News
Manchester Central ushers in the International Co-operative Alliance for 2012
Published at 13:53 on 10th of February 2011
The International Co-operative Alliance will host its third annual trade exhibition at Manchester Central in the autumn of 2012.
The international body, which works with co-operatives from all over the world, will host a three-day exhibition at the award-winning Manchester Central between 31 October and 2 November 2012 – the first time the event has come to the UK.
“2012 is the centenary year of the co-operative movement and so this year’s exhibition is due to be extra special,” said Luiz Branco, president of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA). “We are very excited about bringing this event to Manchester, and believe that Manchester Central is the perfect choice for our delegates as the airport, train stations and road networks make it so accessible.
“The newly developed venue provides us with the ideal space for our event and we are looking forward to coming to the city, and the UK, for the first time,” he added.
Co-operatives from the world over will join together in Manchester to showcase exclusive products and services and increase their import and export opportunities. With over five million members and 120,000 employees the Co-operative Group is one of the world’s largest co-operative businesses. The British Group will be supporting the organisation and promotion of the event alongside the UK’s wider co-operative movement.
Paula Lorimer, Sales Director at Manchester Central, said: “This is a real boost for the exhibition market and it is great to be able to announce an international exhibition of this stature being held at Manchester Central, demonstrating that the venue is still the first choice for exhibitors. We are really looking forward to having the ICA exhibition in 2012 and are excited about working with the ICA team to ensure the exhibition runs perfectly.
“Manchester Central is forging a strong name for itself on the international circuit, and the ICA win is another feather in the cap for the award winning venue. We are delighted to be hosting it,” she added.
“Manchester is the ideal choice for international associations looking to come to the UK. The city benefits from a top 20 international airport, three large train stations, and numerous motorway links, making it easily accessible from all over the world. There are 2,500 hotel rooms within a five-minute walk of Manchester Central itself, which help organisers ensure the delegate’s experience is as good as it can be.
“Manchester is a young, vibrant city which strikes the balance of original and modern perfectly, and it is very attractive destination for both international and national events,” added Paula.
Manchester Central has recently completed a £30million redevelopment programme which has added meeting rooms and networking space to the already impressive venue. During the 2009/10 financial year, the venue generated £56million worth of economic impact to Manchester and the surrounding region.
The ICA has previously been held in Portugal (Lisbon) and India (Bangalore).