More than 2,000 companies from 82 countries will be exhibiting at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens from today.
Over 40,000 visitors from all over the world are expected by the organisers. According to the organisers, Posidonia 2024, which takes place every two years, will be the largest in its six-decade history. They expect around 2,030 exhibitors from 82 countries.
“Posidonia 2024 will be bigger than ever before in the event’s history. Our demand far exceeds the exhibition space and it is now essential to build additional exhibition halls. To accommodate exhibitors this year, we have also started with outdoor stands,” said Theodore Vokos, Managing Director of Posidonia Exhibitions S.A.
Posidonia starts with side events
Participation in the Posidonia Games, the sporting events that took place before Posidonia last weekend, had increased dramatically. Around 4,000 guests took part in side events such as sailing, golf, football, basketball and running.
“Both the geopolitical unrest in many parts of the world and the need for decarbonisation and the associated environmental regulations present the Greek shipping industry with a number of challenges that it must address. This year’s increased participation at Posidonia reflects the industry’s need to come together, discuss new developments and find ways to tackle the new environmental regulations head on,” Vokos added.
High participation from China and Turkey
Of the 96 new or returning exhibitors after a long absence, 25 are from Greece, the organisers said. In terms of international participation, the United Arab Emirates with ten companies and India with eight companies are particularly well represented. In addition, 23 national pavilions are represented at this year’s Posidonia. The largest increase was recorded by China, which returned stronger after the pandemic and can boast an almost 50% increase in participation with 180 companies. Turkey followed closely behind with an increase of 10%.
The global nature of the trade fair is reflected this year in the largest participation of national registers, the Posidonia organisers added. A total of 16 national flags are represented, including Panama, Liberia, the Marshall Islands, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, the Bahamas, Cyprus, Malta, Belize and Palau, as well as newcomers such as the British Virgin Islands, Guinea-Bissau, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Barbados and St. Kitts & Nevis.
To mark Posidonia 2024, HANSA has published a special edition for the trade fair for the first time. It provides an outlook on this year’s event as well as an up-to-date look at the Greek shipping market. Click here to download.
