TORREVIEJA’S INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND COMMERCE FAIR

APYMECO, Torrevieja small and medium business association are mounting the largest ever exhibition that the city has ever scene. Other local companies have mounted expos in local hotels but this one, featuring 140 local businesses, is by far the most ambitious of to date. Every Autumn, APYMECO organise the Outlet Fair, which last year attracted 22,000 visitors.

At the end of March, they have organised their most ambitious project to date, an International Fair, which will be held on the site of the former fairground on Torrevieja's Harbour area.

The fair will take place from Wednesday March 30 through Sunday April 3, 2011. The 140 stands will be located inside two Marquee Tents in the fairground area, that's double the size of the Outlet Fair from last year, at 2,800 square meters! The objective is to attract 30,000 or more visitors to the first event, which it's hoped will become an annual attraction.

The aim of the fair is two-fold; to help boost trade and commerce within the city and to promote local Spanish and International Business Services to the fair's visitors.

You need have no fear about not being understood either as one of the stipulations is that each stand holder must have at least one staff member able to communicate in English and Spanish.

Although the show features members of APYMECO it is not limited to just their membership and they would like to invite and attract more local International business groups to the event. At present, the majority of stand holders are Spanish and Scandinavian offering both sales and services including car and property sales, legal and gastor services, pools services, construction, furniture, web design, graphic and printing services and much, much more.

The show offers free entry and is open from 0930 to 2130-hrs each day, with the exception of Wednesday when doors will open around noon. There is also a stage for entertainment each day from noon onwards, featuring fashion shows, demonstrations, music and dance, theatre and novelty acts over the five days. Food and drink is also on offer so you won't go hungry or thirsty during your visit.

For any business wishing to exhibit. There are still a few available stands available. The only criteria, apart from languages is that the business must be based in Torrevieja or do a substantial amount of business in the city. For non Members of APYMECO it's only €498 for a stand space and for members just €398. For local businesses thinking that joining APYMECO may be of great benefit to their business, it's inexpensive to join and the monthly subscription is only €15!

An example of an APYMECO and Town Hall initiative is the I-Mas card, a loyalty card, which has been around since July 2009, has over 3,500 card holders but is virtually unknown in International circles! The card offers discounts, monthly lotteries to win €200, an annual €600 prize and in 2010, one lucky couple won a Mediterranean cruise with MSC Cruises.

Normally, after you make your application, the card is posted out to you a few days later, but at the show, you can apply directly and within a few minutes it's ready for you to enjoy a world of discounts and possible prizes around Torrevieja.

For those businesses interested in joining APYMECO or finding out more, please telephone 96 670 59 09 and ask for Alfonso or Antonio, who both speak English.

There are close to 300 members of APYMECO at the moment but they would like more International Business people to become involved as at present only 15 have International ownership.

To find out more about displaying at the first expo, just send Alfonso an email at apymeco@salitel.com or drop into their offices located close to the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre at 145 C/ Ramon Gallud, Torrevieja.