Following the unanimous recommendation of the Managing Committee of the International Federation of Hardware and Housewares Associations (IHA) at its meeting in Chicago in March, the Board of Directors of the National Retail Hardware Association (USA & Canada) have voted in favour of hosting the 51st IHA Congress in 2011.

The venue will be Washington D.C., where the International Congress will be held to coincide with the Annual NRHA Convention. (Final date not available, probably the last week in July).

IHA Managing Committee Chairman, Olivier Blondet commenting on the announcement said, "It is excellent, a combined event would represent mutual benefits with a positive impact on sponsorship and attendance for the US Convention and the IHA Congress."

IHA Secretary General, Jonathan Swift said, "During the Congress in Shanghai in 2006 I had discussed the prospect of a Congress in 2011 in USA with Richard Thomes NRHA non-executive Director and John Hammond CEO. A later exchange and further discussion with the IHA Chairman and the new CEO Bill Lee gave rise to an exploratory invitation and reference to the NRHA Board of Directors which met in July. I am delighted that a formula has been identified which will enable the NRHA for the first time to host the IHA Congress and I look forward to supporting Bill Lee and his staff to put on a first class event."

The recent appointment of Bill Lee who has succeeded John Hammond as CEO of NRHA has added further support for the initiative which will see the IHA Congress in the USA for the first time in its hundred plus years history.

It is anticipated that details for the 2011 Congress will be launched at the Centenary Congress to be held in London 18 - 21 September 2009