Entrepreneurs fair BizBarcelona 2014 gets underway

Barcelona (CNA).- Throughout this week the Fira de Barcelona's Montjuic exhibition venue in the Catalan capital is transformed into a business fair for start-ups and entrepreneurs. The BizBarcelona event takes place on Wednesday the 4^th and Thursday the 5^th of June and is the second edition of this innovative business fair. The event serves several purposes and contains as many as six different areas including e-commerce, the financial markets, exports, franchises, business consulting as well as cooperation and networking. The event offers various opportunities for established and future entrepreneurs. BizBarcelona is a welcome initiative. First quarter financial reports revealed a decrease in bankruptcy proceedings, and with a high unemployment rate in Catalonia and Spain it is hoped that these new companies can create jobs.

The entrepreneurs’ fair is already underway for the second year running. BizBarcelona was originally created as a merger between two other events. In previous years the city has had two different venues related to entrepreneurship one was the Entrepreneurs Day and the other was HiT Barcelona, which was mainly focused on innovation. An agreement was made to merge the two events and the combination is a new fair that brings together all aspects of business with a main focus on entrepreneurship and business start-ups, but the merge has made BizBarcelona a big event with both exhibitors, visitors and motivational speakers from various backgrounds that provide information about the general business areas. These include e-commerce, which is growing rapidly. The digital and technological development offers many new opportunities for entrepreneurs with a good idea and a desire to be their own boss. This area provides information on how to set up a business and how to execute the idea and develop for further growth.

Besides this, visitors can seek advice on the financial market with experts sharing their knowledge on the current situation and market forces. In addition, areas such as export and franchise are on the agenda for those looking to expand their horizon within the business field. Some of the prominent attendees offer both consulting in general terms and in more specialized areas. Furthermore the event focuses on cooperation and networking allowing all visitors, exhibitors and experts to help each other to work together.

Crisis in Spain and Catalonia                                                                             

BizBarcelona is an important event in the Catalan capital’s calendar. With an ongoing crisis and a critical situation in the financial market with little optimism for investment and entrepreneurs this fair can add its contribution to turn things around. Mechanisms in the financial sector are unlikely to be influenced by this event, but the importance of new companies’ establishment must not be underestimated. Their effort should be rewarded, as this is a way to create new jobs in the market with a high unemployment rate.

The current unemployment rate in Spain is just below 26% according to recent numbers from the first quarter, whereas it is slightly lower in Catalonia (22%). The numbers are still of great concern and an initiative like a new business start-up helps create a more positive environment. Although things are not completely turned around financial quarter figures show a decrease in bankruptcy proceedings in Catalonia. This clearly indicates that it is difficult to succeed, but more companies manage to steer through the crisis and survive. Hopefully this can inspire and aid people to adapt a more positive outlook regarding the job market and this business fair might implement necessary actions. To make things happen many people believe good things lie ahead as 12,000 entrepreneurs are expected to participate in the event, who can all network and exchange ideas about all the mentioned topics or be inspired by one of the 324 speakers, who include professors, CEOs, Directors and self employed entrepreneurs.