Salon Geneva: New start only in two years?
NO AGREEMENT After the cancellation of the Motor Show this year as a result of the Corona crisis and its economic consequences, the organization of the event had asked the Canton of Geneva for financial support. The Geneva State Council then proposed to grant support in the form of a loan of 16.8 million Swiss francs under certain conditions. Since the conditions imposed were in contradiction [...]
The Geneva State Council then proposed to grant support in the form of a loan of 16.8 million Swiss francs under certain conditions. As the conditions imposed are in conflict with the statutes of the Foundation, the latter is forced to waive the loan.
Foundation weakening
Due to the Corona pandemic, the salon could not take place - four days before its opening, the event was canceled (AutoSprintCH reported). The financial situation of the foundation in charge of organizing the Geneva International Motor Show was thus severely weakened.
Financial support
Against this background, the Foundation has requested financial support from the Canton of Geneva to cover the losses caused by the cancellation of GIMS 2020 - estimated at eleven million francs - and to prepare a new edition. The Geneva State Council has subsequently proposed to grant a loan of 16.8 million francs to the Foundation under certain conditions.
The Foundation thanks the State Council for the draft law granting this loan.
"Unfortunately, the conditions attached to the loan, aimed in particular at the complete subcontracting of the exhibition, including conceptualization, to Palexpo SA, are not acceptable to the Foundation."
Contradiction with the Articles of Association
This is because they contradict the statutes and, in particular, the purpose of the foundation formulated more than 100 years ago. Furthermore, the holding of the 2021 event - a condition in connection with the urgency clause of the draft law - is currently very uncertain.
In addition, key GIMS exhibitors strongly recommend that the next edition not be scheduled until 2022.
