ESSEN, Germany, February 2, 2010: Even greater internationality and even greater professionality with nearly the same number of visitors and a higher number of exhibitors - the new day assignment of IPM ESSEN has worked out optimally. For the first time, the International Plant Fair took place from Tuesday to Friday. On the four weekdays, 1,511 exhibitors (64 more than in the preceding year) from 43 countries presented their innovations, their refined products and their services to the international trade public. 57,168 visitors from all over the world came to IPM ESSEN 2010.
Heinz Herker, President of Zentralverband Gartenbau ("Central Horticultural Association"), showed his satisfaction when looking back at the premiere of the new weekday assignment: "I have heard an exclusively positive response not only from sellers but also from purchasers particularly about the quality of the visitors. And also with regard to the numbers of visitors, I am sure that the new concept has proven its worth. At IPM, it was possible to detect once again that our sector is confidently setting about the task of organising its own future with its partners from technology, industry, commerce, service and marketing."
Professor Matthias Diezemann, President of INDEGA Interessenvertretung der Deutschen Industrie für den Gartenbau ("Association Representing the Interests of the German Horticultural Industry"), summarised the opinion of the entire Technology section after a meeting the INDEGA Executive Council: "The exhibitors in the Technology section are more than satisfied with the high number of decision-takers, with the competence of the visitors and with the increased foreign proportion at IPM ESSEN 2010."
"We are glad about the worldwide recognition of this thoroughbred trade fair," Frank Thorwirth and Egon Galinnis, Managing Directors of Messe Essen, said about the good mood amongst exhibitors and visitors. "At IPM ESSEN (the most significant trading place of the green sector anywhere in the world), it has also been proven once again that Germany is an important consumer market for flowers and plants."
In her speech during the opening ceremony, Ilse Aigner, Federal Minister of Agriculture, praised IPM and horticulture as a whole as "international, innovative and diverse". Eckhard Uhlenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia Minister of Agriculture, awarded the NRW Horticultural Prize to the family-owned Suttmeyer enterprise for the complete redesigning of the main cemetery in Gelsenkirchen under the name of "Garden of Remembrance".
In her welcoming address, Princess Benedikte of Denmark stressed that she was very happy to follow the invitation to the European Capital of Culture for IPM ESSEN. At the International Plant Fair, she was pleased "to sense the great commitment and the fine creativity of this sector". After the opening ceremony, she presented the Floradania Innovation Award 2010 in the "Danish Hall".