– Poznań International Fair is the symbol of the city and BUDMA is one of its trademarks – said the Mayor of Poznań, Mr Jacek Jaśkowiak, during the opening of the 25th edition of BUDMA Construction and Architecture Fair and the KOMINKI International Fireplace Exhibition. The ceremony was held on February 2, 2016, in Pavilion 11 (the so-called Spire) of Poznań International Fair. The opening gala was attended by many special guest, including the representatives of the Poznań City Office and the Marshal’s Office, representatives of state authorities – including Mr Andrzej Dera, Secretary of State in the Office of the President of Poland and Mr Tomasz Żuchowski, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Construction, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the representative of the National Chamber of Commerce, Mr Michal Konwicki, the Chairperson, Director of the Statute and Self-Government Office of the NCC, representatives of many trade chambers and associations including Mr Paweł Babij, Chairperson of the Polish Chamber of Construction, member of Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry and Ms Marzenna Łukaszewicz, Executive Director of PCEI. Przemysław Trawa, Chairman of Poznań International Fair and the President of Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry talked about the 95th anniversary of PIF celebrated in 2016 and went on to present the events planned for this year’s edition of BUDMA. – This year at BUDMA we have 750 exhibitors who will present 130 innovations – stressed Przemysław Trawa. The opening gala was also attended by numerous exhibitors at BUMA and KOMINKI. Many of them received awards: Gold Medals of PIF awarded to innovative products of the highest quality presented during fairs and the awards in the PIF Acanthus Aureus contest for exhibition stands whose architectural and graphic solutions support the marketing strategy of the company, developing the positive image of the company, and direct communication with the customer and the market. For the first time the city authorities presented the Architectus Civitatis Nostrae award, founded the Mayor of Poznań, which acknowledges the best entrepreneurs in housing investment projects. The Chairperson of the jury of the contest, the Deputy Mayor of Poznań, Mr Maciej Wudarski, presented the award to the laureate, the very well-known developer on the Polish market, the Ataner company from Poznań. The 25th anniversary of BUDMA was also the occasion to present special certificates to trade organizations and companies who have successfully cooperated with BUDMA for many years. Source: Poznań International Fair; Polish Chamber of Exhibition Industry, January 2016.