WTCMM urges govt support to boost trade exhibition

The World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) is urging the national government to provide ample support to the trade exhibition industry amid rising local demand and projected global growth in 2024.

In a statement, WTCMM Chairman and CEO Pamela D. Pascual said that it needs government support in allocating land to develop exhibition venues and spaces, citing growth in the market for exhibitions.

Pascual noted that public and private sectors in the Philippines have "realized the urgent need to expand available exhibition spaces in order to meet demand."

“The demand is even much stronger today than it was two years ago. There is currently a lineup of shows available in the market, for instance, that are waiting for spaces to open up at the World Trade Center Metro Manila,” Pascual said.

With government aid, WTCMM can also help entice investors to fund the construction of "capital-intensive facilities."

She emphasized the role of exhibitions in facilitating and promoting trade, which improves not only the local economy, but also global markets.

“Exhibitions serve all of the vertical industries from manufacturing to construction, food and beverage, packaging, heavy equipment, agriculture, fisheries, and so on,” she added.

According to the annual Trade Fair Industry in Asia report of UFI or the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry released in October 2023, key exhibition markets such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Hong Kong have surpassed their 2019 net space sales this year, with additional growth projected for exhibition markets in Asia in 2024.

As per UFI and Oxford Economics' Global Impact of Exhibitions report, the Asia Pacific region generated $17.6 billion in direct gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. The region ranked third after North America and Europe.

This has helped support around 394,000 direct jobs in the Asia Pacific.

“Through our work with UFI, we aim to sustain the growth of the exhibition industry in Asia and to further strengthen the level of professionalism, human capital, and technical expertise in order to serve a larger market,” said Pascual, who was elected to the Board of Directors of UFI to serve a three-year term from 2023 to 2026.

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) will host the 54th annual Global Business Forum (GBF) from March 3 to 6, 2024 in Bengaluru, India. It aims to gather trade center members, representatives, business, and other stakeholders to discuss further economic potential, business and trade opportunities in the Asian region in 2024. 

The World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM) is urging the national government to provide ample support to the trade exhibition industry amid rising local demand and projected global growth in 2024.

In a statement, WTCMM Chairman and CEO Pamela D. Pascual said that it needs government support in allocating land to develop exhibition venues and spaces, citing growth in the market for exhibitions.

Pascual noted that public and private sectors in the Philippines have "realized the urgent need to expand available exhibition spaces in order to meet demand."

“The demand is even much stronger today than it was two years ago. There is currently a lineup of shows available in the market, for instance, that are waiting for spaces to open up at the World Trade Center Metro Manila,” Pascual said.

With government aid, WTCMM can also help entice investors to fund the construction of "capital-intensive facilities."

She emphasized the role of exhibitions in facilitating and promoting trade, which improves not only the local economy, but also global markets.

“Exhibitions serve all of the vertical industries from manufacturing to construction, food and beverage, packaging, heavy equipment, agriculture, fisheries, and so on,” she added.

According to the annual Trade Fair Industry in Asia report of UFI or the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry released in October 2023, key exhibition markets such as China, Japan, India, South Korea, and Hong Kong have surpassed their 2019 net space sales this year, with additional growth projected for exhibition markets in Asia in 2024.

As per UFI and Oxford Economics' Global Impact of Exhibitions report, the Asia Pacific region generated $17.6 billion in direct gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. The region ranked third after North America and Europe.

This has helped support around 394,000 direct jobs in the Asia Pacific.

“Through our work with UFI, we aim to sustain the growth of the exhibition industry in Asia and to further strengthen the level of professionalism, human capital, and technical expertise in order to serve a larger market,” said Pascual, who was elected to the Board of Directors of UFI to serve a three-year term from 2023 to 2026.

The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) will host the 54th annual Global Business Forum (GBF) from March 3 to 6, 2024 in Bengaluru, India. It aims to gather trade center members, representatives, business, and other stakeholders to discuss further economic potential, business and trade opportunities in the Asian region in 2024.