Hannover, Germany/São Paulo, Brazil — Deutsche Messe continued its international expansion with the announcement of CeMAT SOUTH AMERICA, scheduled to debut 4–7 April 2011 at Centro de Exposições Imigrantes in São Paulo, Brazil. The new event is an extension of CeMAT Hannover, the world’s leading intralogistics fair, and will showcase the complete range of material handling and logistics solutions.

"SOUTH AMERICA is a key component of our international strategy, one in which Brazil is currently the largest market for our exhibiting customers,” said Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Messe AG. “Brazil has managed to avoid much of the impact of the worldwide financial crisis. Economic growth this year is projected at roughly five percent and, as the economy grows, so will demand for modern logistics solutions. Subsequently, many leading manufacturers have expressed strong interest in CeMAT SOUTH AMERICA.”

Deutsche Messe is organizing CeMAT SOUTH AMERICA with the cooperation and support of the Brazilian logistics association ABIMAQ, (Chamber of Material Handling) and VDMA (German Machinery and Plant Manufacturing Association).

Major growth industries in Brazil include oil and natural gas; infrastructure; construction; renewable energy; environmental technology; cosmetics; medical devices. Brazil’s automotive industry posted a record result with the support of massive injection of crisis-related state aid: the number of new vehicles produced between January and October 2009 was 6.1 percent higher than the very successful previous year.

Current Brazilian economic policy emphasizes infrastructure development, which could very well give the economy a major boost this year. In addition to infrastructure policies set forth in 2007, Brazil will host the Football 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, necessitating substantial investments in airports, hotels, roads, and stadiums.