VIV Europe links east with west

On 19 previous occasions there has been a VIV Europe trade fair for the intensive livestock and poultry industries. Although the show returns in 2008, this one will be different. For edition number 20, it moves away for the first time from its long-established home in the Netherlands, to open in May in the capital city of Russia.

VIV Europe 2008/Moscow Edition is the official name chosen for the event. Its organisers also call it the best of both worlds, because it aims to link East with West through the business medium of an international exhibition.

Its venue on dates of Tuesday, 27 May, to Thursday, 29 May, will be Moscow – specifically, the Russian city's Crocus Expo exhibition centre. The location will be familiar already to numbers of VIV-show visitors because it has hosted editions of VIV Russia for the same organising company.

International focus

"We have held three successful VIV Russia exhibitions that have prepared the ground for the strong local basis present at this Special Edition of VIV Europe," says show manager Ruwan Berculo. "As with VIV Russia, we are organising the May 2008 show jointly with our partner Asti Group Exhibition Company. At the same time, the highly international scope of the ‘regular' VIV Europe serves as the backbone for the Moscow Edition. We are linking international, regional and local supply and demand with this event. Our message to visitors is that they should come to Moscow, not only to see what innovative Eastern European and Russian companies have on offer today, but also to be updated on international developments.

"People have asked us if it will be easy to get to the show in Moscow," Ruwan Berculo has told Feed International. "We have arranged quite some services, such as shuttle buses from Moscow's airports Sheremetjevo-2 and Domodedovo to the venue at the Crocus centre. Or, if you book your hotel through our travel agency partner, Aerotour, you will have a shuttle service between airport, show and hotel. Aerotour has been appointed as the official partner in supporting visitors with their visas and accommodations. It means you can have the convenience of spending time at the exhibition to see what you like for your business and then there is transport ready for you when you leave."

Completed only in 2004, Crocus Expo Centre is located to the northwest of the downtown area, at the intersection of the Moscow City Ring Road and Volokolamsk highway. This showground is therefore about halfway between the city centre and Sheremetyevo international airport. It is reached in a journey time of about 30 minutes by subway and taxi from downtown hotels.

Larger exhibit space

Its exhibition floor for the first VIV Europe to be staged outside the Netherlands was fully booked by the beginning of this year. At that time, the organisers could report bookings for exhibit space from some 250 companies in 36 countries alongside about 110 Russian participants.

Compared with the 2007 VIV Russia, Mr Berculo commented, the displays of the Russian exhibitors at VIV Europe/Moscow Edition will be larger as the companies see the benefit of presenting their products to a wider field of visitors. Among the other countries represented, Spain, France and Canada will have country pavilions. German group IFWexpo is bringing together suppliers from Germany in the field of meat processing, packaging, animal housing and farm equipment.

There is a remarkable amount of 29 Chinese companies present, for the larger part offering solutions in feed additives and ingredients.

But the full feed-to-meat coverage of the VIV shows is also due to be reflected in Moscow through a range of exhibits from international companies relating to feed additives and ingredients. Out of more than 80 stand-holders with products in this category, the exhibitor list reveals at least 20 are from China.

Visa requirements apply to travel to Russia, so prospective visitors for VIV Europe/Moscow edition have been advised to pre-register with the show organisers at an early opportunity. By February this year, pre-registration was being reported to have demonstrated exceptionally strong international interest in attending the event, with people from 41 countries signifying their intention to attend. Show sections identified as drawing particular attention were those on feed ingredients, animal health and poultry production.