Local players urged to carve out a niche in competitive exhibition market

AS competition heats up in Asia’s exhibition sector, the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) is urging local exhibition organisers to find their niches to level the playing field against foreign players.

AFECA president Edward Liu predicted that by end-2020, most South-east Asia’s exhibitions and shows would be owned by American and European organisers, who have been very active on the acquisition trail over the past few years with the accelerated growth of the Asian economy.

Advised Liu: “If (smaller players) want to survive, they should focus on their strength and perhaps go for niche shows where they have strength and make fairly good money in it.

“It doesn’t have to be a big show. But so long as the show meets the requirements of exhibitors and buyers and sellers are happy with the event, it should generate decent profits and returns for the organisers”, he said.

AFECA secretary general Marisa D Nallana said local organisers should not feel threatened by the entry of foreign organisers and instead should seek out ways to work and complement their competitors.

Nallana said that the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS), which she chairs, is encouraging members to go out and touch base with other countries “because the name of the game now is working with partners in the region”.

“We lose out if we stick to (that) parochial mind,” she added.

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