Shaoxing, 4 April (ZXS) -- China's convention and exhibition industry has entered the "fast lane" of recovery
China News Agency reporter Liu Liang
The exhibition industry is a barometer of economic development. With the steady turn of China's epidemic prevention and control, the economy has gradually stabilized and rebounded, and China's exhibition industry is entering the "fast lane" of recovery.
Offline exhibitions will fully recover
China's economy got off to a good start in the first quarter, with gross domestic product (GDP) growing 4.5 percent year-on-year, official Chinese data showed. As an important window to observe China's economic recovery, China's convention and exhibition industry has also shown a gratifying recovery trend since the beginning of this year. According to official statistics, in the first two months of this year, the number and area of exhibitions held by professional exhibition halls in China increased by 110% and 62% respectively year-on-year.
"Judging from the recovery of national exhibitions in the first quarter, the momentum is very good." At the 18th China Convention and Exhibition Economy International Cooperation Forum held in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province a few days ago, Chu Xiangyin, chief researcher of the China Convention and Exhibition Economy Research Association, said that the number and area of exhibitions restored in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and other key cities are relatively optimistic. Some small and medium-sized cities have also resumed holding exhibitions one after another, and the recovery has shown a strong momentum.
The recovery of the convention and exhibition industry is of great significance to economic development. Li Zhengwei, vice president of Shanghai International Exhibition (Group) Co., Ltd., said that the exhibition has a strong aggregation effect, and has a strong radiation and leading role in condensing the consensus of industry development and promoting the development of related industries.
Zhao Langping, full-time vice president of Shaoxing Council for the Promotion of International Trade, took Shaoxing's urban development as an example to explain that the role of exhibition activities on the city is not limited to the exhibition industry, but will have a far-reaching impact on the entire city. According to reports, in the first quarter of this year, various large-scale international exhibitions held in Shaoxing City increased compared with the same period before the epidemic. The further recovery of the exhibition will help promote the growth of local foreign trade exports.
"The steady turn of China's epidemic prevention and control, the stabilization and recovery of the economy, and the policy support of the central and local governments are important supporting conditions for the exhibition industry to enter the 'fast lane' of recovery." Speaking about the recovery progress of the exhibition industry, Chu Xiangyin said that these favorable factors have laid a good foundation for the later development of the exhibition economy.
According to Wu Shengrong, vice minister of the exhibition management department of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the economic recovery has injected new vitality into the exhibition industry and exhibition enterprises. He said: "With the return of exhibitions such as the 133rd Consumer Expo and the <>rd Canton Fair to offline one after another, the exhibition industry sees the certainty and development opportunities for the recovery of national exhibition activities, and it is foreseeable that offline exhibitions will usher in a positive and strong comprehensive recovery this year. ”
Exhibitions abroad ushered in new opportunities
While domestic exhibitions continue to recover, with the optimization and adjustment of China's epidemic prevention and control policies, Chinese enterprises will have more opportunities to participate in exhibitions overseas. According to data disclosed by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, in the first half of this year, 45 exhibition units will go to 33 countries to participate in 136 exhibitions, with an exhibition area of 11,5 square meters and more than 6000,<> exhibitors.
From the perspective of trends, Wu Shengrong revealed that in the future, it will focus on promoting participation in exhibitions in developing countries, emerging market countries and strategic emerging fields, while taking into account well-known exhibitions in the industries with strong symbols and high gold content in developed countries to help enterprises expand the market.
Lin Shunjie, chairman of China Exhibition Group, said that in recent years, affected by the epidemic, the number of Chinese enterprises participating in overseas exhibitions has declined, and some new competitors have emerged at the exhibition. In view of these new situations, he believes that enterprises should pay attention to "grasping both hands" when "going overseas" to expand the market: while actively expanding emerging markets, they must also strive to continue to consolidate the existing developed economy markets.
The recovery of China's convention and exhibition industry has released a positive signal for the industry. McGold, President of the International Association of the Exhibition Industry, said that 2023 is a landmark year, and the exhibition industry will usher in a new stage of development. As we emerge from the haze of the epidemic, not only will Chinese enterprises appear more actively on the international stage, but more international exhibitors and enterprises will also have the opportunity to return to the Chinese market and share new development opportunities.
"China is a major economy in the world, and the recovery of China's exhibition industry is very important for the development of the global exhibition industry." Ginas Nas, co-president of GL Events Greater China, said that the recovery of China's exhibition industry will add confidence to the global economic recovery and inject more impetus into the further development of the industry. (End)