UFI reviews 2026 at General Assembly

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Paris / Kingdom of Bahrain, 2nd November: UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, reviewed its activities from 2026 and shared the priorities for 2027 at the UFI General Assembly.

The UFI General Assembly was chaired by Incoming UFI President, Wolfram Diener, before the 93rd UFI Global Congress.

During 2026, UFI supported member associations across all regions through conducting delegation visits, meeting with government ministers and highlighting the value of the exhibition sector.

Chris Skeith OBE, UFI CEO & Managing Director, commented, “The exhibition industry has navigated a complex and rapidly changing environment in 2026. What has stood out, time and again, is the power of our community to face uncertainty together. UFI exists to strengthen that community, and this year has reaffirmed why that mission matters more than ever. Strength Through Unity is not just a theme for this report. It is what defines us as an industry.”

In 2027, UFI will host the Global CEO Summit in Madrid, Spain, running from 27th to 29th January. The 2027 Asia-Pacific Conference will be held in Bali, Indonesia, hosted by IECA, the Indonesian Exhibition and Convention Association, from 18th to 19th March. The 2027 UFI European Conference will run from 2nd to 4th June, in Rimini, Italy, hosted by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG). The 94th UFI Global Congress will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 2nd to 5th November, hosted by the Guadalajara Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Messe Berlin launches new fresh food expo in Singapore

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Singapore, 27th October: International exhibition organiser, Messe Berlin, announced the launch a new international B2B trade show serving the fresh food value chain across Asia Pacific, Fresh Food Expo Asia Pacific (FFE APAC).

The new show will be held from 16th to 18th November 2027, at Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. FFE APAC will be part of Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW) from 2027 and will be supported by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Temasek and Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG). It will also be under Messe Berline’s Global Food Portfolio, which includes FRUIT LOGISTICA in Berlin, ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA in Hong Kong, and FRUIT LOGISTICA Connect series.

FFE APAC will focus on three core sectors:

·       Fresh Food: products spanning fresh produce, meat and poultry, seafood, dairy

·       Agri & Fresh Technology: technologies and innovations spanning on-farm production, cold chain and ripening, freshness and shelf life, and spanning on-farm production, cold chain and ripening, freshness and shelf life, and processing and packaging

·       Logistics & Distribution: services and solutions spanning air, land and sea freight, customs clearance, ports and warehousing, cold chain management, supply chain tracking, wholesale markets and distribution

Dr Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, was quoted, “Fresh Food Expo Asia Pacific marks an important next step for Messe Berlin’s Global Food Portfolio. We are taking the international networks and industry expertise we have built over many years and extending them into new segments of the fresh food industry. FFE APAC will bring different parts of the value chain together – from producers and buyers to technology and logistics providers – and create new opportunities for business across Asia Pacific. Our ambition is to develop a strong international meeting place that responds to the specific needs and opportunities of this dynamic market.”

Informa Markets to host healthcare event in Indonesia

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Jakarta, 4th November: Informa Market, international exhibition organiser, will launch a new healthcare event in Indonesia, WHX Jakarta 2027.

Under the theme of “Connecting Healthcare, Advancing Indonesia”, WHX Jakarta 2027 will bring together the entire healthcare ecosystem. The new show will take place from 31st March to 2nd April 2027, at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition in BSD City, Jakarta. It will showcase more than 250 exhibitors, presenting cutting-edge solutions across the healthcare spectrum, and is expected to attract over 8,000 attendees.

Rose Chitanuwat, Regional Portfolio Director – ASEAN, Informa Markets, said, “We are thrilled to bring WHX to Jakarta at such a transformative time for Indonesia’s healthcare sector. With a population of over 280 million people and a rapidly modernising healthcare infrastructure, Indonesia represents one of the most dynamic healthcare markets in Southeast Asia. WHX Jakarta 2027 will serve as the catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and growth, connecting local and international stakeholders who are committed to advancing healthcare access and quality across the archipelago. This launch edition builds on our proven success in Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, and we’re confident that Jakarta will become a cornerstone event for the Indonesia’s healthcare community.”

Meorient’s revenues down 20%

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Hangzhou, 27th October: Last week, Meorient, a Chinese exhibition organiser listed in Shenzhen, announced its financial results for the nine months ended 30th September 2026. Revenues in the period were US$47.5 million, a year-on-year decrease of 20%. The Hangzhou-based company posted a net loss of US$524,000, compared with a net profit of US$4.9 million recorded in the first nine months of 2025.

The Shenzhen-listed company also reported its financial results for the quarter ended 30th September. Revenues in the quarter decreased by 6.8% year-on-year, down to US$22.3 million. The company’s net profit in the quarter was RMB 11,247,239.31 US$1.68 million, dropping 41% year-on-year.

However, the company did not comment on the decreases in revenues and profits.

Meorient organises B2B sourcing shows bringing Chinese exhibitors to overseas markets, including India, Turkey, U.A.E., Mexico, Poland and Brazil.

Quick takes

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Diversified Australia appoints new General Manager

Diversified Australia announced the promotion of Laura Reddaway, recently served as Head of Product, to General Manager, with immediate effective. In the new role, Reddaway will oversee the Australian division’s strategy, commercial performance and growth initiatives. She will bring her experience in the events industry, with a strong background in commercial leadership, business development and product strategy. She will also work closely with the leadership team to strengthen the business, develop its people and continue delivering value to customers and industry partners.

Netsun posts good performance in 2026

Zhejiang Netsun, the Shenzhen-listed B2B e-commerce platform, reported its financial results for the nine months ended 30th September 2026, with revenues of US$90.9 million, jumping 48% year-on-year. The company’s net profit posted a 436% growth from the first nine months in 2025, reaching US$1.41 million. Diluted earnings per share in the nine-month period were RMB 0.04 (US$0.060).

HKTB secures Vinexpo Asia in Hong Kong in 2027-2031

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced to partner with Vinexposium, a leading organiser wine and spirits trade events in the world, for five years. Under the partnership, Vinexpo Asia, the international wine and spirits trade exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, will be held in Hong Kong from 2027 to 2031, and plan to expand its scale of the event and take it beyond the exhibition halls.

62,000 buyers at HKTDC’s autumn fairs

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) concluded its Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo, and Exo Expo Asia, drawing some 62,000 buyers from 152 countries and regions. The Lighting Fair was held from 27th to 30th October 2026, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), while the Outdoor and Tech Light Expo and the Eco Expo took place concurrently at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), from 26th to 29th October 2026.