UFI Open Seminar in Asia Kicks Off Feb. 23-24 in Shenzhen

February 5, 2012

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry’s UFI Open Seminar in Asia is filled with two days of education sessions, featuring show organizers from companies such as Reed Exhibitions Japan, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and UBM Asia, to name a few.

Joining the show organizers Feb. 23-24 at the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Centre in China, will be several suppliers as well, including the Thailand Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Shanghai New International Expo Centre and others.

With the U.S., Europe and other countries worldwide still struggling with a global recession, Asia has weathered the storm and is thriving.

In fact, net square meters sold has risen each year, acquisition activity is increasing, new venues are opening and organizers across the region are launching new events.  

As a result, the UFI Open Seminar in Asia has become an important event in the region, according to UFI officials.

“This is the 7th UFI Open Seminar in Asia and our first in mainland China, so we will use the seminar as a platform to examine to growth opportunities and challenges not only in China, but also in other key markets such as Indonesia and Japan,” said Mark Cochrane, BSG Asia managing director and regional manager of UFI Asia Pacific Office.

He added, “We have also invited speakers from industry leading organizations including UBM Asia, Reed Exhibitions and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) to offer their views on a range of topics - such as marketing to Chinese exhibitors, M&A trends, and the role of government in supporting exhibitions. Our goal at this seminar is to give the 200-plus delegates a clear roadmap of the challenges and opportunities that Asian exhibitions offer.”

Cochrane will serve as the event’s moderator, and the event will open with a keynote address, “Reacting to crisis: Reed Exhibitions in Japan after the tsunami”, given by Tad Ishizumi, president of Reed Exhibitions Japan.

The rest of the first day is marked by sessions on the Indonesian market that currently is being underserved led by Effi Setiabudi, president of the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association; a panel on “Government Support for Exhibitions: How to Best Deliver Value?”; and another session discussing how to launch and grow exhibitions in China, among other sessions.

The following day also will be filled with informative sessions, including a panel discussion on “Venues in Asia: Navigating the Market” and online initiatives in the exhibition industry, among other topics.

For more information on the UFI Open Seminar in Asia please visit www.ufi.org.

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