Chancellor Merkel is opening gamescom for the first time

Berlin, 22 June 2017 – Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will open gamescom, the world’s largest event for computer and video games, for the first time on Tuesday, 22 August 2017 in Cologne. This was announced today jointly by Koelnmesse, organiser of gamescom, and the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU) as gamescom sponsor. [quotation cite=”Felix Falk, Managing Director of BIU”] “We consider it a great honour and a sign of recognition that Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will this year participate in the opening tour of gamescom.” [/quotation]  

“We consider it a great honour and a sign of recognition that Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel will this year participate in the opening tour of gamescom”, says Felix Falk, Managing Director of the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU).
“The visit of Dr. Merkel underlines the importance of the games industry for the cultural, digital and business location of Germany. Whether virtual reality, gamification or 3D simulations: the technologies of the games industry already play a central role in the digitalisation and networking of the economy and society. Germany needs a strong games industry in order to also secure itself a top position in the digitalised economy.”
 
The agreement to attend was also received very positively by the organiser of gamescom, Koelnmesse GmbH: “The participation of the Chancellor is a sign of great appreciation for us”, says Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.
 
“With her visit she honours the development of gamescom into one of the most successful and largest events in the German trade fair system. gamescom is today the world’s largest event for computer and video games. She emphasises the position of Koelnmesse as one of the leading trade fair organisers worldwide in the digital media and entertainment segment.”
 
gamescom is the world’s largest event for computer and video games and Europe’s most important business platform for the games industry. Last year, 345,000 visitors from 97 countries came to Cologne to inform themselves about the highlights and trends of the 877 exhibiting companies from 54 countries. Together with the gamescom city festival in the Cologne city centre, gamescom moved more than a half a million people to and within the Rhine metropolis.

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About gamescom

gamescom is the world’s largest event for computer and video games, as well as Europe’s largest business platform for the games industry. With the business area, the entertainment area, the GDC Europe, the gamescom congress and the gamescom city festival, gamescom offers tailored platforms for all audiences.

About the BIU

The BIU, the German Games Industry Association, is the association of the German computer and video games industry. Its 28 members are developers, publishers and suppliers of digital games. Together, they represent over 85 per cent of the German market. The BIU is, for example, the organiser of gamescom. As an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, the BIU answers all questions on the topic of digital games.

Press contact:

Martin Puppe
BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware e. V.
Charlottenstraße 62
10117 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 2408 779-20
Fax: +49 (0)30 2408 779-11
Email: puppe@biu-online.de
Twitter: @game_eV
Facebook.com/BIUeV

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