The signatories were Detlef Braun, a member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, Eugen Alles, the General Director of Messe Frankfurt RUS, and Sergey Voronkov, General Director of ExpoForum International. As set out in the document, the first phase of developing cooperation will feature the return to St Petersburg of the firmly established international brand Automechanika, with the new-look forum set to take place in March 2015 at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“Russia is a very important partner for us and has one of the strongest convention and exhibition markets in the world. The signing of this agreement will help us to expand our presence in Russia and create opportunities for companies to operate in St Petersburg,” said Detlef Braun, member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt GmbH, after the agreement was signed.

According to Sergey Voronkov, General Director of ExpoForum International, the agreement opens up new opportunities for the development of the company’s own projects, such as the Ecology of the Big City International Forum, the Russian Industrialist International Forum, the Zoosphere exhibition and the ‘Advertising. Publicity. Information. Design’ exhibition. Major exhibition brands operating under the banner of Messe Frankfurt GmbH can now participate in these events – brands such as Hardware+Tools Middle East, EuroMold, Interlight, Eco Expo Asia, Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo, Cleantech India, Pollutech India, Watertech India, Water Expo China, Cleanzone, Christmasworld, Email-Expo and others.

Furthermore, in light of this agreement, Messe Frankfurt RUS, which has years of experience of management and development within the international exhibition industry, views ExpoForum as a top-priority venue for its own ventures, and intends to provide consulting services on how best to promote the new ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre.