Top industry experts to help Saudi become global event hub
COMMERCIAL NEWS
Top executives from among the world's 20 largest global exhibition companies including Informa, RX Global, Clarion, dmg Events, and Messe Dusseldorf will co-create Saudi Arabia’s plan to become the global event destination.
The event, hosted by the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA) and UFI – The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, will take place during the inaugural International MICE Summit (IMS24) from December 15 to 17.
The UFI delegation will explore investment opportunities in the kingdom’s booming Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. The delegation is the latest convened by UFI and will essentially co-create Saudi Arabia’s roadmap to help become a sustainable, innovative global hub for the meetings industry.
Executives from the highest grossing event companies in the world, including Informa, RX Global, Clarion, dmg Events, Koelnmesse GmbH, ASM Global, Messe Dusseldorf, Emerald Holding Inc, Comexposium, and Deutsche Messe AG, will be in attendance, along with more than 1,000 global business and government leaders.
"The Mice industry drives growth across sectors by showcasing advancements and fostering partnerships with visionary collaborators," said Fahd Al Rasheed, the Chairman of SCEGA.
"The MICE sector plays a pivotal role in the delivery of Vision 2030, as evidenced by the 44% growth rate of the sector in the kingdom over the last five years and its success in attracting and facilitating marquee global events," he stated.
UFI Chief Executive Officer Kai Hattendorf said: "As the direct representative of more than 50,000 exhibition industry employees globally, UFI - The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry sees the next chapter of the industry as one of growth, innovation and exciting promise."
"It is only fitting that we bring together industry leaders to write this next chapter together, leveraging our collective learnings and visions, in and for one of the fastest-growing MICE destinations globally: Saudi Arabia," stated Hattendorf.
Globally, exhibitions support 1.4 million direct jobs globally and generated $82.3 billion of direct GDP.
Saudi Arabia’s MICE sector is the fastest growing in the G20, with business visitors expected to almost triple to eight million in 2030, from 3.1 million in 2019, stated Al Rasheed.
Marquee events on the calendar include Expo 2030, the Cityscape Global 2024, Future Investment Initiative, World Defense Show, Smart Cities Forum, Future Minerals Forum, LEAP, and the Future Aviation Forum, he noted.
Also on the calendar are global sporting events, including the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, Esports Olympics and the AFC Winter Games. The Kingdom has also been confirmed to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup, he added.
Organized around six thematic pillars, the Summit will explore trends and opportunities in areas including talent and skill development, the economic impacts of MICE business models, borderless events, and MICE sustainability practices.
IMS24 will also feature innovation clusters that will showcase new technologies, and opportunities to engage in discussions with KSA government leaders.
The three-day international MICE Summit will take place at Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (MISK) in Riyadh.-TradeArabia News Service
