UBM Signed Strategic Cooperation MOU with Chengdu Exposition Bureau

BEIJING, May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 29, during the 3^rd China (Beijing) International Trade in Services Fair, UBM, the world's second largest exhibition organizer signed Strategic Cooperation MOU with Chengdu Exposition Bureau. Mr. Fu Yonglin, Vice Mayor of Chengdu, Mr. Tim Cobbold, CEO of UBM plc, Mr. Mu Tao, Director of Chengdu Exposition Bureau, Mr. Jime Essink, President & CEO of UBM Asia, and Mr. Philip Chapnick, Group Chief Representative of UBM in China attended the signing ceremony.

Mr. Jime Essink, CEO of UBM Asia signed the MOU with Mr. Mu Tao, Director of Chengdu Exposition Bureau

According to this MOU, both parties aim to strengthen full-fledged cooperation on exhibition businesses, including information exchanges between Chengdu and international exhibition market, cooperation and exchanges on the talent management and training as well as joint efforts to launch international exhibition projects in Chengdu. This MOU is another step along the road in extending UBM's business westward in China and seeking to deepen our involvement in Chengdu. "Our goal is to work closely with the city to determine the best types of exhibitions and to understand how to assemble the resources from both parties to build world leading exhibition events," commented Mr. Philip Chapnick, Group Chief Representative of UBM in China.

Mutually benefit cooperation based on trust and integration

Mr. Mu Tao, Director of Chengdu Exposition Bureau, said, "Chengdu exhibition economy has achieved a leading position in west China; however it is a long journey for Chengdu to become a truly world famous exhibition city. The difference lies in the internalization level which also means a great growth potential for Chengdu. To strengthen strategic cooperation with world renowned exhibition organizers is another important measure to develop the exhibition economy in Chengdu that will enable Chengdu to leverage the excellent international platforms and exhibition resources, expand international collaboration, bring more international exhibitions and build Chengdu into a famous Chinese exhibition city with international influence."

From UBM's point of view, the MOU is an extension of further in-depth cooperation with Chengdu after the successful event of 2012 Routes Asia in Chengdu. Mr. Philip Chapnick said, "This MOU will give the city greater insight into UBM and its plans as well as helping UBM understand more fully and in a timely manner the goals, challenges and opportunities that are evolving in a rapidly developing, dynamic city like Chengdu. We expect that over the next year, our knowledge will be enhanced enough to enable us to justify the investment decisions required to either geo-adapt existing events, or possibly create new events specifically for the city. It's too early to tell what the outcome might be. We are very thoughtful investors in our projects, trying hard upfront to find the few that are really the best ones and then investing more intensively in those. The MOU will facilitate mutual understanding and trust for the two parties to build a long term strong relationship. In 2016, our International Exhibition, World Routes will be held in Chengdu, and we are very excited about bringing such a high profile international event to the city."

A charming city with excellent services

Talking about reasons of selecting Chengdu as strategic cooperation partner, Mr. Philip Chapnick further explained, "We selected Chengdu as strategic cooperation partner for several reasons. Firstly, Chengdu is one of the most important Chinese gateways to west, a key part of the Modern Silk Road connecting China to the economies of Europe and Asia. It has excellent exhibition facilities, a robust transportation infrastructure, including the largest railway hub in Southern China, a modern and developing airport with good and increasingly important -- international connectivity-- and great hotels and visitor serving facilities. What's more, partly due to the Ambassadorial work of the Panda community, Chengdu is a city increasingly well known to the international community, who are starting to view it as a destination city. Chengdu has the potential to become the most important exhibition hub in west China. Exhibitions are a service business, dependent on people who understand the importance of bringing quality to every aspect of the exhibitor and visitor experience. Chengdu has the reputation for being a "laid back" city; a place where people know how to live well. That attention to quality of life naturally has an impact in an industry that is highly dependent on quality of personal service. We think the people of Chengdu, "get it." They understand deeply what it means to provide high quality service and make an experience the best it can be. And finally, all of our UBM colleagues who have had experience with the city have been impressed with the professionalism, spirit, drive and high caliber of the people they have met and worked with there. We think Chengdu understands what quality in a service industry means; from the professionals we have met in Chengdu Exposition Bureau, through the caterers and stand constructors, through to the servers at Tea houses. Chengdu is city with the right attitude for service industries -- like Exhibitions -- to do well."