Koelnmesse seeks tieups

GERMANY'S Koelnmesse GmbH is in talks with a number of Chinese exhibition organizers to take over their events or set up joint ventures to tap China's rapidly growing exhibition industry that is becoming more international, a senior executive said yesterday in Shanghai.

Tieups with local exhibitors, which should help Koelnmesse increase its existing portfolio in China, are preferred, according to Michael Dreyer, Koelnmesse's vice president.

"We don't want to dilute the market as it's not in the interests of our customers," said Dreyer, who is in charge of the Asia Pacific region. "What we want is a win-win situation."

Dreyer made the remarks on the sidelines of the China International Hardware Show, the largest of its kind in the country. Koelnmesse shares revenue and branding together with the country's state-level industry association at the event.

Dreyer said they are ongoing talks with some Chinese exhibitors but they are at a preliminary stage. He refused to name any of the potential partners. The exhibitors are leading Chinese firms or those that are strong in a certain area.

Koelnmesse, one of Germany's largest exhibition organizers which holds events like Art Cologne, has just signed an agreement with the government of Shunde, a city in southern Guangdong Province, to help organize a household appliance fair from next year.

The German exhibitor plans to hold more exhibitions in furniture production, food hospitality and expand its consumer electronic fair in China, its fourth largest market by revenue at 15 million euros (US$21 million).