The Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Since 1966, the FKM has stood for transparency and trust, and for reliable trade fair statistics. For AUMA Compact, the newsletter of the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry, editor Anne Boehl spoke with the chairman of the FKM. In the interview, Dr Jochen Koeckler describes, among other things, the further development of the FKM standards and the new requirements of the market. He also answers the question of why verified data is more important than ever for exhibitors and visitors today.
Read an excerpt from the interview below.
Anne-Cathrin Boehl: Dear Jochen Koeckler, you were re-elected as chairman for another three years at the most recent FKM shareholders’ meeting at the end of 2025. What are the priorities for your next term of office?
Jochen Koeckler: Over the next three years, we want to further strengthen the FKM as a reliable industry standard and make our work even more transparent. One focus will be on improving the comparability of our key figures – this should increase their acceptance and further improve their informative value. (…)
Anne-Cathrin Boehl: The FKM will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026. Why is the FKM still important today?
Jochen Koeckler: In order to remain competitive internationally, there needs to be trust in trade fairs and the communication of certified trade fair figures—this is where FKM remains indispensable. For 60 years, it has ensured transparency and built trust. As an independent body, it provides verified data on which exhibitors and visitors can base their decisions (…).
The full interview can be found in the current issue of AUMA Compact (German only).
