Müller: “Bavaria benefits from the way Europe is growing together”
MUNICH/BRUSSELS At the reception of the Central European Fair Alliance (CEFA) in Brussels, Bavaria’s Economic Minister Emilia Müller underlined the importance of ever closer economic cooperation in Europe: “Bavarian industry benefits greatly from the way Europe is growing together. In 2006, 60% of our total exports of € 141 billion went to the EU. The State of Bavaria has in particular consistently used the opportunities presented by the enlargement of the EU to the East and so played a significant role in overcoming the trade barriers between the western and eastern parts of Europe.“
The way Europe is growing together was not a zero-sum game, but brought mutual benefits. As an example, bilateral trade relations with the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe have for years been increasing at a fast rate. Müller: “The annual volume of trade with countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe now totals over € 36 billion, which is much more than with the USA. Other partner countries in the CEFA, like Austria and Italy, also come right at the top of the list of our biggest trading partners.”
Müller continued to say that CEFA was making a major contribution towards helping the participating economies to grow together. “Bilateral trade and trade fairs are inseparably linked with each other. The fairs are a central component in the marketing mix of internationally operating companies. In the sometimes hotly contested trade-fair market, it is also true that: You can learn from each other, benefit from each other and also grow together!” This was demonstrated in an exemplary fashion by CEFA.
For small and medium-sized companies in particular, Economics Minister Müller still sees great potential in exports and underscores the role played by trade fairs: “Participation in trade fairs in Germany and abroad is of overriding importance especially for small and medium-sized companies, so that they can operate worldwide and present themselves to the international public despite their small resources.” The State Government supported the SMEs in the process of internationalization with numerous trade missions, communal participation at trade fairs, business functions and matchmaking projects.
CEFA was set up in 1995 at the initiative of Messe München (Munich Trade Fair Corporation). To date, it counts 21 trade fair organizations from Central and South-Eastern Europe (www.cefa.biz). Its aim is to promote the process of European integration through closer cooperation in the fields of marketing and public relations, by sharing and exchanging knowledge and organizing training activities.
