17 July 2006: Summary of Mercamadrid's international activity during the first half of 2006

Amongst Mercamadrid\rquote s priority objectives are the internationalisation of Mercamadrid\rquote s Industrial Food Estate and an increase in its companies\rquote international activity. Significant efforts are being made, which are summarised below.

Of importance are the following Fairs and international events:

IV Madrid Fusión

This was held between 17-19 January 2006 at the Municipal Conference Centre and was inaugurated by the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

It is a gastronomic forum where the latest trends in haute cuisine are discussed, where talks are held with leading chefs such as Ferrán Adriá or Juan Mari Arzak, and where the most sophisticated Spanish cuisine is offered.

mercamadrid internacional sponsored this event, with the following objectives:

1. To continue our presence, further to our participation in last year\rquote s III International Gastronomic Event.

2. To place Mercamadrid on the international scope, as an excellent supplier of a very wide range of fresh foods for haute cuisine.

3. To publicise Mercamadrid amongst the most important international press, in the food and gastronomic sector.

Furthermore, a delegation of several foreign news reporters invited to Madrid Fusión visited Mercamadrid\rquote s Industrial Food Estate whilst the Event was being held.

Fruitlogistica Berlin

Representatives of mercamadrid internacional participated in XIV Fruit Logistica, which took place between 2-4 February in Berlin, together with many businessmen from Mercamadrid\rquote s Industrial Food Estate.

Companies from the Estate hosted stands at the event, such as Grupo Angel Rey (Fyffes), Hnos. Franch Tutelar, S.A. (Pavilion of the Regional Community of Valencia), and Zespri, amongst others.

This year, 1,523 exhibitors from over 70 countries, including Spain, participated in the event, through 228 exhibiting companies (15% of the total) from all over Spain.

Once again, the fair has confirmed its status as a required meeting point for anybody wishing to reach a high position and make contacts on the international fruit and vegetable trade market.

Fish International Bremen

Fish Internacional took place between 12-14 February in Bremen (Germany), and was attended by mercamadrid internacional together with the National Association of Spanish Fish Wholesalers (ANMAPE).

The reason why fishing professionals wish to participate in this international meeting lies in their business relations with leading German companies in the sector (METRO, Royal Greenland, Deutsche See, amongst others), in relation to a 70-million consumer market that greatly influences neighbouring countries. At this East-West forum, the significant role of mackerel and salmon was highlighted, as highly consumed species in the Baltic countries.

Alimentaria Barcelona

In March 2006, Barcelona hosted the Food Fair Alimentaria 2006, the Spanish reference event, consolidated as an international agricultural food business centre. Naturally, mercamadrid internacional was present at the event.

At the exhibition, 30% of the companies were foreign, entailing a 6% increase with respect to the previous year. Furthermore, the number of international visitors (33,000 professionals) continues an upwards trend with a foreign representation of 21.7%, i.e. nearly one of every 4 purchasers is from outside Spain.

By country, 67.78% of the participants were from the European Union; 10.04% from Central and South America; 9.38% from outside the EEC; 4.64% from North America; 4.02% from Asia; 3.37% from Africa; and 0.71% from the South Pacific.

XX International Meeting of the Gourmet Club

On 8 May, the International Meeting of the Gourmet Club was inaugurated at the Cristal, Arena and Satélite Arena Pavilions of the Fair Grounds of Casa de Campo (Madrid), with the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Fishing and Food, Elena Espinosa Mangana, and many important figures from the gastronomic world.

Mercamadrid internacional wished to participate at this very special anniversary, with a section dedicated to publicising its promotion of the international scope of the companies belonging to its Industrial Estate, both wholesale and retail, transportation companies, distributors, cold-technology specialists, etc.

Anybody at the Meeting who visited Mercamadrid Internacional\rquote s stand was provided with information on the most relevant international projects that are currently being carried out by mixed companies, such as the Extension of the Industrial Estate, the creation of Madrid\rquote s International Food Trade Center, or the identifying trademark "I buy at Mercamadrid" as a symbol of business quality.

