Hong Kong's exhibition industry shows healthy growth amid global uncertainty

Hong Kong hosted 111 major trade exhibitions with an area of 2,000 metres2 or more between January and December 2011, up by 19.4% from the 93 exhibitions held in 2010.

The growth, announced by the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) in its annual survey of the exhibition industry in Hong Kong for 2011, also included a total of 1,845,140 visitors to exhibitions held in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) 2011.

The regular survey, which provides valuable insights into this important sector of Hong Kong's economy, showed that despite global uncertainties in 2011, the exhibition industry continued its trajectory of positive growth.

The numbers of companies coming to Hong Kong to exhibit, the amount of exhibition space they occupied, and the numbers of visitors from overseas arriving for exhibition-based activities, all grew healthily from 2010 to 2011, in some cases posting double-digit growth.

The HKECIA survey data, based on 100 'trade' and 'trade and consumer' exhibitions indicated the unflagging popularity of exhibitions as a business tool. It also showed that the number of exhibition visitors arriving from outside Hong Kong rose markedly, by 8.8% over 2010. This jump was driven by a 10% growth in regional visitors (mainly from the Asia Pacific region), and by further growth in numbers attending from Mainland China, up by 13.3%.

This rise in visitor numbers was matched by growth in the number of exhibiting companies coming to Hong Kong in 2011. Overall, according to the survey, some 60,817 companies showcased their goods or services at one of the major exhibitions surveyed, up by 7.2% from 2010's total of 56,751. Of these, there was particularly strong participation from overseas companies, which clearly saw Hong Kong as an important business option in an uncertain global environment. Companies coming from outside Hong Kong rose by 9.4% in 2011, with 'international' companies (i.e. those not based in the Asia Pacific region or Mainland China) increasing in number by an impressive 17.9%. This is a clear indication that Hong Kong remains one of the most important business platforms for overseas companies wishing to promote their products and services to customers in Mainland China.

Commenting on the survey results, HKECIA Chairman Daniel Cheung said "this is another effective testimony to the importance of the exhibition industry for trade in Hong Kong. It's always good to see positive figures indicating robust growth, but their significance is heightened when we take into account the global economic environment in 2011.

"There was a lot of uncertainty, and many might have expected to see Hong Kong's attractiveness as an exhibition hub dented as a result.

"Just the opposite! It seems clear that in times of economic turmoil, Hong Kong's role as a stable, reliable business platform and networking base for buyers and sellers from around the world is reinforced. This bodes very well for our continued development. It is quite clear that trade exhibitions in Hong Kong have a very important role to play as trading hubs for Asia."

The Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) was established in 1990 to promote Hong Kong as a world-class exhibition and conference destination and the trade fair capital of Asia Pacific. It works to represent the interests of all members involved in the exhibition and convention industries, and provides a unified voice in dealing with the government, legislative and statutory bodies, the media and public organisations, on all matters associate with the role of the exhibition and convention industry in Hong Kong's economy. In addition, it offers training and educational programs, and collects, analyses and distributes information and statistics relating to the industry.

For more information go to www.exhibitions.org.hk

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