International Promotion Act of the Mindtech fair, in the Auditorium of the Vigo Exhibition Centre (Ifevi).
Mindtech, Metal Industry and Technologies International Trade Fair, is the benchmark industrial fair in the Iberian Pole, which will hold its third edition from 20 to 22 June 2023 in Vigo.
During the international promotion event, the fair’s organisers and collaborators, as well as representatives of leading companies, spoke about business opportunities and highlighted the joint work carried out in what has already established itself as a benchmark fair for the metal sector and its associated technologies in the Iberian Pole.
Enrique Mallón, Managing Director of Mindtech, expressed his gratitude for the great reception of this third edition of the fair, which will once again serve as “a meeting point for the metal industry and all its associated technologies”. Mallón highlighted Mindtech’s role as “an intercontinental hub between Europe, Africa and the Atlantic countries” in what has already established itself as “an unprecedented showcase to show the world everything our sector has to offer”.
Along these lines, Justo Sierra, President of Mindtech, stressed that: “We are working hard to make this edition a historic milestone, doubling the number of exhibitors to bring together 300 companies and thousands of visitors at a meeting that was born from the industry itself and for the industry, and which is having a great reception. The metal sector and its associated technologies are highly internationalised and it is at meetings such as this one that major contracts are closed and new value-added business relationships are created. This year, once again, we will be opening up to our usual partners such as Portugal, Mexico and Colombia, but also to Africa and Asia. It is an opportunity to reinforce our positioning, an unprecedented showcase for Galician industry, which is receiving continuous and decisive support from companies and institutions”.
During the international promotion event, Beatriz Ventero, Director of Strategy and Operations of the aeronautical company Boeing, highlighted the importance of the fair for driving companies such as hers. During her keynote speech, she stressed that “the investment and synergies of trade fairs like this one are essential to generate industrial footprint. Specifically in aeronautics, only 18% of the world’s population and 1% of goods fly on average, so the potential for growth is enormous. Over the next 20 years, 44,000 new aircraft will be produced, doubling the current fleet. This is an opportunity for the aeronautics industry but also for the entire metal sector and associated technologies such as those at the Mindtech fair. We must continue to work together on digitalisation, talent, sustainability and innovation, which are shared challenges in which, if we invest together, we will achieve a domino effect in key industries such as aeronautics, automotive, machinery or transport”.
Lino Comesaña, Director of Institutional Business for Galicia, Northern Spain and Portugal at Abanca said: “We are proud to have such an important and international event like this fair in Galicia. We are in a disruptive moment, but with enormous opportunities. At Abanca, we are working to be a strategic partner to accompany companies in this transformation, offering tailor-made financing and promoting cutting-edge sectors such as the metal industry with driving initiatives such as the Mindtech fair“.
David Regades, State Delegate in Consorcio Zona Franca de Vigo: “Mindtech represents the sustainable economy, in which all economic and social actors at public and private level are involved. This third edition of the fair will consolidate the success of previous editions, in a path that fills us with pride and that we have travelled together. Mindtech is the meeting point for this global economy that sets the pulse as other international meetings such as Hannover do. 2023 will be the time to reindustrialise and relocate Europe, and this fair is the ideal showcase for Galicia to show everything we have to offer”.
Carmela Silva, President of the Deputation of Pontevedra, highlighted that: “The Galician metal sector represents 20% of the Galician GDP, an innovative industry, highly technological and very aware of the new world we are building. In this context, we must continue to work together to implement the structural change that our industry and our society are undergoing, especially in the field of training qualified professionals and investing in a powerful and self-sufficient industry of our own”.
Francisco Conde, First Vice-President and Regional Minister of Economy, Industry and Innovation of the Xunta de Galicia: “In Mindtech we are all public administrations with industrial competences, together, in an example of public-private collaboration. Galicia has once again set an all-time record in exports, of which more than 30% corresponds precisely to the metal sector. In this context, the Mindtech fair is a fundamental initiative to continue promoting the internationalisation of our industry. From the Xunta we are working to support sustainability, the mobilisation of European funds and the promotion of key sectors such as the automotive, biotechnology or aerospace, which are strategic for our economy”.
Abel Caballero, Mayor of Vigo: “Technology has always been implicit in industry, but Mindtech has given this symbiosis the relevance it deserves. Our companies are the engine of our economy and are doing exceptional work that deserves to be shown to the world in meetings like Mindtech. This third edition comes at a key moment, as a milestone prior to Spain’s six-month presidency of the EU. Our country will receive 147 billion European funds, which will make possible an unprecedented transformation towards new strategic investments. For the automotive industry, for the naval industry… Vigo’s industry and its driving companies will be present in all of them”.
In each of its editions, Mindtech has had more than 200 exhibitors, 15,000 visitors, international presence from more than 10 countries, 50 speakers and more than 200 B2B meetings in what has already established itself as a neuralgic point of knowledge, innovation and meeting for the industrial sector.
In this third edition, the fair expects to double its figures, bringing together once again all the leading industries in the sector, including the automotive, aeronautics, metalworking, metal structures, renewable energies and new technologies, among many others.
The Startup Arena will once again showcase the technologies and business models of the future, and the most innovative startups will compete to present their solutions to potential investors at the heart of the Mindtech fair.
Once again this year, the Mindtech Awards will reward the most outstanding organisations and companies for their work in areas such as innovation, 4.0 technology, circular economy, mobility and corporate social responsibility.
B2B meetings will also be held to promote high added-value business contacts, and the latest international developments and trends will be discussed at the Mindtech International Conference and thematic conferences, which will feature renowned international leaders.