More than 200 overseas and domestic experts gathered at the one-day summit on Saturday, which was hosted by Shanghai Pudong District government. Pudong is home to Shanghai's four major industrial zones.

Hoping to develop Shanghai into a global center for trade fairs, the organizer fixed the summit theme as "Shanghai Pudong - the new exhibition hotspot in the Asia-Pacific area."

"Though there have been many mature exhibition centers in this region like Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Shanghai will still play an important role with its huge potential in the industry," according to Sandy Angus, president of the Union of International Fairs. "In 2010, Shanghai will become one of the largest, if not the largest, expo centers of the world."

According to Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Industry Association, the city's trade fair industry has developed rapidly in recent years.

In the past 12 years, the number of exhibitions held in Shanghai has increased by an average of 20 percent every year. About 270 exhibitions were held in the city last year and the total trade volume reached 55 billion yuan (US$6.6 billion), up 20 percent from the previous year.

The income generated by the exhibition industry in Shanghai amounted to 1.8 billion yuan last year, accounting for 45 percent of the nation's total.

Automobiles, environment protection, information technology, architecture and biological pharmacy have become the five bright spots in the local exhibition industry.

Official survey shows every one yuan spent on an exhibition is translated into nine yuan of income on hotel, food, transportation and tourism sectors.

"When the quantity reaches a certain level, trade fair organizers should care more about the quality, that is, to build international brands," suggested Michael Duck, chairman of UFI's Asia, Australia and Middle East Chapter.

The Shanghai New International Expo Center Co. Ltd. in Pudong disclosed at the summit it will start construction of No. 6 and 7 halls, a hotel and a convention center next year.

(eastday.com November 18, 2002)