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The situation in Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues and the willingness to help is still in demand. Messe München shows its solidarity with Ukraine and is involved with various aid measures.

Arrival and distribution center as well as emergency accommodation

Since March, emergency accommodation for refugees from Ukraine has been available at the trade fair site in Riem. At times, up to 2,400 refugees were temporarily housed here. The Messe München site also served as an arrival and distribution center for Ukrainian refugees. Refugees arriving at the main railway station were taken straight to Messe München where they were given not only accommodation but also emergency and non-urgent medical treatment as well as social advice. In a separate tent on the site, volunteers helped them to find private accommodation.

Back in March, Messe München made available storage and logistics areas for the City of Munich’s “München hilft” campaign. A collection center for private donations was opened at the North open-air site.

Appeal for donations and presentation of a check

In the run-up to LASER World of PHOTONICS 2022 which took place in Munich from April 26 to 29, Messe München launched the “Photonics for Ukraine” campaign on the initiative of the LASER World of PHOTONICS Advisory Board. €20,000 for needy children in Ukraine was raised. On the last day of the trade fair, representatives of the biggest donors (Coherent, Fraunhofer ILT, Jenoptik, Laser Components, TOPTICA and TRUMPF) as well as the Deputy CEO of Messe München, Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, presented the check to Christine Kazenwadel, a board representative from the Fritz-Kreuzer-Stiftung foundation. The foundation helps children in Ukraine who have lost an arm or a leg.

Another €5,000 was donated to Bayerische Ostgesellschaft via OstWestWirtschaftsForum OWWF Bayern e.V. The initiative provides desperately needed goods and money to help refugees in Ukraine.

Dedicated colleagues

Messe München supports the voluntary work of its staff to help needy Ukrainians. The company management allows employees to take time off work as part of the company’s efforts to support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. For example, the company drew attention to CIVIL RELIEF MUNICH in its internal communications. Messe München employees are already involved in the initiative.

With CIVIL RELIEF MUNICH’s “Safe-End2End convoys”, up to 25 vehicles travel daily to locations on the Ukrainian border in order to take people in need of protection directly to host families. The CEO Klaus Dittrich personally took part in the project.

Cessation of business activities

Messe München has therefore ceased all marketing and sales activities involving Russian and Belarusian exhibitors and visitors. Existing contracts with Russian and Belarusian exhibitors at our events in Munich are terminated. Messe München is also withdrawing from the Russian market.