Russian Pavilion at "Comdex Nordic 2002", January 22-24, Goteborg, Sweden
Feb 19, 2002
"Comdex Nordic" - international IT exhibition - took place in the Goteborg, Sweden during the 22-24 January, 2002. "Comdex" is a worldwide-known IT exhibition brand, which usually takes place in USA every year. During last years organizing committee is expanding the geography of Comdex and in year 2002 they decided Comdex to be held in Scandinavia, and Sweden had been chosen as the country with high developed IT infrastructure.
"Comdex Nordic" was held in Goteborg - the second largest city in Sweden, avowed as a capital of Swedish industry, where the headquarters of all companies are located (for example, Volvo, SAAB, some Ericsson departments and others). More than 1500 representatives from 61 countries exhibited on the area of 9500 square meters. Total number of visitors exceeded 30000 people.
It was the first time in "Comdex" history when collective Russian stand was presented on the fair. Russian pavilion with an area of 40 m2 was located in the central part of the exhibition ground close to Microsoft and Ericsson booths. Such good location and well managed marketing brought to a huge number of visitors. Totally during the exhibition there were more than 1500 visitors of the Russian pavilion.
The organizer of the Russian pavilion was non-commercial partnership "Consortium Fort-Ross Information Technology Services" together with assistance of Association For Cooperation With Nordic Countries "NORDEN". On one booth there were companies from three cities of Russia - leading centers of Software development - Saint-Petersburg, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod. Total number of co-exhibitors was 14 companies; lots of them were members of two Russian IT associations - "Fort-Ross IT Services" and NSDA (National Software Development Association). That was a good example of cooperation between two functioning associations from Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.
Preliminary results show that Russian stand on "Comdex-Nordic" had a huge success. What ere the reasons for such success?
First of all, it was made spade-work for marketing of stand. Three months before the exhibition it was made a virtual stand in the Internet, where all participants represented theirs profiles, promoted their services (virtual stand will function for about 3 months after the fair at www.expoplanet.net/comdex). Moreover it was made the web-site of Russian pavilion (www.comdex.spb.ru) Also it was made a distribution of information about the stand among 10000 managers of IT companies and managers of IT-departments of big industrial companies.
Second, it was made a lot for advertising of Russian stand. Thanks to the Swedish organizing committee Russian pavilion "sounded" very good in Swedish mass-media and among VIP-guests of the exhibition. Particularly the head of Russian delegation - the president of Consortium "Fort-Ross IT Services" Mr. Valentin Makarov made a speech during the press-conference that was devoted to the opening of the fair. "Dagens Industry" (daily business newspaper) printed a big article about Russian pavilion. Swedish trade minister specially emphasized Russian pavilion during his speech, and after that visited it during round on the exhibition, that was mentioned during Swedish TV programs.
Third, special marketing events attended to Russian pavilion. For example, after the first day "Russian party" took place, where traditional Russian drinks and food were served. The number of guests surpassed all expectations - it was over 200. During the second day the Information seminar took place, where all participating companies presented theirs technologies and solutions in the IT area.
And fourthly, main marketing event was matchmaking between Russian participants and potential customers. Mostly all meetings were arranged beforehand, that increased the efficiency of Russian pavilion for participating companies. For example, during the fair the discussion with such Swedish companies as Ericsson, Volvo, Hennes & Mauritz, representatives of IT-associations and technoparks were carried out.
An important criterion of success on the fair was good infrastructure. All participants of the stand had an Internet access, were able to use utility room, the separate registration of all visitors was carried out.
Definitely, it is hard to evaluate the results just after the fair. Anyway, the organizers of the Russian pavilion believe that it was a very positive experience of representing the opportunities of Russia during international exhibitions. "Fort-Ross IT Services" has already applied for participation of Russian pavilion next year with larger space. It was made negotiations together with main organizers of "Comdex" about conducting "Comdex Russia" in the Saint-Petersburg in the year 2003.
