“Esteemed colleagues, guests, and fellow builders of the future! I, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, am thrilled to have welcomed you to the legendary halls of Kronborg. While this castle may have seen centuries of history, it’s never witnessed an assembly quite as dedicated as you—unless you count the occasional royal banquet or ghostly visitation!

 

 As our evening together concludes, let’s reflect not only on the spirit of 1585, which surrounds us in these ancient walls, but also on the pivotal year of 1958 when UFEMAT was founded in Brussels. With the ink barely dry on the Treaty of Rome, your founders were already laying the groundwork for a union that would, like a well-constructed roof, shelter the interests of building material distributors across Europe. Your mission is a noble one: to act as a steadfast bridge between national trade bodies, facilitating communication and promoting best practices. This mission ensures that not even the trickiest of trade winds can shake your foundations.

 

Tonight, let us raise a glass to John Newcomb, the outgoing president from England. His leadership has surely kept you all busier than the carpenters in Elsinore! Like a true Shakespearean hero, he has navigated the complexities of European trade with the grace of a diplomat and the cunning of a merchant.

 

We must also toast Marnix van Hoe, the Secretary General of UFEMAT, whose dedication has been the glue holding your grand structure together. I dare say, without him, the organization might have had more loose screws than a hastily built stage for one of my father’s plays. While my own era is rich with court intrigue rather than commerce, the drive to build and create is a timeless pursuit that unites us across the centuries. From the Danish consuls of yore to your modern marketplaces, the spirit of progress is alive and well. And while Palle Thomsen, who will soon take the reins, prefers to remain out of the limelight, let’s quietly acknowledge that the future of UFEMAT is in capable hands. As we part ways, let the spirit of our time at Kronborg inspire you. Return to your countries invigorated, ready to tackle any challenge that may arise—be it by drawbridge or spreadsheet. And remember, just as the stones of Kronborg have stood firm against the North Sea’s winds, so too should the bonds of UFEMAT withstand the test of time.

 

Farewell, brave souls, until we meet again. May your ledger books always balance and your spirits never need insulating!”