Xiamen upgraded its exhibition industry in 2014.

Two hundred exhibitions and 4,177 conferences were held in Xiamen in 2014, involving 1.735 million square meters of pavilion areas and 865 thousand exhibitors.

The industry brought direct economic benefit to the city as revenues surpassed 27 billion yuan ($4.3 billion), an increase of 14 percent.

Xiamen successfully set up China’s first exhibition Industry foundation in 2014.

The city has developed new exhibition projects, including a number of professional exhibitions in the art, pets, fishing, and Internet industries. Some high-end exhibitions have also been held in the city including the International Landscape Industry Expo and World Ocean Conference.

Thanks to the city’s efforts, international exhibition giants have been lured to open branches in Xiamen. Such companies include Messe München International, a German exhibition giant, who has chosen Xiamen as its China headquarters; Messe München cooperates with the China-based Jinhongxin Exhibition Company.

In addition, local exhibitor Xiamen International Book Company, has signed with the Taiwan Chan Chao Exhibition Company to set up a joint venture.

The budding exhibition sector gained Xiamen many honorable titles in 2014, including the titles of “China famous exhibition city” and “China’s most attractive exhibition destination.”

By Peng Juan from China Daily Fujian Bureau