Merkel opens Hanover Messe 2017

German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened Hanover Messe 2017 on Sunday, together with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo.

From April 24 to 28, more than 6,500 exhibitors from 70 nations and regions will present technologies for tomorrow's factories and energy systems in an action-packed industrial technology showcase themed "Integrated Industry -- Creating Value".

Merkel told the opening ceremony that "Hanover Messe has been representing the openness of our economy to the world from the very beginning", when she looked back its history to 1947.

Merkel reiterated that Germany is absolutely against isolationism and protectionism, warning they can only lead to losses.

Poland is the official Partner Country for Hanover Messe 2017, having about 150 exhibitors.

Hanover Messe is the world largest industrial exhibition. For its 70th year, this exhibition is expecting around 200,000 visitors this year.

60 percent of these exhibitors come from countries outside Germany this year. China is the second largest exhibiting nation after the host country Germany, both in terms of amount of exhibitors and exhibiting area.

According to Deutsche Messe Managing Board member Dr. Jochen Kicker, robots with artificial intelligence, VR glasses and exoskeletons on display will be the highlights of Hanover Messe 2017.