Maritime meetings to make waves

Stage set for growth of exhibition and convention industry in the port city, Xie Chuanjiao reports.

Qingdao is stepping up its efforts to boost its exhibition and convention industries and turn them into highlights of the city's new engine of economic growth, according to a recent government announcement.

"Qingdao has an excellent environment and distinct advantages we can leverage. Our goal is to make it known worldwide for its exhibitions," said Feng Wenqing, chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Qingdao Sub-council.

He said Qingdao will focus on exhibition development in four administrative areas, including Laoshan, Jimo, Hongdao and Huangdao, as well as the coastline in downtown Qingdao.

The city already has two international exhibition and convention centers, one in Laoshan that has been in operation over 14 years and a newer one in Jimo that has been running for only three years.

But a mega urban complex, featuring Northeast Asia's largest exhibition facility, along with hotels, shopping malls, entertainment facilities and residential buildings, will be put into use in the West Coast New Area by 2017.

The project developers plan is to build it into the premier exhibition center in Northeast Asia.

In the meantime, the city planners are creating a blueprint for exhibition industry development in Hongdao, a future high-tech and cultural center in the north of Qingdao.

Qingdao's exhibition industry is already tapping into the city's maritime economy, with fairs including the China (Qingdao) International Marine Fair and Boat Show, the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, and the International Blue Economy Summit Forum.

Qingdao is now trying to attract the World Ocean Conference or the Oceanology International.

Staying on dry land, the Jinjialing Fortune Forum is a flagship program for the city to attract worldwide finance institutions leaders, academicians and regulators to discuss trends, challenges and opportunities for the financial industry.

Qingdao is striving to develop into to a regional wealth management center, and it wants to elevate the forum, which was launched this year into a must-attend international finance event.

In recent years, an increasing number of high-end conferences hosted by international organizations or State ministries have been held in Qingdao, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation related events, the East Asia Economic Development meetings and the Sino-Russia Young Scientists Exchange Meetings.

The city will continue to leverage these events to boost its image and brand and facilitate international cooperation and trade development.

The city has hosted more than 1,100 trade shows, conventions, and festivities over the past decade.

In 2013, Qingdao hosted nearly 200 exhibition events. Around half of these were international exhibitions targeting both domestic and foreign guests.

"It is a growth engine driving the city's next stage of development," Feng said.

"The city will enhance the quality of exhibitions, improve its environment, and build more brands to assist the development of the exhibition industry."

The city's income from its exhibition industry reached 9 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) in 2013, and Qingdao was ranked among the top 10 most influential exhibition cities in China.

Contact the writer at xiechuanjiao@chinadaily.com.cn