The Asia Outdoor trade show, a joint venture between Messe Friedrichshafen and China's Nanjing Exhibition Centre, announced that roughly 70% of the exhibitors who took part in 2006 have already signed a three-year contract, guaranteeing their participation at next year's trade fair scheduled for 23-26 August 2007 in Nanjing.
Top industry brands such as Lowa, VAUDE, Edelrid and Meindl, as well as leading outdoor industry companies from Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China are among committed exhibitors.
According to Knut Jaeger, Messe Friedrichshafen account executive in China, annual growth in the country's outdoor market ranges from 30 to 40 per cent. At RMB 1 billion (approximately EUR 100 million), industry sales have already reached a substantial level. China has also become an important manufacturing centre for the outdoor industry including many of the world's top brands. “No other country is challenging industry leaders in the west so directly,” reports Jaeger, who has been following the Chinese outdoor market since 1978. Mr Jaeger has lived in China for the past three years.
Attracting a total of 6,743 trade visitors from across China and other Asian countries, the first Asia Outdoor was highly successful in terms of attendance. Drawing on its 13 years of experience from organising Europe's Outdoor trade show, Messe Friedrichshafen played a conceptual and advisory role, and organised accommodations for European exhibitors. “We got off to a good start and things were perfectly organised,” commented Project Manager Stefan Reisinger, who only had words of praise for his Chinese colleagues. A competent planning and organisation team assisted Knut Jaeger on the ground in Nanjing.
The next Asia Outdoor will take place from Thursday to Sunday, 23-26 August 2007. The trade fair is open to trade visitors only.
