Making contact: At this year's IPM, language skills may be as important as market knowledge, says Gavin McEwan

摘要

Now in its 25th year, IPM (Internationale Pflanzenmesse) is Europe's largest horticulture show- its 1,400 exhibitors from around 40 countries and more than 60,000 visitors outdoing even Amsterdam's Horti Fair. The show is divided into three main sections covering plants, floristry and technology, and will provide a showcase for launches in each sector, with firms such as Syngenta, Fides and Ton van den Oever among those showing new products. Around a dozen British companies are expected to attend. Among them are tree fern and driftwood specialist HSK -attending for the fourth time. Managing director Phil Blackledge said: "It's a chance to make contacts with people from the German industry, as well as from the UK, France and Italy."