Liu Minxia mllmx@163.com RIDING the momentum of a record year with events across the city’s convention and exhibition venues, Shenzhen hosted 100 fairs and exhibitions spanning over 5 million square meters in the first half of this year, a significant increase from the previous year, according to the latest data from the city’s commerce bureau. The exhibition sector stands as a cornerstone industry in Shenzhen, with the city aiming to bolster its international standing as a premier destination for conventions and exhibitions. Last year, Shenzhen’s exhibition sector showcased robust recovery, hosting 190 fairs and exhibitions, accounting for 2.42% of the nation’s total, according to a report from the China Convention Exhibition Event Society. The total area of exhibitions taking place in Shenzhen in 2023 reached a record 10.3 million square meters, a 237% surge from the previous year and ranking third among Chinese cities. As an innovation hub, Shenzhen has emerged as a key venue for hosting diverse exhibitions, particularly for the future-oriented and strategic new industries where firms continue to unveil their cutting-edge technologies and innovative products. Of the exhibitions held thus far this year, over 60% are related to industries aligned with Shenzhen’s drive to develop the 28 strategically new industries, including intelligent connected vehicles, smart terminals, semiconductors and integrated circuits, new energy, new materials, and artificial intelligence. Many fairs, such as the Shenzhen (China) International Furniture Exhibition, the Shenzhen International Industrial Manufacturing Technology and Equipment Exhibition (ITES), the Shenzhen International Electronics and Smart Appliance Expo, the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show, have garnered international attention. The sector is projected to further expand in the latter half of the year, according to the Shenzhen Conference Exhibition Association, which anticipates that the combined exhibition space of 2024 events will hit a new high. The Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District and the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center in Bao’an District, two major venues of the city, have been booked for 93 fairs from July to the year end, surpassing last year’s tally. The city’s commerce bureau has also said that it aims to hold 12 million square meters of fairs and exhibitions in 2024. | 