OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2010. German producers of woodworking equipment expressed their concerns about the visit of Russia’s prime minister Putin to Lesdrevmash exhibition held in Moscow, as they sent a letter to the Expocentre who organized the exhibition with copies to German pavilion exhibitors including Lesprom Network. The letter is signed by the members of the board of VDMA association Klaus Lange, Stefan Mehringer and Peter Scheidt.

As it is said in the letter, the members of the exhibition were not informed in advance about planned security measures which led to long queues at the exhibition’s entry. People had to wait for several hours to get to their stands.

Visitors who had scheduled business meeting with German equipment producers had to wait outside till they were allowed to enter the pavilion. They were not either informed about how much they would wait. The visitors and exhibitors could get into the pavilion only on 3 p.m.

These security measures caused serious financial losses for many companies, VDMA says. ‘As you know, participation in Lesdrevmash requires much effort and serious expenses for companies. In turn, participants expect that the organizers would support their business and attract visitors. However, it was vice versa’, the letter says.

‘We understand that prime minister’s visit is an honourable event for the company and the exhibition. However, it should be organized so that the companies can do their business and hold meetings’, VDMA members write. They required Expocentre to comment on the letter.

Copies of the letter were sent to all member companies of VDMA and to those who participated in the work of German pavilion as well as to the Ministry for Economy and Trade of Germany.