Fifty years of service

Malta's Trade Fair Corporation is this year celebrating the 50th anniversary since its foundation.

Last Friday I was at the corporation's premises in Naxxar to launch a number of events that are being organised to commemorate this event. The corporation has rightly chosen to celebrate this anniversary with various cultural events.

Originally the trade fair was one annual event that used to focus on what Maltese business and enterprise could provide. It was the annual showcase of local and imported products. Over the years it grew in size and became an international event with space reserved for different participating nations that gather within their area exhibits depicting their particular specialities.

The first Trade Fair proper was organised on a rather modest scale at San Anton Gardens in 1952. It reached its eighth edition in 1964 when Malta was about to become independent. Even in those early days, Dr Antonio Paris, who inaugurated the event as Acting Prime Minister, could refer to the Malta Fair as a permanent event in the Maltese calendar, and observed that the fair "as in former years... sows an ... effort to stimulate and strengthen our industrial and commercial activities. Such an effort is worthy of the highest support possible from all concerned, Government and people alike."

Although at that stage it was still not referred to as an international fair, exhibitors from Great Britain, Italy, Israel and Libya were participating, and distinguished personalities from these countries paid visits to Malta on the occasion of their country's national day at the fair.

Dr Paris pointed out in 1964, that the Malta Trade Fair Corporation "has succeeded in building up for itself a high international reputation as an efficient, dynamic and energetic institution."

Interestingly enough, the theme chosen in 1964 for the Malta Government Pavilion was 'Changing Economy', and the Acting Prime Minister added that the theme was "indicating the effort we must make to diversify our energies in order to change Malta from an island fortress into an industrialised country and an attractive tourist resort by its history, its sunshine, its blue seas, its beaches, and the amiability and hospitality of its people."

The president of the Malta Trade Fair Corporation was the late Anthony Miceli Farrugia who predicted that the fair was opening its gates "on what may well be the eve of a new era in the long and eventful history of our country." He added: "When this change comes about, it will fulfil the aspirations of a people with ancient traditions anxious to attain their rightful place amongst the independent countries of Europe, of which they form an integral part...."

A leap forward was made four years later when the first proper International Trade Fair was held in Malta in July 1968. It was the 12th edition of the fair but the event had acquired an official international status when in October 1967, it was accepted as a full and active member of the Union des Foires Internationales.

At the 1968 fair, there were various national pavilions representing Australia, Great Britain, the Republic of China, Italy, Libya, the United States and Malta. Moreover the Association of German Industries participated by setting up an information stand at the fair.

A new conference hall was also launched in that edition and was used for the fair's inauguration by the Prime Minister, Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier. In the same hall, an art exhibition was put up with the assistance of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Tourism.

Referring to the fair's new international dimension, the Prime Minister pointed out: "The new status of the Corporation implies that it will have to accept greater responsibilities, but I am sure that its past performances offer an adequate guarantee that it will not be found wanting in its more exalted role. The demands in this new role are bound to tax the Corporation's ability and ingenuity to the utmost... This happy occasion is vivid evidence of the strong will of our commercial and industrial community, and it illustrates their faith in the economic future of our country."

Only a year later, at the inauguration of the fair's 13th edition, Dr Borg Olivier was on the one hand extolling people to favour Maltese products but equally appealing to local producers "not (to) seek (to) evade the rigours of competition by way of trade restrictions," adding by way of encouragement, "the home market is there and it is a growing one with the added purchasing power generated by the presence of an ever increasing number of tourists. The all important proviso is that the goods on offer must be of the right quality and price."

It is amazing how much we stand to learn from our own history, not least its contemporary part. Even the history of our trade fair corporation that is celebrating its 50th anniversary offers us a showcase that goes well beyond the strictly commercial remit.

Over and above the international fair organised in the beginning of July, the corporation has in more recent times been organising specialised fairs throughout the year that focus on different business areas.

Ranging from communications and technology to industrial tools, from home improvements to motor boats, these different fairs have become very much sought after by persons who have specific business interests and would rather attend a specialised fair for that purpose than wait for the more general one.

This year no fewer than 30 events will be taking place at the trade fair grounds. These include the international fair, 23 specialised fairs and other events organised by entities that are extraneous to the corporation.

I am particularly pleased to note that various entities are making good use of the visual and performing arts to throw in high-calibre celebrations to mark that special occasion. The Trade Fairs Corporation is following suit and setting itself an excellent example through an impressive cultural calendar that brings together various leading personalities from Malta and abroad.

The National Orchestra has also been roped in and will provide a number of events for the corporation. The events stretch out from February until November. Next month the events offered include a "Classic Connections Concert" with the participation of the world-famous cellist Julian Lloyd Webber and Anstan as well as an evening with Fabrizio Faniello.

The visual arts get their fair share in March through a photographic exhibition with "Made in Malta" as the theme, as a well as philatelic exhibition and an art competition that is meant to lead to the creation of a logo for the fair's 48th edition.

In May the National Orchestra together with the well known 150-strong choir Laudate Pueri, a children's choir, soprano Miriam Cauchi, tenor Joseph Aquilina as well as a baritone from Rome's Teatro dell'Opera team up together to give us a rendering of Carmina Burana at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

The National Orchestra has been tasked further to provide us, on behalf of the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation, with a concert entitled "A Night with Lloyd Webber" as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. In the same month, we are also promised a clarinet and piano collage at the Marquis Scicluna Hall that should prove to be another treat for music lovers.

Another event involving the National Orchestra brings the cultural calendar to a close in November with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem, conducted by Professor Joseph Vella.

One need only take a cursory look at the calendar of events that will be taking place throughout this year at such venues as the Manoel Theatre, the Mediterranean Conference Centre, and at St James Cavalier, apart from other venues, to appreciate that the Maltese theatre-going public and visitors to Malta can feast on a wide selection of cultural treats that emphasise different performing arts and talents.

I am very much convinced that the country is going through a cultural renaissance that reflects more commitment by all the persons involved, and the fact that entities like the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation are contributing to that process offers me further encouragement. The corporation has offered 50 years of service and is certainly moving to many more of them.

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