2013 SUMMARY
        
        
          16 | 17
        
        
          Internationality,
        
        
          innovation and
        
        
          diversification,
        
        
          three strategic pillars
        
        
          for Fira
        
        
          Confidence in the future
        
        
          The year 2013 assessed in this report was
        
        
          determined, like in previous years, by the
        
        
          continuing recession, still affecting people,
        
        
          companies –especially small and medium-sized–,
        
        
          institutions, and Spanish and European trade fair
        
        
          organizations, yet in a context which is starting
        
        
          to show some economic improvement and weak
        
        
          signs of recovery. It is safe to say that there
        
        
          was more confidence in the future and trust in
        
        
          overcoming the recession.
        
        
          Fira de Barcelona based its strategy in becoming
        
        
          the catalyst for the productive economy, by
        
        
          organising shows and bringing in major congresses
        
        
          and events of international scope, which has a
        
        
          positive impact on the territory and its
        
        
          economy, as well as an estimated impact of
        
        
          2,500 million euros. The institution reaffirmed
        
        
          its role and positioning as a major platform
        
        
          for business, knowledge and modernity, connected
        
        
          with the scope and prestige of Barcelona and
        
        
          its brand.
        
        
          Internationality, innovation and diversification
        
        
          of the activity laid the foundation for the
        
        
          assessment of a year that, trying to avoid
        
        
          self-complacency, could be qualified as
        
        
          positive for Fira, which not only complied
        
        
          with the expected budget but also exceeded
        
        
          it significantly.