Successful AgroTech Russia 2009 exhibition

Leading agricultural exhibition in Russia: 470 exhibitors from 23 countries and over 32,000 visitors signal the first signs of a market recovery.

With 470 exhibitors from 23 countries, the agricultural machinery exhibition AgroTech Russia 2009 has delivered good results. As part of the “Golden Autumn” at the All-Russian Exhibition Center in Moscow from 9 to 12 October, the exhibition attracted leading international agricultural machinery manufacturers, who presented their innovations and product developments on an area of about 40,000 square-metres.
 
Exhibitors and visitors alike expressed their satisfaction with the event. Summing up the current mood in the agricultural sector, the organisers detected first signs that the market is moving towards recovery. Over 32,000 visitors, primarily from large-scale farms from all regions in Russia, came to the exhibition. This consolidates AgroTech’s leading position as the chosen platform for the Russian and international agricultural machinery industry.
 
AgroTech Russia is organised by the Agricultural Sector of AREC Llc. (APK VVC) and DLG-AgriService GmbH, a subsidiary of  DLG e.V.
 
Preliminary results of survey show high rating scores for AgroTech Russia
 
According to an independent objective survey, more than two thirds of exhibitors rated their participation as either excellent or good. Furthermore, 83 percent rated visitor quality as high. Despite a difficult trading climate, exhibitors were still able to develop existing and establish new business contacts. Almost all exhibitors (93 percent) plan to return to the next AgroTech Russia in 2010. 
 
Visitors were impressed by the exhibits, 83 percent evaluating AgroTech Russia as “very good” and “good”. Some 88 percent of visitors plan to attend the exhibition again in 2010. In addition, every third visitor revealed plans for agricultural investments over the next two years.
 
Pavilions from five countries
 
National pavilions representing China, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Slovenia offered technical solutions and know-how for Russia’s agriculture. 
 
The German pavilion with 43 companies was the biggest. There were altogether 14 companies from the Netherlands and 13 from Italy. Five companies were represented at the Slovenian pavilion, while China had a total of 20 companies at the exhibition.

Alongside the five national pavilions, AgroTech Russia also saw active interest among individual international participants this year. Companies from 23 countries were present to showcase their products and services at the biggest agri-machinery show in Russia, demonstrating their widespread commitment and interest in the Russian market.
                                                          
“We are pleased with the response in the five international pavilions and the interest shown by many foreign companies. This proves that AgroTech is one of the foremost international platforms in the CIS region for those in the agricultural machinery business. The exhibition offers them the opportunity to connect directly with potential customers and suppliers in Russia,” says Dr. Olga Hunger, Head Cooperation CIS Countries, DLG.
 
High-ranking government officials attend opening ceremony
 
The exhibition was officially opened by Russia’s vice Prime Minister Viktor Zukbov, Mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov and Russian agricultural minister Elena Skrynnik. Their speeches showed clearly that Russian policies aim to attract international manufacturers of agricultural machinery by establishing fabrication in Russia.

Technical programme
 
At the forum “Russia’s Agro-Industrial Complex as basis for overcoming the crisis in Russia”, Elena Skrynnik emphasised to over 600 listeners the importance of increasing competitiveness of Russian agricultural products as one of the key government objectives. To achieve this goal, Russian farms will be developed further by applying innovative production methods based on the use of modern innovative information management and agricultural technology.
 
The conference “Objectives of state-engineered support for the Russian agricultural sector” was attended by over 250 engineers. Based on findings revealed at the conference, 70 percent of Russian machinery currently requires repair, resulting in annual costs of 60 billion roubles. Action in this area is required, so an association of agricultural engineers was founded as a first step toward a solution.
 
A further conference focused on “Leasing as an effective tool for technological modernisation of agricultural production”. Agricultural leasing is the most important source of financing farms in Russia. The Russian enterprise Rosagroleasing announced that it had received an increasing number of requests from farmers over the last few years. To counter the effects of the financial crisis, Rosagroleasing created a new framework and extended the duration of leasing to 15 years, the period for advance payment to twelve months and reduced the rate to 7 percent of the procurement price.
 
 Other events included conferences dealing with issues of arable farming and a young farmers’ congress with practical workshops. Daily machinery demonstrations were conducted in an event entitled “Machinery Live”.
 
The organisers will develop AgroTech Russia further at the VVC grounds in Moscow. Plans include, for example, specific measures to further improve the infrastructure. The next AgroTech Russia will take place from 8 to 11 October 2010.