Torrevieja’s first International Business Expo came to an end on Sunday April 3, after five full days and 60-hours spent highlighting some of the city’s small and medium sized businesses.APYMECO, Torrevieja’s small and medium business association coordinated this ambitious undertaking with assistance from Torrevieja’s Town Hall and the commerce department in Valencia. Housed in the largest ever exhibition Marque that the city has ever erected, 84-local business centres offered their services to the visiting public and other business people.
The Marquee Tent erected in the fairground area was double the size of the Outlet Fair from last year, at 2,800 square meters! Wednesday was set aside as a professional day, for networking among local business people followed by four days open to the general public.
As an International fair, all stands had to have staff that spoke English and Spanish, with the majority of exhibitors coming from Spain and Scandinavia. On display were such services as car sales, insurance, mobile phones, shoes, property sales, trophies, health services, churches, computers, travel and tourism, antiques, beauty supplies,, jewellery, fitness, satellite TV, furniture, lifestyle and many others.
Only a few British companies were displaying including ‘Award A Trophy’ plus the Business Group Espana, representing all of their members. APYMECO’s objective is to promote small and business outlets in Torrevieja while BGE are primarily a networking group who put a strong emphasis on word of mouth recommendations.
This first show was also a networking event for APYMECO’s members and closer ties have now been forged between the two entities. Each day also featured a full line up of entertainment, demonstrations, fashion shows, and Radio broadcasts on the centre stage.
Although Thursday and Friday were steady days for foot traffic, it was non stop action on Saturday and Sunday and with opening hours from 0930-2130, it was a full day for those working their stands.
As the fair was free to enter it’s difficult to come up with a figure of attendees but an estimate based on activity from other shows put the figure at more than 40,000 visitors over the five days; an excellent result for a first event. The Fair is earmarked to become an annual attraction with its aim being two-fold; to help boost trade and commerce within the city and to promote local Spanish and International Business Services.
There are close to 300 members of APYMECO. They are keen to attract more International Business people and it’s not expensive, as membership is a very reasonable €15 a month.
Any Torrevieja businesses interested in joining APYMECO or finding out more, please telephone 96 670 59 09 and ask for Alfonso or Antonio, who both speak English, send an email to apymeco@salitel.com or drop into their offices located close to the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre at 145 C/ Ramon Gallud, Torrevieja.
