CHENGDU, China, January 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Just two weeks into the new year, new and interesting developments have already taken place within the exhibition and convention sector in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province. In line with the sector's stated strategy of "marketization, specialization, internationalization, brand-building and standardization", the city's exhibition and convention industry is, step by step, delivering on its promise to boost the economic development of the region through the promotion of high-end industries.
Joining IAEE, Chengdu's exhibition and convention industry steps into a new stage of international development
Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition signed a cooperation agreement with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) on January 10. With the signing, the bureau becomes a member of IAEE effective January 1. Chengdu is the first city in China to join IAEE in the name of a convention management firm. This is the first international exhibition association and the second international exhibition and convention association that the city has joined, on the heels of its becoming a member of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). IAEE chairman Skip Cox said that the successful hosting of 2013 Chengdu Fortune Global Forum and the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in Chengdu demonstrates that the city has the right environment and the prime conditions for the holding of exhibitions and conventions. Accordingly, IAEE is very confident about the outlook for the city's exhibition and convention industry. A bureau official explained that IAEE is the world's largest exhibition association with a membership in the vicinity of 6,000 firms. By joining IAEE, Chengdu can take advantage of the association's high-quality industry resources and efficient international channels, to engage in more international collaborations and to bring the pace and quality of development to an even higher level.
Chengdu's exhibition and convention industry aggressively implemented its stated development strategy in 2013, achieving excellent results. According to data released by Chengdu Bureau of Statistics, the city held 502 major exhibition and convention events in 2013. These included 53 international exhibitions, 15 events or a 39.5 per cent increase over a year earlier. Chengdu held 104 international conferences and forums in the year, up 28 events, or 36.8 per cent year on year. The successful joining of IAEE consolidates the city's position as central and western China's top-ranking and one of the country's top-ranking exhibition and convention cities and as the city of choice in central and western China for major domestic and international exhibition and convention events.
Chengdu Exhibition and Convention Economic Development Institute is founded, carving out new paths to research exhibition and convention events
Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition announced that the Chengdu Exhibition and Convention Economic Development Institute, co-founded by China Convention & Exhibition Society, Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition, Chengdu University and MeetingsChina magazine, was officially established on the grounds Chengdu University on January 11. The institute is the first exhibition and convention research facility to be co-founded by a group consisting of a national industry association, a government bureau, an academic institution and a media organization in a major city. China Convention & Exhibition Society president Yuan Zaiqing said that the establishment of the institute demonstrated Chengdu's innovation in theoretical research of exhibition and convention events and set a good example for other cities across China. The institute, which, in addition to theoretical research, is mandated to work on developing industry standards and management systems, undertaking analysis of the industry's key indicators and providing personnel training, is expected to accelerate the specialization and internationalization of Chengdu's exhibition and convention industry, while making a significant contribution to the integration of industry, academe and research.
The largest event of its kind ever, the Chinese New Year Shopping Festival in Sichuan kicks off
The 18th Chinese New Year Shopping Festival in Sichuan, the first large-scale exhibition held in Chengdu this year, kicked off at New International Convention & Exposition Center Chengdu Century City on 11 January. The 15-day event with the objective of buying goods from around the world in preparation for Chinese New Year is taking place in an 80,000+ square meter exhibition hall where up to 200,000 types of goods from 47 countries and regions are on show. The event is on track to seeing more than 500,000 visitors pass through the exhibition hall's doors. The festival's organization committee said that the improvement in the areas of specialization, internationalization and brand-building in connection with the event is especially notable, with the display area for international goods reaching approximately 20,000 square meters. Both the number as well as the number of types of goods on display this year are the highest ever. Exhibitors from countries including Japan, South Korea and the Philippines are taking part in the event.
In 2014, Chengdu will host leading domestic and international events, including the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, World Robot Industry Innovation Conference & Robot Expo, Western China International Fair, China Food and Drinks Fair, EU-China Business & Technology Cooperation Fair, International Sourcing Fair and China International Software Cooperation Conference.
All of these developments are testament to the huge strides that the industry has made in boosting the level of specialization, internationalization and branding that is a cornerstone of the strategy. A chief executive from Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition said that in 2014, the Bureau plans to roll out a series of initiatives, which include plans to implement the policies announced at the Third Plenary Session of 18th CPC Central Committee, further the city's economic development through a focus on steady growth, reform and innovation, leverage the success of the Fortune Global Forum and World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, accelerate the transformation of the city into a global exhibition and convention powerhouse, further strengthen Chengdu's already leading position in Sichuan province and further boost the economic growth of the western region.
