OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2012. A press conference dedicated to main exhibition and convention events of the year – the 4th Russian Conference “Exhibition, Fair and Convention Activity: Regional Priorities” and the 6th  International Exhibition Industry Forum “5pEXPO 2012” (due at Expocenter on June 6-8, 2012) – has taken place at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia.

CCI of Russia Vice-President Vladimir Strashko, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly Alexander Torshin and Expocenter General Director Sergey Bednov participated in the press conference.

REN channel economic observer Irina Sashina presided at the press conference.

“We have gathered on the eve of the Russian Entrepreneur Day, which is marked on May 26 this year,” CCI of Russia Vice-President Vladimir Strashko said. “A mandatory condition of the development of entrepreneurship and economy as a whole is energetic exhibition and convention activity. The CCI of Russia is fully supportive of this key element of economic development and innovative infrastructure.” In the opinion of the Chamber, exhibition and convention business is underestimated and its potential is far from being used fully, Vladimir Strashko said.  Authorities and businessmen need to pool efforts for drastically improving the situation. The conference and forum, which will be held at Expocenter on June 6-8, will witness an exchange of experience, presentation of the newest exhibition techniques and analysis of the role of exhibition and convention business in the economic development.

Exhibition business in Russia has been developing actively alongside the economy in the past two years. Russia holds approximately 2,000 exhibitions per annum, which is close to the pre-crisis indicator of 2008. The growing number of visitors is the driving force of exhibition business. The number of visitors is growing, although it is still smaller than it was in 2008. That is a weak point of the industry. The number of foreign exhibitors in Russia is on the rise, too. The indoor exhibition space has doubled in the recent years to 800,000 square meters.

While speaking about problems of exhibition and convention activity, Vladimir Strashko accentuated the need for a clear state policy in that area. The main problems hindering the development of exhibition and convention activity are insufficient material and technical resources, the absence of purposeful work on the Russian engagement in tenders for holding international conventions and, finally, the imperfection of legal regulations and norms. A federal law is necessary.

 Following orders of the Russian government, the CCI of Russia has elaborated a draft concept of the formation of exhibition and convention infrastructure in constituents of the Russian Federation on public-private partnership terms and a related action plan. The concept aims at the development of mechanisms of state support to domestic manufacturers – participants in exhibition and convention activity, businessmen, consumers, exhibition organizations and representatives of all spheres of that business. The national budget assigns funds for the participation in foreign exhibitions and fairs. That is a correct move, but it is also necessary to support domestic events, Vladimir Strashko said. The Vice-President also stressed that Russia had bid for hosting EXPO 2020 in Yekaterinburg.

In the opinion of First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly Alexander Torshin, the CCI of Russia is the entity, which gives the biggest attention to exhibition and convention activity in the country. Meanwhile, legislators have not done their job: there was only one event in the past six years dedicated to the important subject, he said. The country does not have a federal entity to coordinate the elaboration and fulfillment of the state policy in the important sphere. Things must change.  The government can and should do a lot. Russian exhibition and convention business will be unable to take the place this business has been holding in developed countries for a long time without substantial and progressive laws, benefits and state support.

 Expocenter General Director Sergey Bednov spoke about the upcoming 6th  International Exhibition Industry Forum “5pEXPO 2012”. The quality of an exhibition has a direct effect on the success of those using it as a marketing tool. It is the mission of 5pEXPO to build up quality of exhibitions. In the five years of its existence, 5pEXPO has transformed into the main business floor for exhibition and convention industry professionals. The exhibition will be held on an area of 8,800 square meters, which is 30% more than in 2011. Last year’s exhibition had only seven foreign participants. The upcoming forum will gather representatives of exhibition communities from 24 countries. There will be a busy business program. Simultaneously with 5pEXPO 2012, the 4th  Russian Conference “Exhibition, Fair and Convention Activity: Regional Priorities” will be held. Official support of the Federal Council of the Russian Federal Assembly plays a colossal role in the forum 2012 success.

Sergey Bednov also highlighted certain areas of Expocenter activity and noted an enormous role of exhibitions in the promotion of innovations. Largest specialized exhibitions have a tangible positive effect on the formation of branch markets and revitalize the market situation, he said.

5pEXPO success enables Expocenter to initiate the granting of UFI International Association of the Exhibition Industry mark to the project. The UFI mark certifies exhibitions by international standards recognized by the world exhibition community. About 100 exhibitions in Russia carry the UFI mark at present, and 22 of them are organized by Expocenter.

The Expocenter general director noted that Expocenter used to be the leading organizer of exhibitions abroad. This area of activity should be revived, Sergey Bednov said, noting that he implied projects both in CIS member states and other countries. There is a good exhibition potential that should be used, Sergey Bednov said.

The press conference participants answered numerous questions of the media. Journalists learned that the press conference participants attached a prime priority to a law on exhibition and convention activity. There is a need for a Russian coordination council to ensure comprehensive development of the industry and to use its potential in full. It would be logical for the Russian Economic Development Ministry to lead this process. Many territorial chambers actively assist exhibition and convention activity. In turn, the CCI of Russia has become a major floor presenting investment capacities of Russian regions. Expocenter expects an increasing number of high-tech exhibitions as evidence to the correct and innovative development of the national economy. Regularly, exhibition and convention activity is judged by its share in the country’s GDP. The indicator is 0.042% of GDP in Russia, 0.07% in the United States and 0.055% in Germany. However, the GDP size also matters. The dollar equivalent is approximately USD 2.3 trillion in Russia, USD 15 trillion in the United States and about USD 4 trillion in German. In short, our growth potential is rather big.