RX announces new JV in Thailand

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Bangkok, 8th July: London-based international exhibition organiser, RX Global, announced a new joint venture with BHIRAJ BURI GROUP (BBG) and owner of the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), to launch RX BITEC.

Through operating a portfolio of industry-leading events in Thailand, RX BITEC aims to support exhibitors and attendees by offering cutting-edge solutions, seamless execution, and unmatched customer service. The new JV will drive measurable value for customer through creativity and operational excellence, supporting them to build their businesses sustainably and over time.

RX CEO Hugh Jones, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with BHIRAJ BURI GROUP in Thailand, a market full of potential and energy.  By combining the complementary strengths of RX and BHIRAJ BURI GROUP, our goal is to empower our clients with smarter, more impactful event experiences by leveraging our combined international expertise and local insight. RX BITEC will ensure consistent quality, innovation, and scalability for events of all sizes for businesses to thrive in the future.”

Messe Frankfurt posts records in FY2024

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Frankfurt, 2nd July: Messe Frankfurt, international exhibition organiser, posted new records in its 2024 Annual Report. The sales were €775 million (US$806 million), with consolidated annual net income of €82 million (US$85 million).

According to the company, about 44% of sales were from outside Germany, amounting to €343 million (US$357 million). Messe Frankfurt hosted a total of 348 events worldwide, attracting approximately 4.6 million visitors. Of the 348 events, 153 were trade fairs and exhibitions, which featured more than 98,000 exhibiting companies.

In 2025, the company will further expand its market lead and to safeguard its quality and global growth in the long term by investing further in its digital and sustainable transformation.

Wolfgang Marzin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Messe Frankfurt, commented, “Today, Messe Frankfurt is more stable and successful than ever before. The excellent financial results in 2024 reflect the Group’s performance and proven strategic orientation – even under challenging market conditions. We have scope for financing our own investments and will make use of our growth opportunities accordingly. We have held dynamic events with very high satisfaction levels and an equally high international component. Our customers are building on personal interaction and remain networked internationally in spite of – and very much because of – the complex global economic situation.”

Baidu appoints new CFO

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Beijing, 1st July: Baidu, a leading AI company with Internet foundation in China, appointed Mr. Haijian He as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Prior joining Baidu, Mr. Haijian He has served as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at Kingsoft Cloud Holdings Limited since January 2020. He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in electronic engineering from Southeast University and an MBA from University of Chicago, and completed Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School. He is also a Charter Financial Analyst charter holder.

In addition, Mr. Junjie He will step down from Interim Chief Financial Officer and assume to be Senior Vice President in charge of human resources and administrative functions; Ms. Shanshan Cui will serve as Secretary General to the Organizational Cultural Committee of Baidu.

Mr. Robin Yanhong Li, Baidu’s Co-founder and CEO, was quoted, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Haijian He to our management team. He brings a proven track record of outstanding leadership in driving business growth, enhancing operational quality, and strengthening corporate governance. We look forward to working closely with him and are confident that his skills and experiences will contribute to Baidu’s next phase of growth. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Junjie He and Ms. Shanshan Cui for their contributions. We believe their extensive management experience will continue to be invaluable in their new roles.”

HKTB appoints Anthony Lau as new Executive Director

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Hong Kong, 2nd July: The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced the appointment of Mr Anthony Lau its new Executive Director, with effect from 4th August 2025, as successor to Mr Dane Cheng.

Mr Lau previously served as HKTB Executive Director between 2007 and 2019. Since October 2023, he has been the Director of the Hong Kong Talent Engage, an office under the Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Dr Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman, stated, “Mr Lau brings with him extensive experience in tourism and marketing, along with excellent leadership and governance capabilities, making him an ideal candidate for the role of Executive Director. I have confidence in Mr Lau that he will lead the HKTB team in close collaboration with the industry and various stakeholders to bring the tourism industry to new heights in the direction mapped out in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0, consolidate Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class tourism destination with diverse experiences, and maximise the contribution of the tourism industry to Hong Kong.”

Quick takes

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UFI Global Congress to Mexico in 2027

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced its 94th UFI Global Congress will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, running from 3rd to 6th November 2027, and will be hosted by the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau. The UFI Global Congress is the exhibition industry’s leading annual event, bringing together industry leaders from around the world to network, exchange ideas, and shape the future of the sector. Each year, the UFI Global Congress is held in a different region, reflecting UFI’s global footprint: Cologne (2024), Hong Kong (2025), and Bahrain (2026).

IMPACT wins 2025 UFI HR Award

UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, continued to release the winner of its awards. The winner of the 2025 UFI HR Award is IMPACT Exhibition Management. The topic of the 2025 UFI HR Award was “Optimising Workload for Sustainable Performance”, with the objective of celebrating initiatives the implement innovative solutions to balance workload, improve resource allocation, and creative environments where employees thrive while maintaining high performance. The winners of the 2025 UFI Awards will be officially celebrated and will present their projects at the 92nd UFI Global Congress, running from 19th to 22nd November 2025, in Hong Kong SAR.

Comexposium announces new CEO

Comexposium appointed Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti as its new CEO, effective 25th August 2025. He will succeed Renaud Hamaide, who has led the company since 2010. Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti graduated from Sciences Po Strasbourg and the School of Economic Warfare.

17,000+ professionals at 2025 Asia Agri-Tech Expo

Organised by Informa Markets, the 2025 Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum (AAT), running from 11th to 13th June, at the Tainan Exhibition Center, attracted more than 17,000 professional buyers from Taiwan and abroad. Under the themes of “Sustainability, Innovation, and Food Safety”, the event focused on three key technology sectors: smart agricultural machinery, automated livestock farming, and aquaculture. More than 150 domestic and international exhibitors presented the latest trends and practical applications for the upgrading of agriculture, fisheries, and livestock industries.