FINAT congress to focus on Central and Eastern Europe

The growing importance of Central and Eastern Europe, both as a production base and a market for self-adhesive labels, is being recognized by FINAT, the industry’s trade association, by moving its 2006 congress to Poland’s capital, Warsaw.

The three day event – from June 7 to 9 – will concentrate on the opportunities emerging in the region where latest available statistics for self-adhesive labels show a four-fold greater growth record than for the established markets of Western Europe.

FINAT’s managing director, Jules Lejeune, sees the emerging central and eastern European region as fertile fields for his association’s members, particularly now that many Central European nations have joined the European Union and most Eastern European countries have tailored the economic policies towards trade with Western Europe.

‘The use of self-adhesive labels grew overall by 4.9 per cent but in Eastern Europe it was up by a massive 19 per cent and shows no sign of wavering,’ said Lejeune.

‘In view of this importance – not just to Western Europe based members of FINAT but also to the growing number of new members from Central and Eastern Europe – we decided to take our annual congress to Poland to get to know our new-found friends there.’

FINAT members’ contribution to the region’s emergence – it ranges from improved production facilities and expertise in those countries to the growing demand from consumers for attractively labeled goods – has been recognized by the Polish government which has promised a high ranking official to give a keynote speech to the delegates.

‘Growth through Excellence in a Wider Europe’ will be the theme of the Congress, which will be held at Warsaw’s Sheraton Hotel. Sessions will include advice on setting up business in the host country and a case study in diversification by a Polish company, along with assessments of the business and growth climates in Central and Eastern Europe from other keynote speakers.

Apart from the emerging European geographical focus, other speakers will take a look at the situation in Australia and the United States. FINAT’s emphasis on excellence will be maintained with contributions from experts on Wine Labels, Marketing and Specialization, respectively.

There will also be excellent opportunities for networking, including meeting the industry’s leading suppliers at the FINAT Tabletop Exhibition.

The winners of the industry’s ‘Oscars’ – the 26th annual label competition – will be announced during the associated conference social programmed which will also include the number of optional pre- and post conference events.