TEHNOMA 2011 - Final information

TEHNOMA 2011, the most prestigious business fair in Macedonia that is still the biggest challenge, this year also attracted the participation of foreign companies, especially from Italy, Greece and Slovenia, which is an indicator for positive hints in the field of foreign investments and attractiveness of the of the market in the Republic of Macedonia.

TEHNOMA was this year also interesting to Italy which held a two-day business event called "EcoBiz Expo", again organized by FDL Servizi from Bari, the holders of the AMICO project, which proposed a program for exploitation of all the possibilities being offered in the Balkan markets. There were held technical workshops, social business sessions, and plans, agreements and contracts were initiated.
Both Slovenia and Greece were not far back with their participation at Tehnoma 2011. In this foreign competition during all days there were organized direct business meetings with Macedonian companies and institutions. "TEHNOMA 2011 appeared to be an unexpected good surprise for all 22 Greek companies who participated under Thessaloniki International Fair`s organization. As the majority of the companies had limited experience in exhibitions, they were much satisfied with the organization of the exhibition itself and the help that Skopje Fair`s executives offered them, and with the large number of visitors they welcomed to their stands. Nevertheless, some companies who are already active in Skopje`s market and had participated before were also very pleased witnessing the upgrade of the Fair and the increase of trade visitors to their stand. Some of them already notified TIF SA about their willingness to participate also in next year`s event", said Mr. Andreas Daroudis, the Director of the Thessaloniki International Fair, the company that organized the Greek performance.
The Slovenian participation was organized by JAPTI, a Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments and the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia. JAPTI is a member of the World Association of Agencies for Investment and Promotion. It caters to the needs of start-up companies, for developing and growing businesses, as well as for those keen to internationalize their operations, while offering a roster of services tailored to the needs of foreign investors.

Generally, Tehnoma 2011 presented 900 participants from the Republic of Macedonia and from abroad and was visited by 25,000 visitors. The emphasis was placed on the renewable energy sources which attract the growing interest of the exhibitors. Macedonia is a sunny country, and the solar energy can be one of the alternative sources of energy. Advantage could be taken parallel by the small firms also that could produce parts for the equipment for collectors.
On the first day of the fair it was held a round table discussion on "Energy challenges, current condition and banking" and the International brokerage event - Techno meetings 2011 - business-to-business meetings.
The panel discussion called "Procedures, examples and good practices for investment in renewable energy sources" and a the roundtable on "Indicators for measuring the performance of cluster operations in the Republic of Macedonia" attracted the attention of numerous representatives from the energy sector and gathered all relevant factors involved in the ongoing situation of the energy sector. Comparative analyses were brought, through interactive approach, of the cluster policies in Europe and the region.
The work program of Tehnoma 2011 included also the workshop on opportunities and obstacles in applying successful projects of the small and medium enterprises in the eco-energy and other technical and technological production systems of EU calls and tenders. It highlighted the EU programs and opportunities they offer.
The partner of Tehnoma 2011 was the Slovenian M-Lan Solar, which built and set in operation the first solar power plant, located on the roof of the Administrative Building of Skopje Fair. The plant has a capacity of 5 kW and it will produce approximately 6,500 kWh per year. The generated electricity will be used by Skopje Fair for its own use. The constructed solar power plant is a reference object for presentation for future potential investors for use of solar energy.
During Tehnoma 2011 the event Makinova 2011 and Ekonova 2011 were held and among the innovators from Macedonia there were innovators from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Egypt, Iran, Ukraine, Taiwan.
The fair was officially opened by Minister of Environment and Physical Planning in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Abdilaqim Ademi. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps - the ambassadors of the Republic of Italy, Republic of Slovenia and Republic of Greece, and other diplomatic missions in Macedonia, exhibitors, guests from the business community, officials from the Puglia region, Italy, guests from relevant institutions: Ministry of Economy, departments for energy, minerals, industrial policy, entrepreneurship and competitiveness of small and medium enterprises, union of artisans, Economic Chamber of Macedonia (Association of Energy etc.., Macedonian Energy Association, the Association of Metal and Electrical Industry, the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce (industrial chamber), the Chamber of north-west Macedonia, Energy Agency, the Energy Regulatory Commission. The audience was addressed by: Guido Omladich - the President of the Managing Board of Skopje Fair and ERA Group, the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy in the Republic of Macedonia - H.E. Fabio Cristiani, the Regional Minister for the Environment of the Puglia Region, Republic of Italy - Mr. Lorenzo Nikastro.
TEHNOMA 2011 was visited by 25,000 business visitors.
The next edition of TEHNOMA that will be the 38th in a row and it has been already planned and will be held within 16-20 October 2012. The application for TEHNOMA 2012 has already started.
Worth to note is that TEHNOMA is an event approved by UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. As of 2011, it has more than 550 members from 84 countries including Skopje Fair.

 Tehnoma_2011_-_final_information.pdf