NEWS / REGIONAL
UFI’s 79th
Congress fosters growth Members to convene in Abu Dhabi to analyse the industry's evolving environment ADNEC concourse
MEA EXHIBITIONS SECTOR UPBEAT SAYS UFI SURVEY
Recent global economic trends and their impact on the exhibitions industry will domi- nate discussions at the 79th
UFI Congress,
the first to be held in the Gulf region, from November 6 to 9 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). UFI, the global association of the exhibition
industry, will highlight major concerns and developments that are shaping today’s exhibi- tions business – from macroeconomic shifts to the emergence of social media. Paul Woodward, UFI Managing Director,
said the decision to hold the event in Abu Dhabi underscores the Gulf’s rising promi- nence within the exhibitions sector. Since UFI’s representative office in the Middle East and Africa was established in 2006, the organisation has witnessed a dramatic increase of nearly 150 percent in membership. Despite the global financial crisis in 2008
and the Arab Spring in 2011, the Middle East has remained an important market for meet- ings, incentives, conferences and exhibi- tions. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, business travel spending in the region is expected to grow by over four percent in 2012 to US$30 billion. By 2022, this figure is estimated to climb further to nearly US$45 billion. “The Middle East is a developing and
emerging market. Figures have shown a 16 percent increase in exhibition venue space available in the region within a six-year
22 /
period,” said Ibrahim Al Khaldi, UFI Regional Manager – Middle East and Africa. He added that this trend is likely to
continue in the next few years as govern- ments diversify their economies and inject capital into developing infrastructure and service standards. Based in Kuwait, UFI’s regional office has
become an invaluable point of contact for members looking to widen their industry network or strengthen relationships with existing partners. It has so far organised six editions of the regional UFI Open Seminar and conducted promotional activities, research and training courses. In 2013, the UFI representative office will
also undertake a survey that will evaluate the potential of the region’s exhibitions industry and assess the number of shows and exhibi- tion space rented annually. For this year’s congress, meanwhile, UFI
will feature a line-up of international speak- ers. Among them Hamish McRae, Chief Economics Commentator of British news- paper The Independent, will talk about the long-term shift in global economic power, the impact of the recession and possible stumbling blocks in the Eurozone. Eric Ly, CEO of US-based Presdo and
co-founder of LinkedIn, will discuss how social technology is redefining the rules of business by bringing radical innovations to the marketplace. Dr Peter Cochrane of
Global Barometer survey. Results of the study indicate that confidence is gradually returning to the market more than a year after the Arab Spring affected some countries in the region. Ibrahim Al Khaldi, UFI Middle East and Africa Regional Manager, said that despite last year’s political turmoil, many areas in the region continue to represent untapped economic potentials. “The coming decade will uncover more opportunities in the region’s exhibitions sector, especially with increased interest in emerging African nations. With major political changes re-drawing the economic system in some Middle East and North African countries, the exhibition industry is poised to benefit from investments in infrastructure, service-related areas and other developmental projects,” said Al Khaldi. UFI’s recent survey also revealed that the global exhibition industry has started to stabilise despite prevailing uncertainties in the world economy. While general economic considerations remain at the top of the agenda, the situation appears to be stable with an average of six out of 10 companies declaring an increase in turnover. A majority of respondents from all regions reported that business has been affected by the economic slowdown, but almost half of the companies surveyed are optimistic that the crisis’ impact will end in 2013.
The outlook for the exhibitions industry in the Middle East and Africa remains positive with around 40 percent of companies anticipating an increase of over 10 percent in annual profits this year compared with 2011, according to UFI’s 9th
“Our industry is more conservative in its outlook than the results show. The findings of our most recent Global Barometer survey confirm that our exhibition media continues to outperform expectations despite the tough economic environment,” said Paul Woodward, UFI Managing Director. UFI’s annual barometer survey has been providing valuable insight into the impact of the economic crisis on the global exhibitions industry.
Cochrane Associates will initiate discus- sions on how the industry can achieve sus- tainability by adopting the ‘Industrial 2.0’ concept of open sourcing. Jochen Witt, President and CEO of trade
fair consultancy jwc GmbH, will also take an indepth look at key business trends this year and the economic developments anticipated for next year. The annual event serves as a vital net-
working opportunity for the world’s leading exhibition organisers, venue managers and industry partners.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76