Netsun’s revenues up 5.6% in FY2020

Hangzhou, 29th April: Last week, Shenzhen-listed Zhejiang Netsun announced its results for the year ended 31st December 2020. In the financial year 2020, the company generated revenues of US$58 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.6%.

Net profits in the year grew 5.7%, hitting US$5.7 million. Diluted earnings per share in 2020 were RMB 0.15 (US$0.023). The company attributed the growth to increased income from its chemical trading business and its B2B trading platform.

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2021)

Quick takes

All digital UFI Asia-Pacific Conference in May

We missed getting together in 2020. In 2021, it will have to be a purely digital affair… but don’t miss out! There are already 70+ delegates registered along with a strong line-up of compelling speakers. Register at: www.ufiasia.org

Virtual Canton Fair concludes

According to The China Daily, the 129th edition of The Canton Fair ended this week – attracting 26,000 participating companies with 880,000 views of livestreamed programmes and over 35 million visits to the website during the 10-day event. This is the third virtual edition. The previous two did not receive particularly positive reviews from participants. It remains to be seen if this edition was an improvement.

Indonesian Motor Show goes ahead

The 2021 Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) was a hybrid event this year, but the physical exhibition appears to have been quite successful. The first physical IIMS since 2019, the event was organised by Dyandra Promosindo and held at JIExpo. The event ran from 15th to 25th April. Visitors were limited to 5,000 per day.

India exhibition venues care for ill

Messe Frankfurt, along with all other organisers, have had to indefinitely postpone events in May as key venues including the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) have been converted into COVID-19 care centres and vaccination centres.

Quick takes

Provocative take on the future of (watch) fairs

Very interesting article on an industry re-assessing the value of trade fairs. “We have to reinvent the watch fair. It could be Art Basel meets fashion week meets an Apple launch,” says CEO of Audemars Piguet. “In a digital world, you don’t need a fair,” according to CEO of Breitling.

Canton Fair losing its lustre?

What is the future of the Canton Fair? There are quite a few factors working against one of Asia’s oldest and largest trade fairs: the COVID-19 pandemic, geo-political tensions, and of course the inexorable rise of e-commerce.

Business travel is essential and coming back

Let’s close the week on a brighter note… business travel is essential and coming back, at least it is according to this survey. “More than 80% of business travellers indicated that the lack of travel has negatively impacted their jobs, with 28% unable to do their job effectively.”

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2021)

Quick takes

Registration for the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference is open

This is the first time in the history of the UFI Asia-Pacific Conference that it will be digital only, but there is an impressive line-up of speakers including:

·         Margaret Ma Connelly, CEO of Informa Markets in Asia;

·         Jor Zhou, CEO in China for GL events;

·         Siew Hoon Yeoh, Founder of Web-in-Travel;

·         and many more…

Click on the link below to register!

UFI Asia-Pacific event website

List of countries accepting vaccinated travellers

This is a reasonably comprehensive list from Business Traveller. We are moving slowly, but at least there is some progress.

China looks to 2022 to lift restrictions

Another article from Business Traveller. This is somewhat positive. Good to read that Beijing is discussing opening borders, but then there is this: “China is expected to ease travel restrictions once it attains herd immunity towards the end of the year. The world’s second largest economy targets to vaccinate 40 per cent of its 1.4 billion population by June. Vaccination rates currently hover in the single digits.” Actually, the vaccination programme in China is moving at a snail’s pace, so herd immunity is a long, long way off.

Trade show industry forms global coalition

UFI and a wide range of industry leaders have joined forces to prioritise the safe reopening live events to drive economic recovery on a global scale. Other supporters of this initiative include: SISO, Clarion Events, Comexposium, Diversified Communications, Emerald, Informa Markets, Reed Exhibitions and Tarsus.

Share price movement in B2B media companies involved in Asia

Figure 1: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement over past 12 months)

Figure 2: BSG B2B Media Index vs. All Tracked B2B Stocks (price movement since January 2021)