Latin America. This week the Summit of the European Union and Latin America was held in Brussels. The audiovisual industry was present at this summit with the presence of Mike Blackman, president of the ISE fair, who was invited by the Council of the European Union and who opens an important range of possibilities for the industry in our region.
Below, we share Mike Blackman's conclusions after their meeting:
"The reason for this invitation is the decision that ISE has taken to bet heavily so that Barcelona is, during the days of the ISE fair, the audiovisual capital, also, of Latin America. A commitment that from the Government of Spain and specifically from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and European Union have fully supported.
In this way, Barcelona will host on January 30 and 31, 2024 the first AV Latin American Summit, an event of great importance to which the Barcelona City Council, first by the hand of the mayor Ada Colau and now of its new Mayor Jaume Collboni have invited to participate the presidents and ministers of the main countries of Latin America and for which from the Generalitat de Catalunya through of ACCIO is already working to make it a success with its network of offices in that continent.
An appointment in which governments and companies will have the opportunity to share challenges, good practices, study investments and work together on key aspects for the sector such as Artificial Intelligence, green transition, or productivity and talent. A sector that this year represents $ 307 billion with an annual growth of 5% and where Europe represents 82 billion, Spain 3.9 and Latin America 13. Some issues and magnitudes that will configure a first-level agenda where, in addition, the European Union will also have its space to improve, even more, its relations with that great continent that goes from Mexico to Chile and Argentina, passing through Colombia, and Brazil among others.
In Barcelona, ministerial and business delegations will meet to make the city a bridge between Europe and Latin America, resuming its key role as global capital and in this case as a reference for all of Latin America. A clear case where with the same language, similar culture, welcoming Barcelona and Catalonia bring out the best of themselves to promote exchanges and business, and become the context of the most important fair in the sector in a global space of business and global relations.
Already in the last edition about 10% of the exhibitors at ISE came from Latin America, being Brazil, the country with the most presence, followed closely by Mexico and then by Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Chile. New scoreboards for stadiums, screens for large shows, public address and signaling systems, audio for the home, party rooms or shopping complexes, screens and sound systems for large clothing chains, systems for urban mappings will be protagonists, again, in Barcelona, with the important novelty, that in addition, governments, institutions and companies will have a new exchange platform, good practices, and business that will be the AV Latin American Summit.
For the institution I direct, Barcelona is a determined and safe bet, to which adding the opportunity that this AV Latin American Summit represents for everyone, we also ensure a lasting relationship of affection, admiration and shared success".