It is impossible not to mention the assistance that was rendered by the Consulate General of Russian Federation in the Goteborg. The personal assisted to the delegation with logistic in the city and accommodation. Moreover after the fair the dinner on the behalf of the Consul General Mr. Bessonov was organized at the Consulate for all members of Russian delegation. During the dinner Consul General come forward with support for organizing in Goteborg events on the occasion of Saint-Petersburg's 300-anniversary.
Here are some comments of participants of the Russian pavilion:
"In the name of LG Softlab I'd like to thank Fort-Ross for the activity during the organization of Russian pavilion on Comdex-Nordic 2002. The idea of promoting Russian software developing companies and products, those were produced by Russian brains, deserves the support and respect. The minus of the fair, that didn't depend on us, was the time when it took place. We were not able to meet the representatives of several leading companies in the absence of theirs booths. Nevertheless, some contacts that we received during the fair are very perspective and negotiations are still in the progress" (Sergey Bogomolov, LG Softlab, Saint-Petersburg).
"The evidence of international interest for Russian IT-sector was emphasized by the visit of Swedish Trade Minister Mr. Leif Pagorotsky together with representatives from the City administration of Goteborg and organizers of the fair to the Russian pavilion. FDP Technologies' representatives think that the experience of participating in Comdex Nordic is undoubtedly positive. During the fair the company was able to present to the potential partners its services and developments, as well as receive new knowledge about Scandinavian IT-sector and its main players." (Elena Ivchenko, FDP Technologies, Moscow).
"Participating in Comdex showed that Fort-Ross is the most professional in the organizing of collective stands (our company has worked with lots of organizers). The results have exceeded all expectations" (Alexander Sergeev, Epsylon Technologies, Moscow).
"It was the first time when Solvo participated in such big international exhibition. The main ideas of our participation were evaluating the demand of European market for services provided by our company, studying the experience of European software developing companies, defining the requests for the quality of services. This objects were achieved. The participation in Comdex Nordic helped us to define the market niche for the products of our company, generate the image of potential customer, set up contacts with potential partners and customers" (Alexander Trotsky, Solvo, Saint-Petersburg).
"It worth to emphasize the well-done job of he organizing committee of the Russian pavilion both during the preparation and during the fair. Mostly thanks to this fact, the atmosphere about Russian companies were quiet positive, that contributed for positive contacts. And the success of the Russian party was just exceptional! This experience is worth to be used on other exhibitions" (Gilbert Doctorow, STAR SPb).
"Comdex Nordic" was held in Goteborg - the second largest city in Sweden, avowed as a capital of Swedish industry, where the headquarters of all companies are located (for example, Volvo, SAAB, some Ericsson departments and others). More than 1500 representatives from 61 countries exhibited on the area of 9500 square meters. Total number of visitors exceeded 30000 people.
It was the first time in "Comdex" history when collective Russian stand was presented on the fair. Russian pavilion with an area of 40 m2 was located in the central part of the exhibition ground close to Microsoft and Ericsson booths. Such good location and well managed marketing brought to a huge number of visitors. Totally during the exhibition there were more than 1500 visitors of the Russian pavilion.
The organizer of the Russian pavilion was non-commercial partnership "Consortium Fort-Ross Information Technology Services" together with assistance of Association For Cooperation With Nordic Countries "NORDEN". On one booth there were companies from three cities of Russia - leading centers of Software development - Saint-Petersburg, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod. Total number of co-exhibitors was 14 companies; lots of them were members of two Russian IT associations - "Fort-Ross IT Services" and NSDA (National Software Development Association). That was a good example of cooperation between two functioning associations from Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.
Preliminary results show that Russian stand on "Comdex-Nordic" had a huge success. What ere the reasons for such success?
First of all, it was made spade-work for marketing of stand. Three months before the exhibition it was made a virtual stand in the Internet, where all participants represented theirs profiles, promoted their services (virtual stand will function for about 3 months after the fair at www.expoplanet.net/comdex). Moreover it was made the web-site of Russian pavilion (www.comdex.spb.ru) Also it was made a distribution of information about the stand among 10000 managers of IT companies and managers of IT-departments of big industrial companies.
