The world’s largest industrial show starts in Hanover. Chancellor Scholz is expected to tour the trade fair. Economics Minister Habeck is also coming.
The world’s largest exhibition for mechanical engineering and electrical engineering begins in Hanover on Monday. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and the Prime Minister of this year’s partner country Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, officially opened the Hannover Messe on Sunday evening. Up to and including Friday, around 4,000 exhibitors will be showing their new products in the Lower Saxony state capital. There is also an extensive program of specialist conferences.
Scholz will get an overview during the traditional tour of the Chancellor. Before that, the industry associations BDI, VDMA and ZVEI want to give their assessments of the current situation and further developments in 2024. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has also announced his presence. In the afternoon, Habeck wants to present a new standard for climate-friendly steel together with the Steel Industry Association. In the evening, Habeck will speak at the European political reception at the trade fair.
The focus of the industrial show is artificial intelligence, climate-friendly production, solutions for the energy transition and hydrogen as an energy source. Exhibitors from 60 countries are there. Numerous technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services, Dell, SAP, Siemens and Bosch are also represented. There are also a number of medium-sized companies and more than 300 start-ups. More than 500 exhibitors are on the topic of hydrogen alone.
The trade fair aims to give industry new impetus
“The Hannover Messe is still the mother of all trade fairs, which sets the agenda for the industry of the future,” said trade fair boss Jochen Köckler before the industrial show. “And it’s more important than ever.” In economically difficult times like now, companies were looking for guidance. The trade fair wants to offer this.
“We want to show how the industry can continue to function competitively in the future.” This should give the economy new impetus. “Innovative technologies and a clear economic policy agenda – that’s what’s important if signals of optimism and confidence are to come from Hanover.”
In 2023, 130,000 visitors came to the trade fair, and in 2019 even 215,000. In 2020, the exhibition was canceled for the first time since it was founded in 1947 due to the corona pandemic. In 2021 it only took place digitally.
Source: Stern
