Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

SHENZHEN’S convention and exhibition industry is off to a good start this year. The city’s first large-scale globally influential professional exhibition this year — Automechanika Shanghai — kicked off at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District yesterday.

This was the first time that the exhibition was held in Shenzhen. The four-day event, covering a 210,000-square-meter area, is also one of the largest exhibitions in South China in February.

The exhibition, co-hosted by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. and China National Machinery Industry International Co. Ltd., provides a service platform for the automobile industry integrating information exchanges, market promotion, business services and industrial education.

Shenzhen is picking up its pace towards becoming a city of international exhibitions, as per a government work report delivered by Mayor Qin Weizhong at a meeting Tuesday.

The exhibition areas of Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District, Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an, and Yanzi Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Pingshan District are anticipated to increase by 2.6 times year on year, the commerce bureau said. The number of exhibitions is expected to grow by 3.6 times yearly, reaching a record high.

The China International Optoelectronic Exposition, the DMP Greater Bay Area Industrial Expo, NEPCON ASIA, the Global Tea Fair China (Shenzhen) Autumn and other exhibitions that have been postponed or suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic will make a comeback this year.

Several professional exhibitions, such as the China Food & Drinks Fair (Autumn), one of the largest exhibitions with the longest history in China, and Connexion Shenzhen, will debut in Shenzhen.

According to the bureau, Shenzhen will introduce and foster exhibitions related to the city’s strategic emerging and future industries. Over 60 exhibitions related to these industries are expected to be held in Shenzhen this year.

Shenzhen will enhance the global influence of the China Hi-Tech Fair and the China Marine Economy Expo, and host exhibitions such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show, the Shenzhen International Consumer Electronics Expo, and the China International Medical Devices Exhibition, according to the government work report.