International fair 'Eastern Trades' in Lviv (1920s-1930s): world experience and local realities

For many world-leading countries, international fairs were important forms of economic policy in the 1920s-1930s. They were organised to improve foreign trade relations. Selected organisational aspects of the 'Eastern Trades' in Lviv are covered in various publications regarding the history of Lviv, most notably in the research carried out by the historian A. Bezsmertnyi. However, Lviv trades were not studied as a separate social and economic phenomenon, from the point of view of the world experience and local peculiarities, which forms the main sphere of the research of this article. The aim of this research is to present the international fair 'Eastern Trades' in Lviv in the 1920s-1930s as a socio-economic phenomenon in the context of the world economic development, of exhibitions and fairs held in Poland. The following controversial issues are discussed: what the purpose of organising international fairs in Lviv was, who was particularly interested in holding such events, which countries participated in them, how the local citizens and the world community reacted to the organisation and conduct of Lviv trades, why they did not have a dramatic influence on the role of Lviv in the world market. Materials used for writing the article are collected from the Galician press of the interwar period of the twentieth century, which presents the main aspects of the organisation, conduct and results of 'Eastern Trades' as well as the attitude of the local people to the given event. In addition, a number of specialised publications of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lviv were used, where statistical materials were published, as well as the memoirs of the bidders. International fairs 'Eastern Trades' in Lviv, which were held at the country level between 1921 and 1939, were the second largest trading events, with the first place occupied by Poznan trades in Poland. Lviv trades were reminiscent of the world exhibitions, but they had their local peculiarities. These were not only economic exhibitions, but also political demonstrations. Exhibitions and fairs were attended by representatives of foreign firms from more than 20 countries, among them Hungary, Romania, Austria, Germany and France. 'Eastern Trades' revived Polish foreign trade relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. However, due to the difficult social and political situation, they could not dramatically increase the participation of the local Ukrainian entrepreneurs and strengthen the role of Lviv in the international trade.

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