Record numbers for 8th Expo Project Fair in Hangzhou

The Expo Project Fair for International Co-operation (EPFIC 2018), a key B2B event in China for promoting co-operation in the global exhibition industry, reports record visitor numbers for its 8^th edition in Hangzhou International Expo Center, eastern China, recently. The event, which drew 1,200 participants (including 150 trade visitors), was co-organised by Hangzhou MICE Industry Coordination Office and China International Conference and Exhibition Magazine Agency. The exhibition extended over 2,500sqm and included 17 meetings and forums at which seven major industry reports were released. Chinese MICE organisations from many cities participated, including from Suzhou, Changsha, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Taiyuan, Yiwu and others.

Chinese MICE leaders attending EPFIC included Chen Xianjin, honorary president of UFI and director general of National Exhibition Industry Standardisation Technology Committee and president of Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Industries Association and Zheng Zhi, chairman of the China Union of City MICE Associations and president of Xiamen Convention and Exhibition Industry Association. To improve B2B matchmaking at the show, this year the EPFIC organiser put on two B2B networking meetings. One was focused on matching organisers of auto and machinery shows and quality service suppliers, another was focused on exhibition organisers of other industry sectors. International speakers at the event included Mark Cochrane, regional manager Asia- Pacific, UFI; Marsha Flanagan, vice-president, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE); Aloysius Arlando, president, AIPC & CEO, SingEx Holdings, Singapore, and Thomas Löffler CFO-Greater China, Messe Munchen Shanghai Co., Ltd. The three-day event was concluded by the Golden Five-star awards ceremony and Gala Dinner.