With over 63,000 visitors, the recent staging of A+A 2013, International Trade Fair with Congress for Safety, Security and Health at Work, in Düsseldorf, Germany closed with a new increase in visitor participation (2011: 60,100) as well as a further rise in interest from international visitors. These results impressively underline the event’s leading global position as a market and communication platform for health and safety at work. More than 1,600 exhibitors from 55 nations showcased the latest trends for safety, security and health at work as well as special equipment for disaster/emergency management. “More than one in four visitors came from outside of Germany. Our partner country activities launched in 2009 are generating valuable contacts both in political and commercial terms. These contacts help our exhibitors to open up attractive growth markets,” stated Joachim Schäfer, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.
After Russia (2009) and Poland (2011) this year’s partner country at A+A was Turkey. A working population of 23 million offers great user potential, particularly in personal protective equipment and corporate fashion. At A+A 2013, Halil Etyemez, Turkey’s Deputy Minister for Labor and Social Security, reported about the enormous efforts in his country geared towards improving health and safety at work through a stricter legal framework and far-reaching occupational safety provisions. Relations with Turkey at the political and occupational safety level will be further intensified: in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security, Messe Düsseldorf and its Turkish subsidiary will organize the first Turkish Occupational Safety + Health Exhibition (TOS+H Expo) in Istanbul from May 5 - 7, 2014.