From 27th June to 7th July, the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC), wholly owned by Corinthia, successfully organised the 65th edition of The Malta Trade Fair.
The First Trade Fair was held way back in October 1952 on the initiative of the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) in San Anton Gardens, followed by second and third fairs in 1953 and 1955, also in San Anton Gardens. The organisation was assumed by The Malta Trade Fair Corporation in 1955, which organised the Trade Fair editions for several years.
With the cooperation of the late Marquis John Scicluna, the fourth edition of the Malta Trade Fair opened in 1960 in the gardens adjoining Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar.
In October 1967, the Malta Trade Fair was accorded international status, and in 1971, the Malta Trade Fair Corporation hosted the 38th Congress of the Union des Foires lnternationales. Another important event was holding the First Council Meeting of the Association of Fairs Organisations in Third World Countries, which had its first Council Meeting in February 1977 at the Corinthia Palace Hotel.
MFCC took over the organisation of The Malta Trade Fair in 2006 and changed the venue from Naxxar to Ta’ Qali on the MFCC’s grounds, which sprawl over 20,000 sqm both indoors and outdoors, with ample parking facilities. The Fair occupies over 9,000 sqm indoors and 8,500 sqm outdoors.
I asked Alan Azzopardi, General Manager of MFCC if there are minimum requirements for participating in the Trade Fair. “There are no such minimum requirements for a company or individual to participate.”
Are participants expected to occupy a pre-established site, or can they agree on the size of the site? In the latter case, who will set up the site? “Applicants have the right to choose the location (subject to availability) and the size of the exhibition stand. They may set-up their own stand and use their own material, though more often than not, MFCC secures the set up business of the exhibition stand. We will provide designs and customisation of the stand floor and our staff will assist participants from A to Z, easing the anxiety of participation.”
But what would be the main stages of the organisation process? “The first step would be the preparation of the floor plan, that is dividing the areas into different sized stands, taking into consideration the exhibitors’ requirements. Then follows the preparation of the financial and marketing budgets and finally our sales executives will send teaser emails to interested parties and finally start binding participants contractually.”
The Malta Trade Fair involves a wide range of exhibitors showcasing their products and services in a fun and entertaining environment. Products vary from home appliances to home improvements, crafts, books, beauty, food and beverages, furniture, gardening, health and fitness, lighting, tools, technology, travel, pleasure boats, second hand cars etc. Fifteen foreign exhibitors also participated in this year’s Trade Fair.
The social and commercial context of The Malta Trade Fair has changed over the years. Initially, shopping centres in Malta were few, so bringing companies under one roof was attractive, and bargains were timed during the Trade Fair. All this scenario has changed with many shopping centres opening all across Malta, and sales bargains offered at different times. Furthermore, other specialised fairs have sprouted. Nonetheless, The Malta Trade Fair still provides an excellent window shopping experience where customers can view products in a concentrated area and hence can easily make choices or preferences.
It also offers a light and entertaining venue where visitors can enjoy different musical experiences organised at the centre besides shopping and even enjoying some meals with all the family.
Kids are assured of special attention since they enjoy the use of a separate area with games, entertainers, bouncy castles, face painting, trampoline and much more all through the whole duration of the event.
May The Malta Trade Fair at the MFCC continue to grow and prosper.
