Dynamic exhibition, conference city has optimistic targets
Sichuan province’s capital Chengdu, one of the most competitive cities in the conference and exhibition sector, is benchmarking Frankfurt in Germany to accelerate the internationalization of its C&E industry.
The city in southwestern China has made extensive plans, said Wang Tiangang, director of the Chengdu bureau of expo.
It has set three-year, fiveyear and 10-year development goals according to the industry’s demand-supply situation, requirements and the expected scale of its future development.
“It is an important period for Chengdu to grow into an exposition city,” Wang said.
“The local government is trying to promote the development of an international, branding and professional expo industry and to enhance the planning of different themed exhibitions, including those focusing on culture, the economy and trade.”
Chengdu is expected to maintain a year-on-year growth rate of 15 percent in its expo economy, and its gross income could reach 120 billion yuan ($18.6 billion) by 2022, according to the government.
Many leading global conference and exhibition organizers have already moved to China, and in response Chengdu plans to capitalize on the resulting opportunities and boost cooperation with international expo companies.
The city plans to attract leading international exhibitions, including Germany’s Hannover Messe industrial trade fair, Milan Fashion Week, the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show and the China International Hardware Show.
Targeting conferences held by international organizations, the annual meetings of Fortune 500 companies and multinational firms, as well as important government and industry association gatherings, officials say Chengdu will make efforts to attract more expo projects to showcase the city.
To expand into the global market, Chengdu aims to advance its integration with the Belt and Road Initiative as well as Chengdu-Europe Plus, a strategy to increase rail connections between domestic and European cities.
Chengdu’s government is also encouraging local companies to cooperate with international expo companies and take part in overseas exhibitions, to promote products made in Chengdu.
Officials said that in addition, Chengdu will enhance its international profile and influence through promoting the city’s culture, tourism and gastronomic delicacies, holding expos in cities in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and the United States.
The city hopes to host expos themed with representative symbols of Chengdu, such as the giant panda and its renowned food delicacies.
Chengdu bureau of expo director Wang Tiangang said that the city’s government will encourage the staging of brand exhibitions with high quality and international reach, and support these brand exhibitions to apply for certification from the Union of International Fairs.
The body, based in Paris and established in 1991, is one of the largest and most influential organizations for the exhibition industry in the world.
The EU-China Business and Technology Cooperation Fair has been held in Chengdu several times. The city wants to make the fair an important platform for EUChina business and technology companies to seek investment partners and promote deeper business ties.
Chengdu also plans to make the China Food and Drinks Fair, a biannual event with a strong influence in China’s food industry, the premier exhibition in the food and beverage industry in the Asia-Pacific region.
Chengdu is building a culture and innovation center, which will help the city to stage local fashion brand exhibitions, such as Chengdu creative design week and Chengdu international fashion week.