Phil Clegg reports back from Argentina.
The SAGSE Buenos Aires trade show took place from November 12-14 in the Argentinian capital.
Smaller than last year and less populated by visitors, the event seems to be suffering from the continued restrictions on imports in Argentina. Current regulations, which have been in force now for over a year and a half, stipulate that imports must be matched by exports, making it very difficult for companies who do not have an Argentinian base to do business there. It seems that the only way this situation will be resolved is via the election of a new government, which cannot happen until two years hence. So there is no solution on the immediate horizon.
There was also a view among exhibitors that five shows in South America is four too many. The consensus was that one good event per year for the region would suffice. Having said all of this, there is still plenty of reason to believe that there is continued growth in the gaming industry in Latin America.
SAGSE is arguably still the most important gaming show in South America, despite the increasing importance of the events in Peru and Colombia. It is still the largest trade show in the region, coming a long way since its small beginnings in the late 1990s. There was also a feeling among exhibitors that the region’s major buyers were present once again.
Read the full article in the December issue of InterGaming.
