Inaugural exhibition industry event unites Asia-Pacific region

Hong Kong, 18 September 2003 - Organisers of the First Asian Exhibition Forum (AEF), held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 28 August, have pronounced the event a significant success. The First Asian Exhibition Forum brought together leaders within the exhibition industry from around Asia and beyond, to discuss the future of the industry and work on collective and cross-border initiatives for growth. Organised by the Hong Kong Exhibition & Convention Industry Association (HKECIA), the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), the event received full support from the HKSAR government.

The First AEF drew 300 participants from sixteen countries and regions, including China, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as non-Asian countries such as Australia, Germany and the UK. Opened by the Acting Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Mr Stephen Ip, the AEF's intensive programme included 18 talks from both keynote speakers and regional representatives, in which current new activities, responses and initiatives taking place across Asia were presented. Talks provided detailed information about trends in the exhibition industry, and summarized the activities and initiatives now taking place in key exhibition cities such as Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul. Question and answer sessions offered the chance for more detailed exploration of specific developments from country to country. At the same time, networking opportunities were facilitated through the Networking Lounge and a gala dinner at which Mr John C Tsang, Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau, was Guest of Honour.

Chairman of the Forum Organising Committee and also of the HKECIA, Mr Stanley Chu, expressed his pleasure at the level of participation and the wide variety of initiatives that were shared during the Forum. "It's clear that regional exhibition leaders recognised the benefits of this event," he noted, "given the numbers arriving in Hong Kong and the range of countries participating. The packed programme helped create a dynamic atmosphere and generated lively discussion, and all the feedback indicates a highly worthwhile event that will act as a substantial springboard for future regional co-operation."

Mr Michael Duck, Chairman of UFI Asia Pacific Chapter, also stressed bridge-building as one of the Forum's most important side-products. "In a year that has forced exhibition organisers to grapple with a whole series of tough challenges, a proactive and co-operative event like this shows that the Asia-Pacific region possesses the determination and the initiative to respond quickly and jointly to adversity. The exhibition industry cannot but emerge stronger than ever on the back of an event like this."

Another to commend the timing of the AEF was Mr Cliff Wallace, Managing Director of the HKCEC. Noting the particular combination of local and global factors that have affected the Asian exhibition industry in recent months, he described the timing of the AEF as "critically important" given recent challenges arising from the economy, global travel trends and crisis management such as that arising from the SARS outbreak. "The best way to deal with these kinds of challenges," he said, "has proved to be by coming together in a 'family'-style environment for intensive networking, and the first AEF achieved these goals admirably. I believe the event has established a genuine foundation for growth in our communication links and networking potential here in Asia."

Organisers agreed that the convening of the First Asian Exhibition Forum marked a new phase in regional co-operation and forward planning across the exhibition industry. An event that brought together almost every major exhibition organization from North and South-East Asia, the AEF represented an unprecedented sharing of information and pooling of expertise, based on and in response to common challenges affecting all countries and cities in the region.

All presentation files have now been made available on the Forum website: www.exhibitions.org.hk/forum. To view a complete presentation, go to "Session Details" and click on the presentation title.

For media enquiries, please contact the Forum Media Coordinator:
Miss Gloria Fong
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
1 Expo Drive, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 2582 7918
Fax: (852) 2582 7021
E-mail: gloriafong@hkcec.com