High Level of Interest Despite Difficult Times

Western technology for the production of packaging and related processes, as well as for the manufacturing of plastic and rubber goods is still highly valued by Russian companies. However, the political framework conditions, the fall of the oil price, and a continually weak rouble, having an inflation rate of approx. 15.8 percent last year, as well as hesitant lending as a result thereof are making it difficult to make investments, especially for small businesses.

On the other hand, there is still considerable investment needed in Russia and neighbouring countries.  Above all, the demand has been placed on the domestic consumer goods industry, the food industry, and the packaging industry to optimise production processes and product quality in order to be able to substitute imports. Therefore staying informed concerning innovative technologies, maintaining business relationships with suppliers, or establishing new ones represented the main focus of visitors to the interplastica and the UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA 2016. From 26 to 29 January, 20,900 specialist visitors from Russia and its neighbouring countries came to the Moscow Expocentre in Krasnaya Presnya - around 1,900 more than in 2015.  The atmosphere within the halls was remarkably great. The exhibitors reported there being extremely interested business people, who were also, in part, ready to make orders. A total of 828 companies from 38 countries presented their range of offers at both trade fairs.

“Russia is still a potentially significant market currently experiencing difficult times. At the moment, for small and middle-sized Russian companies in particular, it is not easy – the problem of financing planned investments is a quite big. However, the market has in no way come to a halt. There is still a high level of interest in high-quality and innovative machinery, systems, and materials. Companies want to invest and are also making effort to realise planned projects. In such a situation, trade fairs play an important role! With their participation, the exhibitors have provided that they do not only have short-term success in mind, but are making endeavours to sustainably maintain relationships. This was clearly rewarded,” commented Matthias Werner Dornscheidt, Chairman and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf. The trade fair company organises both specialist trade fairs, the interplastica and UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA together with its subsidiary, Messe Düsseldorf Moscow OOO, the latter in cooperation with the Italian organiser CPA.

The next interplastica in Moscow will take place from 24 to 27  January 2017, again running in parallel with UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA. 

More information is available online at www.interplastica.de and at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Mr Thomas Franken, tel. 0211/4560-7739, e-mail: [email protected], and Ms Claudia Wolfgram, Tel. +49 (0) 211-4560-7712, E-mail: [email protected]