News
2020 Mega Show – Dozens of Asian trade fairs postponed on virus fears
Mar
2020 is looking to be a great year for TinyPathfinders. Occasionally there are hiccups along the way that we are certain we all will overcome together. TinyPathfinders was once again invited to the 2020 Asia Hong Kong Mega Show. As you all know, travel is very limit to/from Asia at the moment. Safety first, we therefore will be postponing any travel for now.
The following article, written by By Brenda Goh, Sophie Yu (REUTERS.com), touches on this very topic. The full article can be accessed here.
More than two dozen large trade fairs and industry conferences in Asia have been postponed because of the spread of the coronavirus from China, shuttering events where billions of dollars worth of deals have been signed in the past.
The deferred events, including some scheduled as late as the end of March, show the ripple effect the virus is having on businesses globally with airlines cancelling flights as governments and companies curb travel and thousand of factories and shops remain shut.
The venue of China’s oldest and biggest trade fair, the Canton Fair, has suspended exhibitions until further notice. It was due to hold its spring exhibition at the complex from April 15. Last year, $29.7bn worth of deals were signed at the event.
Organizers of the East China Import and Export Commodity Fair, due to be held in Shanghai over March 1-4, said they would postpone the event, without giving later dates. The fair that usually attracts traders of garments and household goods, announced $2.3bn in deals last year.
The Chinese government has also asked local authorities and business associations to hold off hosting events and conferences, as concerns rise about the disease that has killed more than 560 people and infected more than 28,000.
“Clients are asking me, is it safe to go to China and that’s a very hard question to answer,” said Malcolm McNeil, a partner at global law firm Arent Fox, whose clients include firms based in the United States with business interests in China.
A client scheduled to go to Shenzhen in southern China decided to put that off until June, McNeil said. He expects it to take at least six-nine months before people regain full confidence to travel to China again for business.
Other postponed events, due to be held in the last two weeks of March, include the annual trade conference for the global chip industry in China, SEMICON and the International Building and Construction Trade Fair in Shanghai.
The annual China Development Forum, a high-level gathering of international leaders, whose past attendees included Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook will be delayed, its organizers said. It is usually held in late March.
The outbreak casts doubt on attendance at high-profile events outside China as well, industry executives said, as companies restrict mainland Chinese visitors from travelling to other countries.