Novosibirsk Expo Centre – an important element for the future development of the region

April 26th A discussion was held in  Novosibirsk on the  key issues of urban development. The Forum, organized  by "Business Quarter Magazine”,  brought together experts on transportation, architecture, construction, marketing, education, IT, media and government.

Expertsfrom different industries have tried to determine what Novosibirsk needs to guarantee its further development. The lively debate is being fuelled  by  sometimes diametrically opposed proposals. Business representatives offered to decentralize downtown, placing   offices, warehouses andproduction terminals evenly around the city or even moving them to the suburbs while architects offered to take into account the European experience where private cars are banned from the city centre. The participants closely followed the discussions concerning parking spaces, rail and river transport and of course projects that contribute to realising the potential of Novosibirsk.

Among the projects mentioned by the experts, the beginning of operations of the International Exhibition Complex "Novosibirsk Expocentre" in January of this year was noted.  Within three months, Novosibirsk Expocentre became a place for business and major events in the region. In addition to special exhibitions by Russian and foreign companies, the complex is able to hold major public forums and business conferences, sporting events, concerts and auto shows.

According to Executive DirectorVeronica Shkarban, Novosibirsk Expo Centre is the largest exhibition complex east to the Urals and is currently the most technologically-equipped exhibition centre in the country. With the launch of this project in Novosibirsk, a space is created which removes virtually all restrictions on event planning.

“In this business, the most important thing is the surrounding area” said Ms Shkarban “that's why in Europe so much attention is paid to the organisation of the exhibition grounds. What limited us before when organizing events was that the site was too small, or that the ceilings were too low, or there was no technical capacity or parking spaces. With the Novosibirsk Expo Centrethese issues have been solved.

In the summer construction of a hotel will begin the next to the Expocentre, and further development of the area is planned. Thus, the " Novosibirsk Expocentre" today has become a business and event centre of town capable of becoming one of the key elements for the business infrastructure of the entire Siberian region.