TRADE FAIR

temporary market organized to promote trade, where buyers and sellers gather to transact business. Trade fairs are organized at regular intervals, generally at the same location and period of the year, and usually last for several weeks. Such fairs assumed an increasingly important role in international trade during the 20th century. This was particularly evident in Europe and Asia, where nearly every country has at least one major annual international exposition, ranging in scope from those dealing with one industry or branch of industrial production to general exhibits of goods and merchandise. Historically, trade fairs with displays of many types of products and services were common, but fairs confined to exhibitors representing one industry or even a specialized segment of an industry are more widespread today. Among the well-known commercial fairs are the international Leipzig Fair (Germany), the Swiss Industries Fair, and the Pakistan International Fair. Others include the Milan Fair (Italy), the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki (Greece), the Zagreb International Trade Fair (Croatia), and the Paris International Fair (France). Popular specialized fairs include the International Textile and Clothing Industry Exhibition (Ghent, Belg.), the Canadian Chemical and Process Equipment Exhibition (Toronto, Can.), and the International Furniture Fair (Cologne, Ger.).