convention Bureau

Paris / Kigali – 14 September 2023: UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, will hold its UFI Middle East & Africa (MEA) Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, from 15-17 April 2024. The event will be hosted by the Rwanda Convention Bureau and held at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Open to all exhibition industry professionals, the 2024 edition will build upon the success of past UFI MEA Conferences, including the 2023 edition in Doha, Qatar, which saw more than 150 participants. The conference will feature panel sessions and deep dives on industry-critical topics, networking with the region’s top decision-makers, and social events to introduce attendees to the vibrant spirit of the host city.

Held annually, the UFI MEA Conference is the most important annual gathering of exhibition industry leaders in the region. It is attended by senior representatives from government entities, convention bureaus, tourism boards, venues, and event organisers, in addition to economists, media and industry experts, from across the world.

“We at UFI, are delighted to take our next flagship event, the UFI MEA conference, to the African continent, with Rwanda as the destination. This vibrant country is experiencing a significant surge in the business events industry, making it an ideal setting for delegates to immerse themselves in new business opportunities. As they engage in fruitful conversations and forge valuable connections, they can also revel in the captivating charm that Rwanda offers. This conference promises to be a memorable experience, bringing industry professionals from around the world and blending business growth with the attractions of this extraordinary nation. I would like to express my gratitude to the Rwanda Convention Bureau for serving as our esteemed host, and I eagerly anticipate gathering with friends and colleagues at the remarkable Kigali Convention Centre.”, comments Naji El Haddad, UFI Regional Director MEA.

“Hosting the 2024 UFI MEA conference in Kigali presents a great opportunity not only for Rwanda, but for Africa to showcase some of what our continent has to offer, not only in terms of the industry but also tourism and investment opportunities. Due to our connectivity and central location, Rwanda has access to African and global markets. We have a track record of being a proof-of-concept country for innovators looking to test, launch and scale. The country is ranked 2nd in Africa for Ease of Doing Business and Global Competitiveness while Kigali is the second preferred MICE destination on the continent for associations meetings. With world-class infrastructures, an open visa policy, easy air connectivity, and much more, Rwanda is an ideal destination for exhibitions. As a country, we look forward to welcoming 2024 UFI MEA delegates and ensure that their stay and experience is memorable.” adds Janet Karemera, CEO of Rwanda Convention Bureau.

Pre-registration for the conference is already open, and can be done here: www.ufimea.org  .

As the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI organises annual regional conferences in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East & Africa, as well as the UFI Global Congress. The next event will be the UFI Global Congress, which will take place in Las Vegas, USA, from 1-4 November.

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