13 June, 2022The president of the basque government Iñigo Urkullu presided over the official opening ceremony of the 31st Machine Tool Biennial this morning. Considered the main industrial fair held in Spain and the third most important in Europe, the event will bring together 1,400 exhibiting firms from 28 countries in Bilbao.
The president of the basque government was accompanied at the opening ceremony by the Minister for Economic Development and Infrastructure of the Basque Government and President of BEC, Arantza Tapia, the Vice- Basque Premier and Minister for Labor and Employment, Idoia Mendia, the Deputy General of Bizkaia, Unai Rementería, the President of AFM Cluster, José Pérez Berdud, the President of AIMHE, José Ignacio Ortiz de Urbina, the Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, the Mayor of Barakaldo, Amaia del Campo, the General Director of BEC, Xabier Basáñez, the General Director of AFM Cluster, Xabier Ortueta and the President of the Bizkaia Chamber of Commerce, José Ángel Corres, among others.
After the opening speeches, the delegation has made an inaugural visit, learning first-hand about the novelties presented in some of the most outstanding stands of the six pavilions that occupy the fair.
In his speech, José Pérez Berdud, president of AFM Cluster, defended the primordial role of the industrial sector and advanced manufacturing: “a competitive, digitized and sustainable industry is undoubtedly the engine of our country and our society. Manufacturing and its associated technologies are the substrate that makes possible the existence and permanence of the rest of the value chains such as the automotive, aeronautical, railway, energy or capital goods, to name a few”.
Pérez Berdud also highlighted the importance that an internationally relevant event such as the 31 BIEMH has for the sector: "We have gone from being a place where machines were bought and sold, to creating an industrial ecosystem where solutions are offered to manufacturing challenges of the maximum complexity. Everything essential to transform the industry is here at BEC”.
After the opening ceremony, the Lehendakari visited various companies in the sector, showing interest in their projects and novelties.
In 2021, the machine tool and advanced manufacturing technology sector increased its turnover by 18.66% over the figures corresponding to 2020, largely recovering the drop it experienced in 2020 due to the pandemic. The export figure, 1,241.47 million euros invoiced abroad, shows an increase of 23.41% over that of 2020. Despite the complex international scenario, companies have started the year with interesting work portfolios and good activity.
AFM CLUSTER brings together a group of more than 700 companies in the field of advanced and digital manufacturing, of which 200 will be present at the fair, occupying a very relevant part of the BIEMH exhibition space.
BIEMH 2022 FEATURED ACTIVITIES
On Monday, June 13, Lehendakari Íñigo Urkullu will preside over the opening ceremony of the 31st BIEMH together with the president of BEC, Arantza Tapia, the president of AFM, José Pérez Berdud, and the president of AIMHE, José Ignacio Ortiz de Urbina. At 12:00 in the Atrium (BEC Level 1) next to the spiral staircase between pavilions 1 and 2.
On Tuesday, June 14 at 10:00 in the BIEMH TV room in Hall 4, the opening ceremony of the conferenceon gender equality in the industrial sector will take place on June 14, 15 and 16 .
On Wednesday, June 15 at 12:30 p.m., the inauguration of WORKinn will take place, which will be chaired by the Vice-Lehendakari and Minister of Labor and Employment of the Basque Government, Idoia Mendia, in the WORKinn Talent Hub space in Hall 4.
On Thursday, June 16 at 11:30 a.m., the Innovation awards ceremony will take place in the BIEMH TV room, which will be chaired by the Provincial Deputy for Economic Promotion of Bizkaia, Ainara Basurko, accompanied by Galo Gutiérrez, General Director of Industry and the SME of the Ministry of Industry.
On Friday, June 17 at 12:00, the evaluation press conference for the 31st edition of BIEMH will be held in the BEC press room.
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