Cliff Wallace, HKCEC Managing Director, has been elected to serve on the Steering Committee of the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI).

He is the single UFI member elected to the Committee representing the exhibition venues that are members of the exhibition and trade fair industry association. The election took place during UFI's 69th Congress held in Munich, Germany last week.

The HKCEC is the venue member of UFI hosting the greatest area of UFI approved international exhibitions that does not organise shows itself. The HKCEC hosted exhibitions totalling 293,000 sq. m. in 2000.

The HKCEC licenses its space to external organisers only whereas some venues, especially in Germany and Japan, organise their own exhibitions. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council and CMP Asia are the HKCEC’s largest exhibition organisers.

Wallace reflected on his election stating, "This is a real honor for me and the HKCEC. To be able to join this Committee gives me an opportunity to further enhance the HKCEC's image while representing the venue industry with this prestigious association. The industry, venues and organisers alike must work closely together with the challenges confronting us now and this is one way to do that. The contacts, networking and informational advantages resulting from this Committee work will also positively benefit the HKCEC and Hong Kong in our efforts to maintain our position as Asia's trade fair capital.”

Michael Sze, Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the statutory organisation with oversight over the HKCEC as a public facility, said, “I am delighted to learn of Cliff’s election. UFI is an important organisation to HKCEC. With Cliff’s solid experience and expertise, I am confident that he will make the best of his position as an UFI Steering Committee member to promote Hong Kong’s exhibition industry and to facilitate any issues affecting the development of international trade fairs.”

UFI was founded in 1925 and is a worldwide organisation pertaining to the trade fair/exhibition industry, currently with 191 full members and 33 associate members from 72 countries on five continents. UFI’s principle goal is to represent the international trade fair/exhibition industry worldwide and to emphasise the industry’s unique marketing qualities for the development of trade fairs.

Members can exchange ideas and experiences through UFI’s efficient networking platform. In 2002 UFI has approved over 600 events organised by its members who are generally the leading trade fair/exhibition organisers in their respective countries striving for the high quality and standards which are the objectives of UFI.

The Steering Committee is tasked with implementing decisions taken by the General Assembly, with developing UFI policy, and preparing all proposals related to matters affecting international trade fairs.