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2 Feb, 2017

Muslim ban “endangers the recent solid growth of the U.S. exhibition industry” – UFI

Paris, 1 February 2017 – U.S. President Donald J. Trump has issued an order to temporarily ban visitors from seven countries from entering the United States. On this matter UFI, as the Global Association for the Exhibition Industry, states:

Latest UFI research shows that more than half of the companies in the US exhibition industry are expecting a negative impact from recent political developments in the world, including the outcome of the U.S. presidential elections. This endangers the recent solid growth of the U.S. exhibition industry. Dr. Andreas Gruchow, UFI President, comments: “International exhibitions rely on the free exchange of goods and ideas, and on business people from all around the world having access to these unique market places.

Most leading exhibition markets aim to become ever more international to serve these needs, and to grow as businesses. As countless impact studies show, this growth hugely benefits local, regional, and national economies, who benefit from the direct business that exhibitors and attendees bring to town. Exhibitions are not only good businesses – they are also an enormous catalyst for economic growth.

Dr. Gruchow continues: “As the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI is always promoting free exchange of ideas and travel for mutual benefit. As an industry, we are representing billions of Euro in direct and indirect economic investments. We call upon associations and businesses in our industry to also make their voices heard on this matter, and we stand ready to support them through activities like ‘Global Exhibitions Day’ on June 7.”