The International Fair of Malta

With an attendance of over 150,000 visitors, The International Fair of Malta has established itself as the major event in the Maltese commercial calendar. The Fair is a showcase of Malta's endeavours in the field of business enterprise representing an interesting cross-section of over 330 exhibitors

The International Fair of Malta is a general fair open to the public. Exhibits include industrial goods, consumer goods, motor cars, services, agriculture and fisheries. The total exhibition area occupied is 19,000 square metres.

In 1972, The International Fair of Malta was accepted as a member of the world association of international fairs, the Union des Foires Internationales of Paris (UFI). Another affiliation is that with the Association of Mediterranean Fairs, of which the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation is a founding member.

If one had to ask any Maltese about commercial fairs, the name that will always come up is the Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Centre in Naxxar. Being the only specialised fairs centre in the Maltese Islands, The Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Centre is a 44,000 square metre complex that comprises a combination of exhibition halls and a conference venue, all landscaped within the pleasant surroundings of a typical Mediterranean olive garden in the grounds of the historic Palazzo Parisio.

The vast open grounds, with tiers of stone display units and buildings, are utilised as the site for the International Fair of Malta, while the various exhibition halls host the various smaller specialised fairs that take place throughout all the year. On average, two such fairs are held at the Centre every month.

Apart from local commercial fairs, the Trade Fairs and Exhibition Centre is also the regular focus for a number of prestigious events held there by both local and international organisations.

The particular layout of the ground and halls provide for an optimum flexibility for the exhibitors, enabling various possibilities for different display formats and features within each fair.

The Malta Trade Fairs Corporation is a national organisation dedicated to the organisation of a wide spectrum of fairs. Held throughout the year, these fairs encompass all areas of trade and commercial operation, addressing both the corporate sector and the general public. The most prestigious and well-known of these activities is the International Fair of Malta held every year.

The Corporation's Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Centre, popularly known as the Trade Fair Grounds, is regarded as the venue for all kinds of commercial fair activity, displays, product launches and other promotions in the Maltese Islands.

The Malta Trade Fairs Corporation was first set up in 1955 as an organising body for the Malta Trade Fair, today the International Fair of Malta. Perceiving an obvious need in the market, the Corporation soon expanded its objectives to include also other more specialised fairs in its portfolio. From then on, the wider role of the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation as a fairs organiser was further consolidated with the progressive addition of more and more specialised fairs, as well as the improvement of the facilities offered both to visitors and exhibitors.

Apart from fairs, the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation also caters for various ancillary and related services that are specially adapted to clients' individual requirements.

These include:

• The full organisation of functions, conferences, exhibitions media launches and other commercial activities.

• The setting up of specialised fairs as may be required by, and in arrangement with, individual clients. Liaison with international events and organisations through local representation.

The Malta Trade Fairs corporation is an autonomous organisation: Its main focus being to further Maltese industry and trade in the interest of the nation. The Corporation is governed by an Administrative Council. Represented within the Corporation are a number of sponsoring organisations, namely:

• Association of General Retailers & Traders (GRTU)
• The Maltese Chamber of Commerce
• The Government of Malta
• Malta Federation of Industries
• Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce
• The Trade Fairs Exhibitors Association
• & various regular exhibitors.

The activities of the Corporation are conducted through Fairs & Exhibitions Limited, a limited liability company wholly owned by the Corporation.

Located within the Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Centre at Naxxar is the Marchese John Scicluna Hall, a venue for business-related functions.

Tastefully decorated in a modern scheme, this 300-seat Hall has lent itself to a wide spectrum of functions ranging from exhibitions and product launches to seminars and full-blown conferences. The Hall is equipped with all the necessary equipment and facilities, and its multi-purpose set-up provides unlimited flexibility either as a stand-alone venue or in tandem with the other exhibition halls within the Centre.

The Marchese John Scicluna Hall enjoys the back up of all the amenities of the Trade Fairs & Exhibitions Centre, including telecommunication networks, secretarial services, parking and other facilities.

The Hall's Naxxar location confers optimum advatage by making the venue accessible to and from all parts of Malta, including the capital Valletta and the airport, which are no more than 20 minutes away.