Recently, Zhengzhou released the "Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of an International Convention and Exhibition City" (referred to as the "Implementation Opinions"), and the supporting document "Several Measures of Zhengzhou to Support the High-Quality Development of the Convention and Exhibition Industry" was simultaneously issued. 

From "the exhibition capital of central China" to "an international exhibition city", how has Zhengzhou's exhibition industry developed? How will Zhengzhou make efforts to strive for the title of "an international exhibition city"? 
Objective: To initially establish itself as a renowned international convention and exhibition city by next year. 

Research results show that the industrial driving coefficient ratio of the exhibition industry internationally is approximately 1 to 9, meaning that if the revenue of exhibition venues is 1, the revenue of related industries would be 9.
This time, the "Implementation Opinions" propose that by 2025, Zhengzhou should initially establish itself as an international exhibition city that is based in the central and western regions, radiates across the country, and faces the world. 

And set specific goals:
1. By 2025, strive to have the total exhibition area of the city's exhibition venues reach 300,000 square meters, the number of exhibition events held reach 500, and the total exhibition area exceed 5 million square meters.
2. Create 10 brand exhibitions with international influence and first-class status in China.
3. The number of exhibition enterprises exceed 1,000, and cultivate 2-3 exhibition enterprises with international competitiveness, with 10 exhibition enterprises having national influence. 

Current situation: Insufficient competitiveness 
In recent years, the exhibition industry in Zhengzhou seems to have lacked momentum and has begun to fall behind similar cities and those in its surrounding areas in the new round of competition. According to the "2022 China City Exhibition Industry Competitiveness Index" released by the China Convention and Exhibition Economic Research Association at the end of October last year, among 105 city samples, Zhengzhou ranked 15th; among the six provincial capitals in central China, it ranked behind Changsha (8th) and Wuhan (9th).

What are the reasons hindering the development of Zhengzhou's exhibition industry? In the view of many insiders, the shortage of exhibition venues is the main reason. 
At the "14th Five-Year Plan" Outlook and Strategy Seminar for Zhengzhou's Convention and Exhibition Industry held in 2020, a relevant official from the Zhengzhou Convention and Exhibition Industry Promotion Center frankly stated that the city's convention and exhibition facilities have insufficient carrying capacity. Its exhibition halls rank 51st in the country and lack conference facilities suitable for hosting international and domestic political events. All these factors seriously restrict the industry's development. 
The "2022 China City Convention and Exhibition Industry Competitiveness Index" provides the same answer. The main reason for Zhengzhou's "loss of points" is that its convention and exhibition infrastructure is lagging behind. 
For instance, in terms of the competitiveness of exhibition infrastructure (including three indicators: the number of professional exhibition venues in the city, the number of conference hotels in the city, and the convenience of road transportation), Zhengzhou scored only 24.679 points, which is lower than Changsha's 48.319 points and Wuhan's 40.980 points.
In addition, the lack of major international and national events is also a "pain point" in the development of Zhengzhou's exhibition industry. 

In Changsha, a number of international influential exhibition brands such as the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and the World Computer Congress have been permanently located; in 2019, Changsha was officially included as an annual partner by the International Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI). 
In Wuhan, in 2023 alone, the 12th China International Service Outsourcing Fair, the 14th Han Trade Fair, and the 2023 Global Digital Trade Conference were held one after another. 

To solve the problem: Accelerate the construction of exhibition halls and apply for high-level forums. 
In 2023, the "Overall Plan for Accelerating the Internationalization of Zhengzhou City and Comprehensively Enhancing Its Competitiveness" was issued, clearly stating that "Zhengzhou will leverage its full urban functions to build an international exhibition city, expand a new pattern of characteristic exhibitions, and cultivate new forms of exhibition enterprises."
In the same year, the first phase of the Central Plains International Convention and Exhibition Center was completed. It is expected that the second phase will also be completed in 2024. By then, the Central Plains International Convention and Exhibition Center will have a construction area of 1 million square meters and an exhibition area of over 400,000 square meters, filling the gap in Henan Province of lacking a large-scale convention and exhibition center. 
According to the staff of the relevant department, in response to the "pain points" faced by the exhibition industry in Zhengzhou, in the future, Zhengzhou will accelerate the upgrading of the level of exhibition venues and facilities, and continuously follow up on the construction of exhibition halls such as the Central Plains International Convention and Exhibition Center in the Aviation Port Area, the Zhengzhou International Cultural Exchange Center in Zhengdong New District, the Zhengzhou Central Cultural District Cultural Exchange Center in Zhongyuan District, and the Science Hall in the High-tech Zone.

At the same time, it will introduce and cultivate exhibition projects, with a focus on fostering the development of first-tier exhibition projects such as the Zhengzhou Abrasives, Grinding Tools and Grinding Technology Exhibition, the Zhengzhou Auto Aftermarket Expo, the Zhengzhou Industrial Equipment Expo, and the Zhengzhou International Auto Exhibition, which are large-scale and leading in the same industry nationwide. 

It is also necessary to establish a linkage working mechanism for exhibition promotion and event hosting, and attract and hold high-level international exhibitions. For instance, in light of the construction of the Central Plains Science and Technology City, efforts should be made to create a preferred destination for scientific conferences, actively apply to host high-level forums and dialogues with global influence, and encourage Fortune 500 companies and other key enterprises to hold annual meetings and professional forums in Zhengzhou.