The Future Is Looking Bright at AsiaWorld-Expo

Major infrastructure projects and the return of Asian Aerospace 2011 affirms AsiaWorld-Expo's position as one of the world's leading MICE venues

HONG KONG, May 18 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- One of the world's foremost aerospace exhibitions, Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress, today announced that it would be returning to AsiaWorld-Expo for its 2011 event. It will be the third consecutive time that Asian Aerospace has chosen AsiaWorld-Expo for its high-profile global event.

This important announcement comes at a time when AsiaWorld-Expo is emerging as a key player in the development of Lantau as a business and commercial hub of the future Pearl River Delta (PRD) Metropolis. This visionary view of Lantau's development is set out in the "Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta" announced by the Central Chinese Government earlier this year. According to the Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre, the GDP per capita of the Pearl River Delta Metropolis will increase to US$100,000 by 2038, overtaking the current top three international metropolises of New York, London and Tokyo, and rank in the first place globally.

To spur closer economic integration between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region, the HKSAR Government is now accelerating construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airport Link, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and other cross-boundary infrastructure projects. In particular, the upcoming Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airport Link, both of which will have Hong Kong boundary crossing facilities directly connected to the airport region, will put AsiaWorld-Expo at the cutting edge of cross-boundary infrastructure, whisking people to and from Shenzhen, Zhuhai and western Guangdong in less than 30 minutes. Ultimately this will position AsiaWorld-Expo and the entire airport area as a dynamic hub for pan-PRD business and trade.

"With its world-class facilities and unrivalled location, AsiaWorld-Expo is positioned to be one of the world's leading MICE venues," remarked Allen Ha, Chief Executive Officer, AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited. "In the space of just 3 years, its international trade fairs have grown to account for almost 30% of the entire Hong Kong exhibition market. Based on this market share, AsiaWorld-Expo contributes around HK$8 billion (approx. US$1 billion) to the Hong Kong economy and provides an estimated 18,000 full-time jobs every year.

"As these landmark new infrastructure projects further enhance Hong Kong's connectivity, AsiaWorld-Expo is well positioned to become the world's de facto MICE venue for international exhibitors and buyers seeking greater exposure to China, as well as for mainland enterprises venturing into the global marketplace. With further room for growth at AsiaWorld-Expo, I'm confident that Hong Kong will continue to find new ways of leveraging its existing exhibition spaces to boost overall utilisation and maximise the efficiency of public resources. This will inevitably accelerate Hong Kong's economic growth and greatly benefit the local exhibition and conference industry."

The return of Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress in 2011 is a powerful reminder that both AsiaWorld-Expo and Hong Kong already offer the right combination of quality, accessibility, professionalism, service and value.

"A key aspect of the Asian Aerospace exhibition and congress is putting people 'Face to Face with the Right Faces'. AsiaWorld-Expo enables this in a way that is unique in Asia," explained Paul Beh, President, Reed Exhibitions -- Asia / Pacific. "The signing of the 2011 venue signifies Asian Aerospace's commitment to Hong Kong. Hong Kong offers unique access to business opportunities and AsiaWorld-Expo, with its superb infrastructure, is the natural meeting place for companies with a global vision."

Looking to the future, as Hong Kong moves into a new era as a pan-PRD multi-modal hub, AsiaWorld-Expo is proud to continue reminding the world that, when it comes to business, Hong Kong is indisputably the right place at the right time.

More details about Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress, including its 2009 event being held at AsiaWorld-Expo on 8-10 September 2009, can be found at http://www.asianaerospace.com .

About AsiaWorld-Expo

AsiaWorld-Expo is a public-private partnership between the Hong Kong SAR Government (majority shareholder) and a private sector consortium formed by Dragages Hong Kong Limited and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, with the Airport Authority Hong Kong contributing the land.

AsiaWorld-Expo is offering over 70,000 square metres of rental space. With 10 state-of-the-art ground-level and column-free exhibition and events halls including the 13,500-seat AsiaWorld-Arena, the biggest purpose-built indoor seated entertainment arena in Hong Kong as well as the AsiaWorld-Summit, Hong Kong's newest and largest indoor conference and banquet venue that seats 700 to 5,000 persons, AsiaWorld-Expo is Asia's only column-free, ground-level exhibition and events venue -- fully integrated with the World's Best Airport, Hong Kong International Airport (World Airport Survey by Skytrax). The complex is located at the centre of an extensive and efficient air, land, and marine transport network which connects Hong Kong to China's Pearl River Delta and the world's business capitals. It is ideally suited to hosting world- class exhibitions, conventions, concerts, sports, and entertainment events.

    For media inquiries, please contact

     AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited
     Kenneth Chan / Fiona Lau
     Tel:     +852-3606-8888
     Fax:     +852-3606-8889
     Email:   kc@asiaworld-expo.com / fl@asiaworld-expo.com
     Website: http://www.asiaworld-expo.com

SOURCE AsiaWorld-Expo