TALKING POINTS
INDUSTRY views AAXO on the importance of industry associations
AAXO concludes reciprocal agreement with Indian counterparts A new partnership expands global channels for the African exhibitions industry in 2018 and beyond.
T
he Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) has signed a reciprocity agreement with its counterpart in India, the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA), at the flagship IEIA Open Seminar and Expo 2018 in Hyderabad, India. The mutual cooperation agreement is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing, promoting the industry as a whole, and maximising industry networking and business opportunities for both countries. India’s exhibition industry, presenting over 800 trade shows annually, is showing growth at a rate of 8.8% per annum and is seeking enhanced collaboration with global counterparts to support growth. In turn, AAXO, representing pan-African trade fair organisers, is proactively working to enhance international growth opportunities for the African exhibitions industry. The latest agreement comes only two months after AAXO signed a strategic agreement with the Italian Exhibition and Trade Fair Association (AEFI), to support bilateral growth and collaboration. The partnerships are in line with stepped-up efforts by AAXO to promote African opportunities to the world through collaboration, as well as by creating global expo pavilions for Africa in the rest of the world and for foreign exhibitors at African events. Llewellyn du Plessis, association manager at AAXO, travelled to Hyderabad to attend the IEIA Open Seminar and Expo, and signed the partnership agreement on behalf of AAXO, alongside Shupinder Singh, honorary secretary of IEIA. Du Plessis reports that there is keen interest in Africa from Indian business: “India provided exceptional hospitality in hosting AAXO, and attending the Expo itself was a remarkable and humbling experience. Africa was in the spotlight at the event, both on stage and as a central focus
36 • THE EXHIBITION PLANNER 2018
ABOVE AAXO association manager Llewellyn du Plessis (third from right) stands proudly among members of the Indian Exhibition Industry Association at the signing of a reciprocity agreement between the two associations
amongst 32 other participating countries and professionals in the exhibition industry.”
About AAXO The Association of African Exhibition Organisers is the sole reference association for the organisers of trade fairs throughout Africa. AAXO represents trade fair event organisers thanks to a network of trade and consumer exhibitions and conferences like Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, Messe Munchen SA, Hypenica, Reed Exhibitions, Spintelligent, Terrapinn, The Wedding Group, SA Confex Services, TE Trade Events, Exposure Marketing, Agri Expo, On Show Solutions, Expo Promotions, The Wine Show, Synergy Business solutions, ZITF and Media 10. AAXO aims to promote industry, encourages investment in the sector and participation in trade fairs, as well as offers members tools and resources to organise successful events. In addition to introducing a code of conduct – to be fair and ethical while offering solutions and confidentiality – AAXO supports members with a series of tools such as: training programmes; equitable and critical conflict resolution; specific research to provide organisers and exhibitors with growth and business opportunities; commitment with the government for greater recognition of the sector; and a network of trade fair organisations for discussing common issues.
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