Federal Councillor Merz opens the World Watch and Jewellery Show, BASELWORLD 2007

The World Watch and Jewellery Show, BASELWORLD, opens its doors in Basel from April 12 to 19, 2007.

The Swiss Minister of Finance, Hans-Rudolf Merz, will open the Show and the newly created "Hall of Dreams". For 2,109 exhibiting companies and over 90,000 visitors from all over the world, BASELWORLD 2007 will prove to be the industry’s most important event of the year.

BASELWORLD, the world’s largest and most important show for the watch and jewellery industry, opens its doors on Thursday, April 12, 2007, in Basel. With 160,000 m2 of floor space, BASELWORLD 2007 is Switzerland’s largest trade exhibition. Showcasing a wide variety of innovative and cutting edge products, BASELWORLD is set to reinforce its position as the world’s leading watch and jewellery event.

The opening ceremony will be performed by Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz, Eva Herzog (President of the Government of the Canton of Basel-Stadt), René Kamm (CEO of Swiss Exhibition) and Jacques J. Duchêne (President of the Exhibitors’ Committee).

2,109 watch and jewellery exhibitors from 45 countries will be out in force to showcase their latest products and ranges, with many of the companies present exhibiting exclusively at BASELWORLD. During the Show, 90,000 industry professionals from 100 countries are expected to visit the city.

Alongside the new and ground-breaking products on display, highlights of this year’s Show will include the "Hall of Dreams", which, together with the public areas of Hall 1, have been redesigned. These innovations will create a prestigious ambiance and form the perfect backdrop against which to view the rich variety of brands on show. The superbly presented exhibition stands and displays and the meticulous attention paid to the decor inside and outside the
Halls will leave visitors in no doubt that BASELWORLD is a show of the highest calibre.

Furthermore, as the world’s leading watch and jewellery show, BASELWORLD is well-placed to give the industry a positive boost this year and maximise the dominant position which suppliers in the luxury goods sector currently enjoy. In view of today’s favourable economic conditions, exhibitors will have high hopes for the forthcoming Show. Judging from the high number of exhibitors and visitors re-registering in the last two years, it is clear that BASELWORLD continues to provide a positive stimulus, moving the industry forwards.