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UFI Celebrates Centennial at 92nd Global Congress in Hong Kong – Where the Future of Exhibitions is Shaped

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Exhibition industry converges to explore how to leverage Hong Kong’s super-connector role between the world & the Greater Bay Area, world-class venues and diverse cultural experiences to achieve more for trade shows and visitors
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 November 2025 – The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has cemented Hong Kong’s position as an exhibition and conference hub in Asia as the host city of the landmark 92nd UFI Global Congress. Staged at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) on 19–22 November 2025 under the theme “Shaping the Future”, the Congress in UFI’s centenary brought together hundreds of global industry leaders to reflect, connect and shape the future of the global exhibition industry, capturing Hong Kong’s strengths as the trade fair capital of Asia and the World’s Meeting Place delivering world-class infrastructure, seamless Greater Bay Area (GBA) integration and innovative event solutions.
HKTB Chairman Peter Lam remarked, “We are thrilled that the UFI Global Congress has returned to Hong Kong after 25 years to celebrate UFI’s centenary. This year’s Congress holds special significance; it is both an honour and a testament to our city’s enduring position as the “World’s Meeting Place”. Combined with business-friendly policies, world-class infrastructure, professional services and unique GBA opportunity, Hong Kong continues to attract international business events across the region. Moreover, Hong Kong goes beyond being just a business hub – the city boasts a year-round calendar of world-class mega events, enlivening it with delightful activities, exclusive festive attractions and irresistible experiences. I invite global industry leaders to explore beyond the conference halls and immerse themselves in Hong Kong.”

Hong Kong – A Destination of Choice to Unleash Growth Potential for the Exhibition Sector

As a key economic pillar, the global exhibition industry produced US$95 billion in direct GDP and contributed US$162 billion in direct spending in 2024, according to UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry. In 2024, Hong Kong’s flagship venues – Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and AWE – hosted more than 350 exhibitions with 9.17 million participants. This year, the city sees a strong momentum in trade exhibitions, with 10 new exhibitions staged in Hong Kong.

Chris Skeith, Managing Director & CEO of UFI noted, “Coming to Hong Kong this year particularly is important to UFI as it’s our centenary. We’ve been celebrating the past, honouring the present, but the main thing we’re here today for is to help shape our future. Experience and trust are two major trends to watch for the industry, and Hong Kong is the perfect destination for us today. Not only have you got the people, the growth opportunity, the amazing landscapes and seascape, and you have also got the venues and the capability to help deliver the events that we can bring. So as UFI moves into our next centenary, I can see lots of our members bringing events to Hong Kong again to help shape the future of their businesses, their communities, their events, and we will do that together.”

Future-focused Congress Programme Highlights Future-proof Developments & Insights

In this year’s UFI Global Congress in Hong Kong, high-calibre speakers led future-focused dialogue. Silicon Valley strategist Dex Hunter-Torricke, hailing from SpaceX, Facebook and Google, dissected how AI and technological changes were reshaping industries, and how the exhibition sector could play a defining role in reconnecting people and ideas.

Global industry leaders also explored the forces shaping the future of events through the main stage programme. A key highlight was AWE’s Phase II development featuring Hong Kong’s largest purpose-built in-door performance venue with 20,000 seats, to be completed by 2028. This expansion is an integral part of SKYTOPIA, the new tourism landmark in Lantau being developed by the Airport Authority. The project integrating commercial activities, culture and leisure is set to propel the city to become a dream destination for visitors.

Lisa Hannant, Chief Executive Officer of Clarion Events attested to Hong Kong’s appeal. “We have an iconic brand called Global Sources, and we have been established here in Hong Kong for over 50 years. Hong Kong is at the forefront of the evolving industry across the whole of the trade show sector. It’s a meeting place for international markets and a real connector where buyers meet sellers. With a diverse economic background and vibrant culture, it is an extraordinary place to be able to establish new events such as The Hong Kong International Show Jumping Show.” she said.

Richard Ireland, Chief Executive Officer of Clarion Events Asia echoed this viewpoint “It didn’t take us long to realise that Hong Kong is a great destination for such a show. Its location near the Greater Bay Area, its affluent population and ability to host large successful events really made it a very simple decision.”

Hong Kong – the Gateway to Unlock Opportunities in GBA and Beyond

Featured as a speaker in the Session themed “Gateway to Growth: Unleashing Opportunities in the Greater Bay Area”, HKTB’s General Manager, Mega Events, MICE and Cruise Marilyn Tham highlighted Hong Kong as an unmatched gateway for uncovering opportunities in the GBA and Asia, thanks to Hong Kong’s one-hour easy access to the GBA market of 87 million people, and the four-hour flight radius to all Asian markets.

