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The 77th UFI Congress which will be held at the Marina Bay Sands (MBS) from 10-13 November has drawn record breaking attendance to the association’s annual event. 475 leaders and strategic thinkers from the global exhibition industry from more than 50 countries will be gathering to share their professional views on the course of the industry, exchange ideas and network with one another in the outstanding MBS venue. SACEOS, the association representing the MICE industry in Singapore, has managed the local organisation of the 2010 UFI event, strongly supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, and UFI Congress Platinum sponsors MBS and Resorts World. UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry last held its Congress in Singapore in 1994.
Edward Liu, SACEOS President, stated “We are delighted to welcome participants at this November gathering of the global captains of the exhibition industry in Singapore. This marks a significant milestone in the continuing expansion and growth of the Asian exhibition industry in the new millennium. SACEOS is indeed honoured to play host to this international gathering“. Ms.Melissa Ow, Assistant Chief Executive, Industry Development (II) Group, Singapore Tourism Board, added, "As Singapore’s economy records strong growth this year, the MICE industry has also grown in tandem. Indeed, over the years, we have built a robust calendar of tradeshows and business events. UFI’s decision to hold its 77th Congress in Singapore underscores our city’s position as a
leading exhibition hub in the Asia Pacific."
In explaining the choice of this year’s Congress theme, “Successful Business in Changing Times”, UFI President, Manfred Wutzlhofer said, “despite the way in which the world financial crisis caused significant economic problems, the exhibition industry has shown that its development is stable and strong. Participation at exhibitions by companies of all types and in many sectors of the economy continues to be an essential part of their business development programmes. It can give them fresh impetus in difficult times and, at best, help them move back onto an upward trend”.
Moderated by Pojai Pookakupt (Director of the Board, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Managing Director, Performance Pulse, Bangkok), programme speakers will be looking at evolving business models in today’s challenging economic climate. Kishore Muhbubani, Dean and Professor in the Practice of Public Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, will start off the Congress programme with a look at the “unstoppable return of Asia” and the global impact of the current shift in economic power. Prof. Michael J. Enright, Director, Enright, Scott & Associates and Professor, School of Business, University of Hong Kong (China) will examine how the economic shift will affect the business power of trade flows and exhibitions.
Jochen Witt, CEO, jwc GmbH (Germany) will look at the regional dynamics of trends and developments in today’s exhibition business as John Shaw, CEO, Comite des Expositions de Paris, (France), and Jorg Beier, Head of Dept. Cooperative State University (Germany), put this into the perspective of UFI’s own data and trend analysis.
Looking at the solutions to other important questions and challenges facing the exhibition industry, David Wei, CEO and Executive Director, Alibaba.com (China), will push Congress participants to look at how they should integrate online communications and social media into the exhibition industry’s world of face-to-face business and Michael Luehrs, Sustainability Service Manager, MCI Group (Switzerland), will present a business case for creating sustainable initiatives with benefits for both corporate and stakeholder interests.
A number of additional internal UFI meetings, including the Annual General Assembly, the UFI Board of Directors Meeting, the meetings of UFI’s three regional chapters and a meeting of the UFI Associations’ Committee which brings together national and international exhibition related associations, are also planned during the three day session.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
