Opening of the 49th International Trade Fair in Munich Today, the German Minister of Economics, Mr. Rexrodt, opened the 49th International Trade Fair in Munich. Until March 16 more than 1,700 exhibitors will participate in the world's biggest trade fair, featuring machines, tools, as well as furnishings for small and medium-sized businesses. This year the fair is important as a special indicator of the business cycle for medium-sized and small businesses. The industry still lays claim to the image that trade is the locomotive of the economic development. But the speed and surety of this phenomenon are slightly less than before.
Trade continues to be the leading training sector.
In Bavaria the number of new business contracts increased for the sixth year in a row to 37,800 in 1996 . The high number of 150,000 new Bavarian businesses is also welcome. The managing director of the trade fair, Franz Reisbeck, stated that these tradesmen and their colleagues will focus on information and communications technology this year. During special events craftsmen will show their special talents by producing glass and providing baked goods as well as pastries. The trip back on the MVV, the Munich transit system, is free, as all fair admission tickets include the price of a return ticket.