Margaret Ma Connolly, President and CEO of Informa Markets Asia, elaborated, “Hong Kong is really the bridge from Asia to the world. Hong Kong has unique access to the Greater Bay Area, and Chinese Mainland is the second largest exhibition market in the world. At Informa Markets, we have launched a few Asia’s debuts in Hong Kong that are aligned with the government Policy Address’s key strategic pillars, whether it’s in aviation, logistic hub or MICE development. So we have launched the Super Terminal Expo, The Battery Show Asia, the Beauty Ingredients & Formulation Asia (BIFA) and Connect Marketplace Hong Kong and we are also launching LEAP East next. Hong Kong has a lot going for it, with the MICE industry being the hub in APAC. I do believe this is Asia’s century and now the momentum is strong.”

Rich Destination Experiences to Enhance Visitor Enjoyment

UFI Global Congress delegates personally experienced how Hong Kong masterfully blends business and leisure. The Congress Dinner at M+, hosted by the HKTB, presented an elaborate feast of culinary excellence, neon art, cross-genre music, and a dance performance paying tribute to Bruce Lee on the 85th anniversary of his birth.

Four tours of contrasts were also curated by HKTB for delegates – Peak Tram to PMQ that contrasted legendary skyline with creative energy; Palace Museum to Kowloon Walled City that mixed imperial treasures with a urban regeneration gem; Ngong Ping 360 to Tai O that juxtaposed modern engineering with traditional fishing village vibe; and Tai Kwun to Big Bus Tour that showcased colonial heritage alongside cosmopolitan energy.

The HKTB-sponsored destination experiences showcased endless reasons for extending stays to take in more.

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Energy

Building a Knowledge Hub for China-ASEAN Energy Cooperation

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September 22, 2026

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NANNING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, China Southern Power Grid showcased a range of innovations designed to support energy cooperation between China and ASEAN. These included the DaWatt – Lao Language Large Language Model (LLM) for the Energy and Power Sector V2.0 and the Flexible Grayscale Intelligent Monitoring & Analysis Platform for power system cybersecurity, highlighting expanding opportunities for cooperation in digitalization, intelligent technologies and green energy.

The Lao-language LLM has been deployed at Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), where it can automatically analyze thousands of inspection images within a short period of time. After its algorithms were optimized for Laos’ mountainous and rainforest terrain, the model completed intelligent inspection analysis for four transmission lines, processing 26,000 drone inspection images and identifying more than 3,600 equipment defects.

 




 
 

Liu Ying, general manager of the Digitalization Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd., said the company has been building multilingual professional corpora for the power sector, covering ASEAN countries including Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. Drawing on the capabilities of the DaWatt foundation model, the company is developing energy and power models tailored to ASEAN languages and real-world power industry applications.

Talent development is another focus of the cooperation. The China-ASEAN Institute of Energy, jointly established by Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University, is exploring an industry-university training model with a strong emphasis on practical experience. So far, two cohorts totaling 53 students from ASEAN countries have enrolled.

Cooperation is also evolving from one-way training toward joint innovation. Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have jointly established a laboratory for artificial intelligence and safety equipment, while the company has also launched peer-to-peer exchanges with Electricité du Laos on improving power supply reliability.

To address language barriers in cross-border technical exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has developed an AI-powered translation platform backed by a specialized database containing terminology for more than 1,800 types of power equipment. The platform supports accurate translation between Chinese and English, Chinese and Lao, and Chinese and Vietnamese.

At a recent training program for Chinese and overseas engineers, the system supported one-click generation of bilingual course materials and real-time speech translation, helping participants navigate highly specialized power-sector terminology.

To support regular international exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has also established an international talent pool covering management, technical and skilled personnel. It has developed 24 hours of courses on international affairs as well as 20 short-form video courses.

“This year, we will also explore joint postgraduate programs with universities in ASEAN countries,” said Sun Xiaohua, deputy director of the Human Resources Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd.

Looking ahead, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. plans to further advance a development model featuring “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, integration in Guangxi, and application in ASEAN.” The company will continue expanding its multilingual power-sector corpora and explore a “Token Goes Global” model for power-sector AI, with computing resources and models based in Guangxi while knowledge services are delivered overseas. The effort is aimed at creating new forms of China-ASEAN energy cooperation and supporting the green development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.
 




 

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Events

24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival to Showcase Asia’s Spectacular Autumn Colors

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September 22, 2026

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BAZHONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – The 24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival will run from October 1 to November 18 at the Guangwu Mountain Tourism Area in Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China.

Located in southwest China, Guangwu Mountain boasts a forest coverage rate of 97%, earning its reputation as a “natural oxygen bar.” Each autumn, 680 square kilometers of mountain forests burst into a dazzling palette. Over 40 tree species, including Fagus pashanica, maples and lindens, weave the mountains into a stunning autumn landscape.

Known as “Asia’s longest natural red carpet,” the Mountain has become a top autumn destination for backpackers, photographers and travelers seeking immersive cultural and nature experiences, and is widely recognized as one of western China’s signature autumn attractions.

 




 
 

The tourism area caters to international visitors who prefer slower-paced, in-depth, off-the-beaten-path travel. The new Yanziling Loop Boardwalk, launched in May 2026, winds along mountain cliffs, with a sea of clouds rolling beneath visitors’ feet and brilliant foliage unfolding alongside the trail, creating the feeling of “stepping into a painting.”

