Next year’s event will be held in person during boot Düsseldorf

The annual International Breakfast Meeting (IBM) will return to in-person dialogue, after holding the last edition online in early 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The next edition on 25 January 2022 will feature high-level panelists from business and politics who will contribute to the discussion on the EU’s future approach to trade, as well as solutions to the supply chain constraints currently impacting the recreational boating industry based on best practices from other sectors.

Every year, the IBM held at boot Düsseldorf offers trade visitors, industry, and journalists the opportunity to exchange information on the latest market trends, political developments, as well as to develop new contacts and networks. The 2021 online edition was attended by 220 participants.

For January 2022 the organisers of IBM, boot Düsseldorf and the European Boating (EBI), will revive the event in its traditional format. The seventh edition of the IBM will once again tackle a crucial topic for the boating industry under the theme of “International trade opportunities and supply chain challenges”.

The main topics will be the EU’s new trade policy and the supply chain challenges that are affecting the boating sector and other industries.

According to the organisers: “As a side effect of the pandemic, demand in many sectors increased, including boats, components and equipment. However, the increased demand intertwined with shortages of materials, supply chains disruptions and trade disputes increasingly complicate business. In light of these difficulties, the European Commission has launched a new trade approach that is open, but also strategically autonomous. The aim of the discussion at IBM 2022 is to help businesses navigate the EU’s future approach to trade, as well as discuss potential solutions to supply chain challenges and identify the opportunities for the boating sector over the coming years.”

These crucial topics for the boating industry will be addressed by presentations from the EU institutions, speakers from the boating sector and other sectors, such as automotive and logistics.

Announcing the 2022 IBM, Project Director of boot Düsseldorf Petros Michelidakis said: “We are delighted to welcome back the boating industry in person at boot Düsseldorf and at the International Breakfast Meeting 2022. It will be an excellent opportunity to reflect on the status of the industry and discuss with experts and policy-makers the current most pivotal developments and challenges in international trade.”

Philip Easthill, Secretary-General of EBI, commented: “Policy developments in international and European trade policy have been posing key challenges not only for the recreational boating industry, but for many other sectors as well. EBI is looking forward to work again with its partner boot Düsseldorf to bring together different voices and expertise at IBM 2022 for the benefit of the industry and find common solutions”.

IBI will be attending and reporting on the International Breakfast meeting. Registration is now open and can be accessed at www.boot.com/ibm2022registration

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