Second, it was made a lot for advertising of Russian stand. Thanks to the Swedish organizing committee Russian pavilion "sounded" very good in Swedish mass-media and among VIP-guests of the exhibition. Particularly the head of Russian delegation - the president of Consortium "Fort-Ross IT Services" Mr. Valentin Makarov made a speech during the press-conference that was devoted to the opening of the fair. "Dagens Industry" (daily business newspaper) printed a big article about Russian pavilion. Swedish trade minister specially emphasized Russian pavilion during his speech, and after that visited it during round on the exhibition, that was mentioned during Swedish TV programs.
Third, special marketing events attended to Russian pavilion. For example, after the first day "Russian party" took place, where traditional Russian drinks and food were served. The number of guests surpassed all expectations - it was over 200. During the second day the Information seminar took place, where all participating companies presented theirs technologies and solutions in the IT area.
And fourthly, main marketing event was matchmaking between Russian participants and potential customers. Mostly all meetings were arranged beforehand, that increased the efficiency of Russian pavilion for participating companies. For example, during the fair the discussion with such Swedish companies as Ericsson, Volvo, Hennes & Mauritz, representatives of IT-associations and technoparks were carried out.
An important criterion of success on the fair was good infrastructure. All participants of the stand had an Internet access, were able to use utility room, the separate registration of all visitors was carried out.
Definitely, it is hard to evaluate the results just after the fair. Anyway, the organizers of the Russian pavilion believe that it was a very positive experience of representing the opportunities of Russia during international exhibitions. "Fort-Ross IT Services" has already applied for participation of Russian pavilion next year with larger space. It was made negotiations together with main organizers of "Comdex" about conducting "Comdex Russia" in the Saint-Petersburg in the year 2003.
It is impossible not to mention the assistance that was rendered by the Consulate General of Russian Federation in the Goteborg. The personal assisted to the delegation with logistic in the city and accommodation. Moreover after the fair the dinner on the behalf of the Consul General Mr. Bessonov was organized at the Consulate for all members of Russian delegation. During the dinner Consul General come forward with support for organizing in Goteborg events on the occasion of Saint-Petersburg's 300-anniversary.
Here are some comments of participants of the Russian pavilion:
"In the name of LG Softlab I'd like to thank Fort-Ross for the activity during the organization of Russian pavilion on Comdex-Nordic 2002. The idea of promoting Russian software developing companies and products, those were produced by Russian brains, deserves the support and respect. The minus of the fair, that didn't depend on us, was the time when it took place. We were not able to meet the representatives of several leading companies in the absence of theirs booths. Nevertheless, some contacts that we received during the fair are very perspective and negotiations are still in the progress" (Sergey Bogomolov, LG Softlab, Saint-Petersburg).
"The evidence of international interest for Russian IT-sector was emphasized by the visit of Swedish Trade Minister Mr. Leif Pagorotsky together with representatives from the City administration of Goteborg and organizers of the fair to the Russian pavilion. FDP Technologies' representatives think that the experience of participating in Comdex Nordic is undoubtedly positive. During the fair the company was able to present to the potential partners its services and developments, as well as receive new knowledge about Scandinavian IT-sector and its main players." (Elena Ivchenko, FDP Technologies, Moscow).
"Participating in Comdex showed that Fort-Ross is the most professional in the organizing of collective stands (our company has worked with lots of organizers). The results have exceeded all expectations" (Alexander Sergeev, Epsylon Technologies, Moscow).
"It was the first time when Solvo participated in such big international exhibition. The main ideas of our participation were evaluating the demand of European market for services provided by our company, studying the experience of European software developing companies, defining the requests for the quality of services. This objects were achieved. The participation in Comdex Nordic helped us to define the market niche for the products of our company, generate the image of potential customer, set up contacts with potential partners and customers" (Alexander Trotsky, Solvo, Saint-Petersburg).
"It worth to emphasize the well-done job of he organizing committee of the Russian pavilion both during the preparation and during the fair. Mostly thanks to this fact, the atmosphere about Russian companies were quiet positive, that contributed for positive contacts. And the success of the Russian party was just exceptional! This experience is worth to be used on other exhibitions" (Gilbert Doctorow, STAR SPb).