Guangwu Mountain offers a wealth of outdoor attractions. Highlights include the 1,888-meter Red Leaf Coaster and a glass water slide certified by Guinness World Record, combining thrilling experiences with stunning natural scenery.

The large-scale immersive production “New Dream of Guangwu Mountain” integrates cutting-edge light and visual technology with Bashan folklore and traditions, transforming the forest into an atmospheric nighttime experience. Visitors can also enjoy welcome performances and interactive robot activities, which offer more ways to discover the mountain’s late-autumn charm.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the newly completed Micang Avenue. Stretching 85 kilometers, the route connects seven core scenic spots, including Guangwu Mountain, Micang Mountain, and Nuoshui River, reducing a four-hour drive to just one hour. Lined with continuous stretches of colorful forest and layered peaks, the avenue brings brand-new travel experiences for autumn foliage enthusiasts.

The festival will also feature cultural, sports and international exchange activities, including the third season of the “Sending You a Red Leaf” campaign, the China Micang Avenue International Road Cycling Race, and the “World Red Leaf Landmark” global collection campaign.

In addition, 31 scenic attractions and 18 museums and cultural venues across Bazhong will provide special ticket offers and visitor benefits during the festival.

Across mountains and seas, Guangwu Mountain invites visitors from around the world to witness one of China’s most vibrant red-and-gold autumn displays.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
 
 




 

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Business

Plast Eurasia invites Middle East buyers for its 35th edition

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September 22, 2026

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Tüyap will stage the 35th edition of Plast Eurasia in Istanbul on December 2–5, bringing plastics machinery, raw materials and chemicals together as organisers target 80,000 visitors, including business audiences from the Middle East and North Africa

ISTANBUL, Türkiye, September 21, 2026/APO Group/ –Plast Eurasia (www.PlastEurasia.com), the 35th International Istanbul Plastics Industry Fair, will take place at Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul from December 2–5, 2026, bringing manufacturers, technology providers, raw material suppliers, distributors, buyers and other industry professionals together around cross-border trade and new production technologies.

“Plast Eurasia is designated among the prestigious trade fairs by the Ministry of Trade. For 35 years, it has supported the sector’s development and growth by helping companies build commercial connections,” said İlhan Ersözlü, General Manager at Tüyap Fairs Production Inc. “We are carrying that experience into this edition with a focus on trade, technology and the continued development of the industry.”

 




  

MENA buyers among international visitor targets

 

Interest in the 2026 fair is already reflected in stand sales. Around 3 months before the opening, 90% of exhibition space had been sold, while organizers expect 80,000 domestic and international visitors.

 

Visitor outreach is focused on Germany, Belgium, Greece, Romania, France, Italy and Poland, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The four MENA markets are part of the fair’s wider effort to attract professional buyers from different regions to Istanbul. The country mix gives the event a regional dimension spanning Europe and MENA.

 

For exhibitors, the international visitor mix is intended to support new commercial contacts and the development of existing trading relationships. For buyers, the fair brings machinery suppliers, materials companies and other plastics industry participants together in one location.

 

Machinery and materials share the trade agenda

 

Plast Eurasia will bring together two core parts of the plastics industry, plastic production machinery and raw materials and chemicals. The exhibition will also cover next-generation production technologies, machinery solutions and developments around efficiency, innovation and value-added production.

 

We are carrying that experience into this edition with a focus on trade, technology and the continued development of the industry

This structure allows industry professionals to review equipment, materials and production approaches during the same visit. New products and technologies will sit alongside meetings aimed at helping companies assess business opportunities across international markets.

 

35th-year program looks back and ahead

 

The anniversary program will include a Milestones Map tracing key stages in the fair’s 35-year history and changes in the plastics industry. A chronological presentation will show how the fair and the sector have developed over that period.

 

An exhibition of historic plastics production machinery will show how production technologies have changed over time. Companies that have contributed to Plast Eurasia’s development during its 35-year history will also be recognized with plaques at the opening ceremony.

 

The Stage is Yours! program will give exhibitors 30-minute presentation slots in the foyer to share value-added products, technologies, success stories and industry solutions with visitors.

 

“Hosted Buyer Guided Tour” focuses on relevant meetings

 

Guided tours will be organized for international purchasing delegations. The program will include guided routes, visits to demo and event areas, access to the Hosted Buyer Lounge and dedicated support services.

 

It is designed to help buyers reach relevant product groups and exhibitors more efficiently, while giving participating companies more focused contact with international purchasing teams.

 

Plast Eurasia is organized by Tüyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organization Inc. in cooperation with PAGEV (Turkish Plastics Industry Research, Development and Education Foundation) and with the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade. Visitor hours are 10.00–18.00 on December 2–4 and 10.00–17.00 on December 5.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TÜYAP.

 

 




 

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