Statement by Hans Jochen Blätte President of the German Fire Protection Association (GFPA)

INTERSCHUTZ - Der Rote Hahn 2010 (7 to 12 June) in Leipzig

In just a few hours we will have reached our goal, and INTERSCHUTZ 2010 will open its gates as an exciting networking hub for experts in the field of disaster relief, firefighting and technical support services. We are expecting to see greater attendance from Central European this time. Several hours of flying time do not appear to be deterring all the people who are eager to come to Leipzig and attend the INTERSCHUTZ show there. It is already evident that our manufacturers and suppliers of products the industry requires have shown up again with an excellent array of offerings, including a great deal of technological innovations.

Based on my many talks with foreign colleagues during the run-up to INTERSCHUTZ, I am already aware that this installment of INTERSCHUTZ, given the quality and innovativeness of the products displayed there, will be serving as a compass over the next few years.

The internationally unique mixture of commercial manufacturers on the one hand, and non-commercial exhibitors on the other, creates a relaxed atmosphere in which it is easy to initiate new business relationships and nurture existing ones.

Commerce and kindness - that is a combination that encourages long-term relations on the business as well as the friendship front. INTERSCHUTZ 2010 in Leipzig is shaping up as a high-level experience for attending specialists.

The number of rescue service providers has gone up by a large margin at INTERSCHUTZ 2010, which takes place this year in Leipzig. That is a good sign, because the emergency management services - consisting of the subcategories of fire prevention, technical support and rescue services - require uniform management in daily operations. And given the demographic shift, this is the only correct way to conserve scarce human resources. And finally, the suppliers of equipment and technology for rescue services as well as the manufacturers of vehicles and superstructures are also being offered an additional major showcase, one which is not only attractive, but international as well.

The GFPA is supporting this opportunity and development with a high-caliber rescue services congress, taking place on 11 and 12 June at the Leipzig Congress Center.

Now everything is in place, and all exhibitors, whether commercial or non-commercial, are waiting with great expectations to meet their visitors. Bets are open in terms of the number of attendees. 

Further information is available at www.vfdb.de  and www.interschutz.de