IFEMA MADRID Joins the Board of Directors of the International Association of American Trade Fairs (AFIDA)

IFEMA MADRID will hold the First Vice-Presidency of the Board of Directors of the International Association of American Trade Fairs (AFIDA) for the 2026-2028 period, in the person of its executive vice-president, Daniel Martínez. The appointment took place during the 55th Latin American Congress of the Trade Fair and Convention Industry, held at the Noemundo venue in Bucaramanga (Colombia), where the new Board was constituted, chaired by Raúl Strauss, general manager of FEXPROCRUZ (Bolivia) and president of UFI's LATAM Chapter, with Claudio Dowdall of La Rural (Argentina) as second vice-president. The team is completed by Elena Hurtado (Expo Guadalajara, Mexico) as treasurer and directors from Panama, Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia, accompanied by a Council of Honorary Presidents including outgoing president Fernando Gorbarán (Messe Frankfurt Argentina). Martínez called the role "an excellent opportunity to intensify Spain's focus on Latin America" and strengthen ties with the Ibero-American space. The congress gathered MICE industry leaders from eleven countries to debate innovation, sustainability and artificial intelligence. AFIDA, with over 57 years of history, brings together venues, organizers and suppliers of the Ibero-American fair and congress industry, representing more than 50 members from 16 countries.