Trade Fair Opportunity For Industrial Technology Sector

6th February 2006

TRADE FAIR OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPANIES FROM THE INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SECTOR TO BREAK INTO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Companies throughout Europe from the industrial technology sector are being offered the opportunity to make business contacts and seal deals at Hannover Fair in Germany, the world's leading showcase for industrial technology.

The Euro Info Centre in Inverness is inviting companies from Scotland to make the most of their visit to the trade fair by participating in the match-making event B2FAIR (businesses to fairs), a project sponsored by the European Commission.

B2FAIR provides visitors to the fair with a unique opportunity to meet with all the companies that participate in the match-making, both exhibitors and visitors from many European countries. Busy export sales and marketing managers can include pre-arranged face-to-face meetings in organised meeting rooms with interpreters to really take advantage of this ideal arena for creating business contacts.

The Hannover Fair, held April 24th - 28th, is expected to attract around 6500 exhibitors from 39 countries and among the 244,500 visitors there will be decision makers from the most successful companies in Northern Europe.

The Euro Info Centre (EIC) in Inverness is one of over 300 EIC~s throughout Europe. Established by the European Commission, this Europe-wide network offers information, advice and consultancy services on every aspect of conducting business in the new Europe. European Business Services is the Euro Info Centre for the North of Scotland working to help businesses throughout Scotland and especially in the Highlands and Islands.

The EICs will bring around 250 visitors and exhibitors to the fair, giving companies from the Industrial Technology sector the opportunity to have pre- booked meetings with all these registered companies. British companies that sign up for B2FAIR will be supported by the Euro Info Centre and will benefit from a package including a needs analysis, publishing of company information in the catalogue, automatic searching for partners and matching against company details on the B2FAIR database.

Guenter Verheugen, Vice-President of The European Commission responsible for enterprise and industry shows his support for the project. He said: "I welcome B2FAIR as an occasion for participating companies to establish new and potentially advantageous business contacts, strategic alliances and future partnerships that are imperative to become or remain competitive and successful on markets worldwide."

By registering with the B2FAIR matchmaking service, companies can take advantage of a whole range of services to make their visit to the trade fair successful. Registration for B2FAIR costs only 250 euro for two representatives from each company. Companies will need to arrange their own travel and accommodation.

For further information about Hannover Fair please visit www.messe.de . For further details check out the webpage of the project www.b2fair.com click Hannover Fair or contact Kirstin Hagan, Euro Info Centre, Highland Opportunity, Inverness. Tel: 01463 715 400. Email eic@euro-info.co.uk