Russian exhibition industry in new economic conditions
Analysis of the situation in the exhibition industry had
been the main topic of the press conference "Russian exhibition industry in new
economic conditions" held in MIA "Russia Today". The head of the CCI of Russia
Mr. Sergey Katyrin, General Director of ZAO "Expocentre" Mr.Sergei Bednov, the
President of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs of Textile and Light Industry
Mr. Andrew Razbrodin met with the press.
Exhibition activity was one of the most important tools to promote domestic
business to the Russian and foreign markets, said the President of the CCI of
Russia Mr. Sergey Katyrin.
He recalled that not so long ago was a time when neighbors did not know what was
the main business of their regional neighbors. They were looking across the sea
to buy or sell the right product, whereas it was enough to look into the next
county. Now exhibitions are only to find new products and technologies; they
also help to find partners, to choose a common position on issues of concern and
new areas for business development.
The annual turnover of the exhibition market in Russia is about $ 800 million.
This is the seventh place in the world, that seems to be not so bad, but it
would be better if there were enough of exhibition space, however we have only
about 780 thousand sq. meters, said Mr. Sergey Katyrin. It is extremely low-
only 2 percent of the total area of the exhibition centers in the world (the USA
- 20%, China - 15%).
In recent years the industry had faced difficulties. The market had shrunk due
to sanctions: exhibitors were 14-15% less than in 2015, one in five potential
foreign participants did not dare to come to Russia. Nevertheless, now the
exhibition had more and more Russian participants.
In addition, Mr.Sergei Katyrin said that at the upcoming congress in March, the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation will have a separate
discussion on the problems of the exhibition industry.
