Andrea Galeanowho had been serving as head of exhibitions for the Rural Association of Uruguay (ARU), is now the executive manager of the institution that organizes Expo Prado. The 117th International Livestock Exhibition and Agroindustrial and Commercial Show will begin next Friday and will take place over 10 days. The Rural del Prado property will look full: 2,259 animals registered for swearing-in, auctions, tests and other activities, plus almost 700 exhibitors and more than 2,500 brands will be present. It will be the first edition of the ARU exhibition, an entity that turns 151, which will be held with absolute normality, after the 2020 and 2021 editions that protocols agreed with the government could be carried out, but with some restrictions. At the launching ceremony of the Expo Prado, on Monday, August 29, the goal of receiving 400,000 visitors to the site this year was set out.
What expectations do you have for Expo Prado, which will begin on Friday, September 9 and will last until Sunday, September 18?
We have high expectations and very good ones, here in all of us there is a great desire for the Prado to begin and we believe that people are also waiting for it. As highlighted by the president of ARU –Gonzalo Valdés Requena, at the launch press conference of Expo Prado 2022–, after two editions that had to be carried out in compliance with strict sanitary protocols, being able to enjoy organizing and carrying out an Expo Prado with total normality It has been an enormous challenge for all of us, but we are very happy. Now the property is being assembled, the companies come with everything very advanced and we trust that it will be a very nice Prado, very full of activities from the beginning and in each of the 10 days, with swearing-in, conferences, shows, gastronomy, other events and the proposals of each of the exhibitors.
Will “a full Prado” be seen?
Yes, that also generates joy. Everything is busy, we are in a stage now a few days before the start of creating new places to add those companies that ask us to be there at the last minute or want to carry out some specific activity, we even have a waiting list, the idea is that everything whoever wants to participate can do so, actually what we have in that sense is a beautiful complication.
And what happens with the animals, the main protagonists of a livestock show?
There is also a capacity that is full, the support of the ranchers has been impressive, we have more than 2,200 animals, we are housing some in tents, for example in the area of the municipal nursery that is next to the Rural del Prado property, which They are special tents, we expand that capacity to more than 50% so that everyone, animals and cabin crew, are comfortable. There are a total of 13% more animals compared to the last edition, which was already a record number of animals considering the participations of recent years. It is clear that year after year the interest in the Prado increases.
And why should you visit Expo Prado?
It is the event in which all Uruguayans, from all over the country, get together. It is a space where production is, where you can see what is produced, how and everything that means for the country, which is a lot. It is also a comfortable, safe, beautiful space for everyone, for the whole family, for everyone there is something attractive, something of interest. We understand that going to Expo Prado is more than a walk, it is a very good investment and especially in this edition, which due to its characteristics is not to be missed.
Will it fully reflect the good times in general in the agribusiness sector?
Yes, we believe so, that this will be reflected, we have even been seeing it in the interest in participating, in the need for more space that many have had. Having the entire property sold for a good time before the start of the exhibition is a sign, without a doubt. There will be those who have always been in recent times and many exhibitors have joined. As always there will be a very important accompaniment and not only from private sector companies and agricultural institutions, but also from embassies, ministries, different agencies and we also feel that as a support and as a reflection of a moment that is very good.
Diego Battiste
Galeano, executive manager of the ARU, an entity chaired by Gonzalo Valdés Requena and whose director of exhibitions is Rafael Ferber.
How many people work in the exhibition area of the ARU and how many people in general have an additional income thanks to Expo Prado?
We have a work team, all year round, with around 60 people. During the Prado, from before, during the development of the exhibition and in the following days for the dismantling of the exhibition, we are many more, about 600. We have also drawn some accounts that say that in reality these days, counting all the companies that provide services, exhibitors, cabañeros, journalists and other jobs, in total there is a labor movement of more than 10 thousand people.
What volume of public can there be in the 10 days?
We expect a large audience, now that there are no restrictions to consider as happened during the pandemic. That as always will depend on how the weather behaves. We trust that there will be a good audience every day, not only during every weekend, because every day, from Friday 9, there is a very complete and varied program of activities.
Any advice for visitors?
One of the requests, to the visiting public, is that they buy tickets in advance, taking advantage of the tools that technology has given us and they are here to stay, I am talking about the ARU application on cell phones and the website (expoprado.com). The pandemic allowed us to take advantage of recommendations and tools to avoid crowding, so that admission is more fluid, so that one arrives and enters. Even for that advance purchase there is a lower price at the entrance, in order to promote that. In any case, whoever wants to come and buy the ticket here can do so.
