Trade fair biz remains robust

Major international trade fair companies are increasingly looking to China to tap into the fast-growing exhibition business in the country.

Deutsche Messe and Fiera Milano SpA. (Societ per azioni), the world's two leading European trade fair groups, have reached an agreement on a joint program for future foreign expansion by combining their resources in a holding company to expand business activities in China.

According to Dr Andreas Gruchow, a Member of the Board of Deutsche Messe, China is already the largest overseas market for Deutsche Messe. The firm also has its biggest subsidiary abroad in China, Hannover Fairs China Ltd, in Shanghai.