Beijing's CIEC expands with Shanghai bookings office

By Ingrid Kwok shanghai Beijing-based China International Exhibition Centre (CIEC) Group Corporation has opened an office in Shanghai to cope with an increase in bookings and inquiries for the capital. General manager of the Shanghai office Mr Zhu Chi said the rapid development of the exhibition industry in eastern China was "a great attraction to their group" and CIEC wants to tap into that expansion. "By setting up an office in Shanghai, we hope to draw more clients for our exhibitions held at CIEC in Beijing," Mr Zhu said. Mr Zhu added that the move is to prepare for a new venue in the Chinese capital. "The New China International Exhibition Centre will open in Beijing in 2006. The floorspace capacity of the new venue will be 200,000sqm to 300,000sqm," Mr Zhu added. "Therefore, it is very important that we attract more exhibitors to the capital for the new exhibitions at the new venue." "We are now at a stage to explore the exhibition market in eastern China and look for new clients in the area." He said a pre-opening office of the new exhibition centre has already been set up in Beijing. Mr Zhu added CIEC has plans to also organise exhibitions in Shanghai using rival centres. "The exhibition industry is developing at an incredible pace in Shanghai. Exhibition organising companies in the city are becoming more mature. It is a market we should not neglect," he said. Mr Zhu said networking is very important for them at this moment. "We will work with the counterparts in Shanghai to explore market opportunities. We have co-operation but bringing new clients to our shows in Beijing is still our top priority," he added. Mr Zhu said another objective of the Shanghai office is to take CIEC shows overseas.