The International Meeting of the Gourmet Club is an international fair for professionals only, dedicated to quality foods and beverages, and is considered Europe\rquote s leading event in the sector.

European Seafood Exposition Brussels

In Brussels, between 9-11 May, the most important world fair was held in relation to seafood, fresh and frozen fish, and prepared, fresh and frozen seafood. Mercamadrid internacional was present at this event.

The Fair has a high business turnover and involves an exhibition area of more than 20,000 square metres, with over 1,200 exhibiting companies from all around the world, and 18,000 visitors from 100 different countries.

The European Seafood Exposition is an international meeting point for the worldwide supply of seafood and related companies, which enables an exchange of experiences, new trends and current situations in the sector.

Mercamadrid participated with a 36-square metre stand, in order to encourage Mercamadrid\rquote s international image, and special attention was paid to promote Madrid\rquote s International Food Trade Center (MIF), created last year in Mercamadrid, enabling its clients to set up business in the largest international food centre.

Global Forum OECD 2006

Mercamadrid wished to accompany the City Council of Madrid, together with many businessmen, at the OECD Forum that took place in Paris on 22 May. This was part of its campaign to improve Madrid\rquote s international presence, a need that is beginning to materialise thanks to the active participation of Madrid\rquote s citizens, according to the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón.

The delegation of Madrid included, amongst others, the spokesmen for financial matters of the three municipal parties in the City Council of Madrid (PP, PSOE and IU); the General Secretary of CC.OO. in Madrid, Francisco Javier López; the Chairmen of the Chamber of Commerce and of CEIM, Fernando Fernandez-Tapias and Gerardo Díaz Ferrán, respectively; the Chairman of Mercamadrid, Luis Blázquez; the Chairmen of El Corte Inglés, ACS and HISPASAT, Isidoro Álvarez, Florentino Pérez and Petra Mateos Aparicio; the Vice Chairman of INDRA, Humberto Figarola; the Vice Chairman of the Instituto de Empresa Foundation and former Dean of Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Rafael Puyol; the General Manager of IFEMA, Fermín Lucas; the Chairman of Asociación Empresarial Hotelera de Madrid, Jesús Gatell; and the Chairman of IESE in Madrid, Juan José Toribio.

Visit to Rungis (Paris)

On 23 May, a delegation from Mercamadrid Internacional, led by the Chairman of the mixed company, Luis Blázquez Torres, visited the Rungis wholesale market in Paris. A working meeting was held with the General Secretary of the market\rquote s management entity, Michel Ganneau, and with the Chairman and General Manager, Marc Spielrein.

Rungis covers a surface area of 232 hectares; it has a 150-kilometer scope of influence around Paris; and distributed 1,569,000 tons of products in 2004. It is considered one of Europe\rquote s most important wholesale markets.

Rungis acts as one of Paris\rquote s essential economic motors, given that 1,296 companies conduct their business on its premises, providing 12,300 direct employment posts.

International visits to the Industrial Estate (first half of 2006)

- Delegation of foreign news reporters from Madrid Fusión (January 2006)

- Representatives from Instituto de Promoción de Carne de Vacuno Argentina (January 2006)

- Delegation from Uruguay, INIA and INAC (March 2006)

- Delegation from the Johannesburg Market (March 2006)

- Municipal Delegation from Galati, Rumania (March 2006)

- Instituto Sindical para la Cooperación al Desarrollo de Perú (March 2006)

- Chairman of the German Bundesrat (March 2006)

- Delegation from Ecuador (April 2006)

- French Delegation (April 2006)

- Russian Delegation. Senators from the Agrarian Committee (April 2006)

- General Manager of the Peruvian Company "Peruvian Gourmet" (April 2006)

- Delegation from the Philippines. Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies and Ambassador of the Philippines (April 2006)

- Korean Delegation from the fruit and vegetable sector (May 2006)

- Seafish Farmers from Western Greece and Chamber of Commerce of the Region (Aquapiscis) (May 2006)

- Australian Delegation, Cell Aquaculture, together with a Malaysian Delegation (May 2006)