Ofitec 08 will bring together office furniture manufacturers from 12 countries together in madrid

Ofitec 2008: • This fair has established itself as the second most important trade meeting for the industry in Europe and a key event for importers, exporters and purchasing managers in other countries • 20% of the exhibitors who will be present at the are foreign companies • Over the first ten months of the year 2007, Spanish office furniture manufacturers increased their exports by 21%.

Office and contract furniture and equipment manufacturers from 12 countries will come together in Madrid between 26th and 29th February at Ofitec, the International Trade Exhibition of Office and Contract Furniture and Equipment, which is considered to be the second most important fair for the industry in Europe. In total, some 34 foreign companies will take part directly at the fair, which represents 20% of total participation at the event.  

Among the countries represented at the fair, in addition to Spain, we might mention Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Portugal. Portugal, a priority market for Spain, will enjoy special prominence this year, based on the attendance of a large number of companies. Foreign companies' willingness to present their new features at Ofitec is a clear indicator of the established nature of this fair and the considerable interest it arouses beyond Spain's borders.

Under the heading of visitors, the fair organisers have set up Foreign Prescribing Parties and Foreign Buyer Programmes, in collaboration with FAMO, Associated Manufacturers of General Office and Contract Furniture and Equipment, the Spanish Foreign Trade Institute, ICEX and the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Madrid. These programmes are aimed at the main markets of interest to the exhibiting companies and seek to attract a larger number of foreign visitors, which at the last edition came to 1,600 in total.

In this respect, it is worth mentioning that over the last decade, Spanish office and contract furniture has managed to position itself among the market leaders in Europe. In fact, over the first ten months of the year 2007, Spanish office furniture manufacturers exported products valued at 116 million euros, a 21% increase compared to the same period in the year 2006. The main destinations for these exports were countries such as France, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, we might highlight the strong level of demand witnessed in Saudi Arabia, which accounts for orders valued at five million euros. In this respect, the Arab country is the main client for Spanish office furniture outside Europe.