The Jubilee 60^th Furniture Fair is Open

The 60^th International Fair of Furniture, Equipment, and Interior Decoration (UFI) and the 60^th edition of the International Fair of Machines and Tools for the Woodworking Industry (UFI), the largest event in the Southeast European region, which has been setting standards for decades and showcasing the latest trends, styles, and technologies in wood processing, furniture production, and distribution, are officially opened at the Belgrade Fair.

The honor of opening the jubilee edition of the event was bestowed upon Adrijana Mesarović, Minister of Economy in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Speaking about the great potential of Serbia’s wood industry, the minister stated that the value of wood furniture exports last year amounted to 768.7 million euros, marking a 12.7% increase compared to 2022, with a continued upward trend this year.

“The furniture industry in Serbia is absolutely competitive both in the domestic and international markets, especially in terms of product quality and design. Today, we can seize this opportunity for further development thanks to the free trade agreements signed with EFTA, CEFTA, the European Union, the People’s Republic of China, the Eurasian Economic Union, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and thanks to the regional Open Balkan initiative,” Mesarović said, adding that production is growing daily and that Serbia is recognized globally on the investment map as the country with the fastest-growing economy in Europe and achieving significant results in technological advancement as well as in the fields of science and artificial intelligence.

The minister invited manufacturers to follow the Ministry of Economy’s calls for competitions, noting that they are aligned with the opportunities and needs of the industry.

“The State of Serbia strongly supports its economy, and the Ministry of Economy will continue, as it has so far, to support creative producers by providing financial resources for equipment procurement and other forms of enhancing competitiveness,” Mesarović concluded.

At this year’s Furniture Fair, visitors will be able to see pieces of contemporary furniture, with a wide range of options for various rooms and purposes (residential, office, children’s, garden, kitchens, bedrooms, sets, and much more), as well as different styles of furniture (modern, classic, minimalist, rustic). Other interior elements, such as lighting, decorative items, and other accessories that contribute to the complete look and furnishing of residential or business spaces, will not be missing either.

The Furniture Fair is being held in halls 1, 1A, 2, 3, and 3A, with over 100 exhibitors from both the domestic and international markets, with brands from Sweden, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and from the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and others. Among the renowned companies are Ikea, Drvoteks, Melani Sofa, Forest, Simpo, Rota Solutions, while Hall 3 remains known for its design concept and will showcase companies like Casa Familia, Rast, Garda, Mebel Jumis Design, Sofa Sofa, Mod Project, Mobello, Furnix... For the first time, the fair will host companies such as Dal-Masiv Doel from North Macedonia, as well as Meda Furniture and Wood Decor from Serbia.

The 60^th International Fair of Machines and Tools for the Woodworking Industry will be held in Hall 5 of the Belgrade Fair from 1 to 5 October, lasting one day less than the Furniture Fair, with free entry for visitors. The offerings will follow one of the key goals in the development of wood processing—automation and digitization of production processes, technologies that enable manufacturers to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve product quality.

The exhibition program includes a wide range of machines and tools for high-precision primary and final wood processing, sawmills, dryers, mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic tools, as well as a variety of raw materials for furniture production.

Among this year’s participants are Top Tech Woodworking with the Italian brand Biesse, Inter Holz Balkan with Austrian brands Holz Her, OTT, and others. For the first time, the fair will host Gomatek and Radek Dooel from North Macedonia, Cefla from Italy, and Ostrmann from Germany.

The ongoing fair provides an opportunity for business meetings and the formation of new partnerships, serving as a platform for exchanging knowledge, ideas, and innovations.

The six decades of the fair’s existence testify to the commitment to nurturing the aesthetic and functional experience in furnishing spaces where we live, work, and reside.