:: KINTEX e-NEWSLETTER ::

KINTEX is moving fast to firmly establish itself as Korea's representative exhibition center by securing a global network. It completed 95 percent of its construction process as of December 27, 2004. Although it has yet to officially open, KINTEX has already attracted about 28 large-scale exhibitions to the surprise of related industries at home and abroad. Despite the large size and complicated nature of the construction, there have been no major accidents. This safety record has earned KINTEX an award by the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency. KINTEX＊s achievement so far may be likened to the ※catching of three rabbits with one shot§ ? the smooth progress of the construction, the exemplary execution of the construction work and the better-than-expected performance in drawing large-scale exhibitions.

Armed with confidence generated by these achievements, KINTEX is moving briskly to secure its position in the global exhibition industry. Being built as one of the largest exhibition centers in the Northeast Asian region, KINTEX drew keen attention of related industries at home and abroad from the first moment of its construction. This interest has led to a steady stream of visitors even before its inauguration.

KINTEX has attracted a significant number of outstanding players in the world＊s exhibition and convention industries. They included Liang Wen, president of the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC); Shammi Nagpal, head of Messe Frankfurt＊s India branch; and Michael Duck, vice president of the CMP Asia.
Among other visitors were:
王 Vladimir Novikov, mayor of the Russian city of Artyom
王 A Chinese delegation headed by the mayor of Qiqihar. Another Chinese delegation led by the vice mayor of Qingdao
王 A delegation of China＊s Tsinghua University led by the chairman of its board of directors and the university president;
王 Japanese exhibitors that "Tuning Car Motor Show"
王 Related officials of the Japan External Trade Organization visited KINTEX.
王 Exhibition-related officials from Japan and Russia
王 A group of Australian installation experts for motor shows

Most of the international visitors at KINTEX had hands-on experience as hosts of international exhibitions or leading members of related international businesses. These visitors are said to have been impressed to see that KINTEX was moving along in line with its detailed master plan and its construction was effectively under way. Also, what was impressive to them was the mustered KINTEX manpower, who have working knowledge in the international exhibition business as well as a solid understanding of the global business standards. This international recognition has made KINTEX even more confident about its goal of going global throughout a global network that it continues to build up. On top of this, the international vision and global marketing sense of KINTEX President Hong Ki-hwa is helping to achieve its anticipated results rapidly.

KINTEX President Hong＊s European tour last year was related with the exhibition center＊s global marketing strategy. Leading a delegation of KINTEX staff members and Goyang City officials, he visited Europe's major exhibition centers, including the Fiera di Milano of Italy, the Messegelaende of Germany and the EXPOSIUM-Porte de Versailles of France, from October 21 through October 28. Hong and other delegates used the European tour as a chance to understand the operation status of Europe＊s major exhibition centers and intensify cooperation with them. The delegation could also gain useful information that can be applied in the second- and third-phase construction of KINTEX.

The delegates and their European counterparts exchanged views on ways to promote cooperative ties. They discussed measures for KINTEX to participate in the global network, to pursue collaborative work and to push ※Win-Win§ strategies.

As a result of these efforts, KINTEX has established cooperative ties with a number of international exhibition centers that include the Singex Group of Singapore (www.singapore-expo.com.sg), Japan's J-MESSE at (www.jetro.go.jp/j-messe), the Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Exhibition Center at wwwl.bigsight.jp), China's CIEC (China International Exhibition Center at www.ciec.nc), the CCPIT of Shanghai (www.ccpit.org), the SNIEC (Shanghai New International Expo Center at www.sniec.net/), Taiwan's TAITRA (www.taiwantrade.com.tw), Belgium's AWEX (www.awex.be/awex). The number of international organizations that show interest in forming cooperative ties with KINTEX is continuing to grow.

With this successful achievement, KINTEX is beginning to draw keen attention from the world＊s most renowned experts and top-tier media in the convention and exhibition sector.

First, global leaders of the exhibition industry expressed their willingness to take part in the April opening ceremony. Their expected participation will make the opening ceremony an event that is comparable to a mammoth-grade international expo such as the general assembly of the UFI. The valued guests who are expected to participate include heads of exhibition-related agencies and CEOs of renowned exhibitions and exhibition halls such as UFI Chairman Rudd van Ingen, the chairman and vice chairmen of IAEM, the CEO of Fiera Milano in Italy as well as the chairmen of the Tokyo Big Sight, the Singapore Expo and the Frankfurt Messe.

The visit of the distinguished guests from overseas shows their keen interest in the future course of KINTEX. It will also serve as a chance to enhance the international status of Korea as well as KINTEX.

Furthermore, the Frankfut Messe, a globally renowned exhibition center in Germany, arranged the performance of the ＆Germany Chamber Orchestra,＊ famous not only in Germany but also worldwide, for the KINTEX opening ceremony, reflecting its partnership and cooperative ties with KINTEX. The world-class exhibition center＊s expressing strong friendship and support for fledgling KINTEX is attributable to KINTEX＊s powerful global networking. It also signifies the new exhibition center＊s promising future as an international expo hall.

Another related development is KINTEX＊s participation in the 71st General Assembly of the UFI held on November 26 in Bangkok. The fact that the yet-to- open exhibition hall could participate in the meeting as a sponsor reflects the international status of and expectations on KINTEX. During the event, KINTEX President Hong KINTEX delivered his speech, explaining its opening schedule and plans for major exhibitions and conventions. On that day, President Hong met UFI Chairman Ingen and exchanged views on cooperation between the UFI and KINTEX and membership authorization. They agreed to tackle the issues in detail in later meetings between working-level officials.

Meanwhile, KINTEX also held a promotional tour targeting exhibition officials in Asia. From November 22 to 24, the agency＊s representatives, including President Hong, met with Chinese expo officials in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The event had heavy participation by industry leaders such as the officials from the TDC in Hong Kong, the CMO and Asia World Expo (AWE). They expressed keen interest in KINTEX＊s future plans and its establishment of a global network.

The debut of KINTEX on the international stage and its activities that were initiated even prior to its opening fueled competition among journalists from famous exhibition magazines to report on KINTEX.

<EXHIBITION WORLD>, a well-known UFI authorized magazine in the UK, showed its strong interest by carrying special features about KINTEX before and after the UFI General Assembly and distributing, on its own, the issues during the meeting. <CHINA EXHIBITION>, a Chinese magazine authorized by the CCIPT, sent a reporter to KINTEX and published a series of articles on its exhibition plans. It is taking a close look at every move of KINTEX, which is emerging as a strong competitor of CCIPT.

Meanwhile, a Japanese expo magazine, <E&C>, and several others posted long articles on KINTEX and interviews with President Hong after visiting KINTEX. The fervor for covering KINTEX among major expo magazines is expected to boost the interest in the agency and contribute greatly to its building of a global network.

There are several reasons why KINTEX is garnering such keen attention in and out of Korea, but notable among them is the combination of its global sense, knowledge on various exhibition operations, operation methods combined with advanced information technologies and a strong impetus resulting from an effective alliance between the private and public sectors.
Backed by strong support and interest toward it at home and abroad, KINTEX is busy preparing its opening under its business objective and operational goal of becoming a major international exhibition center in Korea that advocates globalization, expansion and specialization.