Olympic year 2008 in Beijing also brings the return of the VIV China exhibition to the Chinese capital. At its most recent edition in 2006, the show had brought in over 17,000 visitors from China and another 3,200 from other countries to its presentation of products and services from local and international suppliers for the poultry and livestock sectors.
The dataset for the 2006 event had also revealed that over one-third of all visitors were involved in the poultry business. Those from China mainly represented the provinces of Shanghai, Shandong, Beijing and Guangdong. While the foreign attendees originated from 69 countries, the largest delegations travelled from Korea, Japan, Russia and Thailand.
20,000 attendees expected
A total attendance of at least 20,000 people is again anticipated for the 2008 VIV China that runs from Monday, October 20, until Wednesday, October 22, in Beijing. These are revised dates compared with a September 2008 schedule announced originally for the show.
Moreover, there is a new venue this time. VIV China previously occupied Beijing's downtown China International Exhibition Center. This year it moves to the New CIEC, an ultra-modern facility that has been constructed in the Tianzhu Konggang Development Zone in Shunyi District, only about 7 kilometres from the Beijing International Airport.
A preliminary list of exhibitors has indicated that there will be about 290 locally-based companies on the stands at the show, with another 105 suppliers whose headquarters are abroad. On this evidence, therefore, the 2008 edition of VIV China will be the biggest yet in terms of exhibitor numbers. In 2004, it had hosted 244 national and 116 international exhibiting companies for a total of 364. The 2006 total of 379 names comprised 236 Chinese exhibitors and 143 from outside the country.
From feed to meat
As the event's organisers emphasise, the focus this October will be on the complete chain of animal protein production and supply within the constant VIV series theme of feed to meat. The whole-chain concept raises issues of quality assurance and traceability alongside the requirement for producers and processors to operate efficiently. To this are added the pressures coming from current world market prices for energy and grains, while the People's Republic of China must also continue to address the task of feeding its huge population.
The backdrop is therefore set for VIV China to be a business show and the place for industry leaders to meet and discuss these concerns. This year, the exhibition includes more formal discussions, including an opening conference led by Rabobank specialists. The trade fair itself will be open between 9:30-17:00 on its first two days and 9:30-15:00 on the last day.
