After its remarkable success last year, the capital goods trade fair “Future Mongolia” will once again be held in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator from June 19 to 22. The organizer expects approximately 120 exhibitors from various nations. Participating last time were also such “top dogs” in the sector as Caterpillar, Hyundai, Liebherr and Wirtgen.
Posting double-digit annual growth rates for its gross national product, Mongolia is one of the fastest developing economies in the world. For 2013 alone leading economic research institutes forecast another increase of between 15 and 18%. Finance experts are speaking of the future “Dubai of the East.” What they mean here is the state capital Ulaanbaatar with its roughly 1.2 million inhabitants – the center of the economic and cultural life of the country with a total population of 2.8 million inhabitants.
The reason for this immense growth is the country’s so far scarcely assessable wealth in natural resources – especially coal, copper, gold and rare earths. A not inconsiderable proportion of the billions of revenue flowing from this raw materials business to state treasury is earmarked for further improving the housing situation and transport infrastructure especially at the state capital. Measures planned include the erection of a whole new quarter for approximately 20,000 citizens as well as the construction of a major industrial estate right next to the new international airport to be opened in 2016. Add to this several road and bridge construction projects as well as refurbishment and renovation work on existing buildings. For this construction enterprises need especially new and efficient construction equipment and building material machines. A large proportion of them still dates back to Soviet times and is hopelessly outdated. And spare parts are hard to get, if at all. Also in demand are high-quality building materials designed to withstand the harsh climate with extreme temperature fluctuations of up to 100 degrees.
Wide Trade Audience
With “Future Mongolia” a trade fair has been created, says Stephan A. Fischer, that enables capital goods manufacturers of all sectors of industry to introduce for the first time their products and services to a wide trade audience from Mongolia and the surrounding countries. Fischer is the Chief Executive Officer of VF Messen GmbH, the organizing company from Germany. He and his team are supported by VDMA, the German Machinery and Plant Manufacturers’ Association, that acts as a conceptual sponsor for “Future Mongolia.” Boasting over 3,000 member companies with more than 900,000 employees in total, VDMA is among Europe’s biggest and most influential industrial associations.
The first “Future Mongolia” held in May last year was attended by some 100 exhibitors from 14 nations. Fischer expects this figure to be exceeded at the forthcoming event. Exhibitors were, according to the results of a survey, satisfied almost completely across the board. Contacts with new customers were made and in part also business deals were concluded on site. The trade fair is accompanied by an extensive conference program which is to involve representatives from state and private organizations, institutions and businesses from Mongolia.
3,000 Square Meters of Hall Space
“Future Mongolia” will once again be organized in and around the sports complex “Buyant Ukhaar,” situated right next to the international airport of Ulan Bator. All in all, some 3,000 square meters of hall space and 4,500 square meters of outdoor exhibition area are available. The trade fair is promoted by the Mongolian state government and the city Ulan Bator.
