June 2007
The 5th edition of SIFER, which closed on 14th June, brought together over 280 exhibitors. It also attracted some 3 500 visitors from 37 countries, an improvement of 15% on SIFER 2005.
Despite a calendar marked by some very important political events in France, SIFER 2007 can pride itself on having welcomed an increased number of visitors and can rightly boast of having become the meeting-place in France for all rail-sector professionals!
The large number of overseas visitors (27% of the total attending) consolidates the position of this event as a prime international "business" venue for the rail-sector, with Lille Métropole as the international shop - window.
Given the outstanding success of SIFER 2007, over one-third of the exhibitors present have already booked space at the next show, set for 2009.
Some 3 500 professionals from the rail sector came to Lille Grand Palais this year to visit SIFER - France's premier International Railway Exhibition - 15 % more compared with the 2005 edition. The number of exhibitors is also on the increase, as demonstrated by the fact that exhibition organisers Mack Brooks France had to double the available capacity, compared with 2005, to accommodate the 284 exhibitors!
Many foreign visitors (accounting for 27% of the total number recorded) also attended the show in Lille to inform themselves about latest international railway innovations.
60 Companies from the "Northern France" Nord Pas-de-Calais/Picardie region, collectively presented their innovations and returned home with a number of signed-and-sealed contracts and having established firm contacts with many professional visitors paving the way for future deals. In the eyes of these firms, SIFER 2007 therefore constituted an ideal venue to strike business deals and interact with companies of international repute.
For example: a high-powered delegation was sent by BKM - a Russian firm ranking among the top wagon manufacturers worldwide (5 000 units/year; 15 000 planned on 2008) - to meet with French companies and discover the range of technological and human expertise and competencies in demand by BKM. Another example: the CEO of Turkish Railways, a first-time SIFER visitor, was on the lookout for quality products offered by French exhibitors and particularly those from the Nord Pas-de-Calais Region. As observed by Héric Manusset, AIF Delegate-General: « . quite clearly overseas firms have come here to seek solutions for their technological and service requirements. their interest also focuses on how we work. this exhibition has truly earned its spurs as an event of international dimension".
Some exhibitors thought nothing of travelling thousands of kilometres to participate, for example GUANGZHOU JETER PROSPERITY Limited from the Republic of China - an importer/exporter of passenger and freight vehicles, equipment and components for passenger/freight vehicles and locomotives - was also a first-time participant at SIFER.
Other exhibitors used SIFER 2007 as a convenient venue for interacting with loyal customers and suppliers from all over the world.
Many exhibitors (more than 30%) have already booked their stand for SIFER 2009. Mack Brooks France looks forward once again to the pleasure of welcoming rail-sector professionals at the 6th edition of the "Salon International de l'Industrie Ferroviaire - SIFER", in 2009 in Lille.
For more details, please visit : www.sifer2007.com.
Visual material on SIFER 2007 available on request.
France Press Contact : Marina LOUVEAU - +33 (0)328 52 00 50 / marina.louveau@rp-carrees.com
International Press Contact : Ken HARRIS - +44 (0)1273 300 434 / ken.harris@mackbrooks.com