The convention and exhibition industry has grown by more than 30% in four years.

The convention and exhibition industry has grown by more than 30% in four years.

(Taiwan Business Daily News) Wang Zhenfu, director of the Foreign Trade Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said yesterday that the output value of Taiwan's convention and exhibition industry is expected to exceed NT $33.8 billion this year.

The "Taiwan Convention and Exhibition pilot Program" sponsored by the Bureau of International Trade, which lasts for four years from this year, is entrusted to the Foreign Trade Association to carry out. Yesterday, an international press conference on the 102 Taiwan Convention and Exhibition pilot Program was held at the Taipei International Convention Center.

Wang Zhenfu said that in addition to promoting the sale of tangible and intangible goods, the exhibition service industry can also build an international image.

He further quoted the 2012 Asian Exhibition Industry report of the International Exhibition Industry Association (UFI). From 2008 to 2012, Taiwan's total exhibition area growth rate ranked second, with a growth rate of 33.6%, indicating that Taiwan's convention and exhibition industry is taking off rapidly.

At the same time, the sales area of exhibition booths in Taiwan ranked sixth in Asia in 2012, with a total of 74 exhibitions, an increase of 1.61% over 2011.

It is worth noting that at present, seven exhibitions in Taiwan have passed UFI certification.

Wang Zhenfu said that in addition to assisting relevant Taiwan businessmen to join international organizations to become core members, the Ministry of Economic Affairs also mentored private operators to obtain international exhibition certification and held a roving exhibition policy briefing session. It is expected that the output value of Taiwan's convention and exhibition industry will exceed 33.8 billion yuan this year.

As the two sides have signed a service trade agreement, Wang Zhenfu believes that as Taiwan's convention and exhibition industry still has an advantage over Chinese mainland, he hopes that enterprises will integrate and jointly strive for business opportunities in the mainland market.

Looking forward to next year, Ye Mingshui, deputy secretary general of the Foreign Trade Association, pointed out that it will continue to take the existing four core work of marketing communication, convention and exhibition services, industrial research, and professional staff as the main framework, and add many innovative practices to increase international visibility.