Within the scope of their close collaboration organizing international trade shows for construction machinery, Messe München and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) are founding a joint venture in South Africa. They plan to call the joint venture bC Expo South Africa (Pty) Ltd. The first bauma Africa will be held in Johannesburg in September 2013. It is being organized by MMI South Africa (Pty) Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Messe München. Subsequent events will then be organized by the new joint venture. Eugen Egetenmeir, Managing Director of Messe München, is convinced that this collaboration will give bauma Africa added potential: “Our colleagues at AEM have been supporting us in organizing the premiere of bauma Africa. We are very pleased that this spirit of cooperation is reflected by the fact that our two companies have founded this joint venture. I am sure that this will allow us to recruit even more exhibitors from North America for the fair in Johannesburg.” Dennis Slater, President of AEM, said: “AEM is pleased to take this next step in its relationship with Messe München. Our first joint venture, bC India, has developed as a model of industry efficiency and effective competition in the global marketplace, and we now look forward to a natural extension of our cooperation. Africa has great opportunities for economic growth. Recognizing this, AEM seeks to support and promote its member companies in North America through the bauma Africa 2013 launch.” Messe München and AEM have already collaborated in the successful BAUMA CONEXPO SHOW – bC India. Its premiere in 2011 occupied 88,000 square meters of exhibition space. When the fair was last held in February 2013, the amount of exhibition space increased to an impressive 150,000 square meters.