UBM Asia Ltd, a fully-owned subsidiary of London-based United Business Media Limited, announced Friday that it has formed a 70-30 joint venture with Trust Exhibition Co Ltd, the organizer of Sign China, to jointly develop the international advertising industry show.
"We are very pleased to partner with Trust in the development and growth of Sign China," said Jime Essink, president and CEO of UBM Asia. "This joint venture continues our strategy of focusing on sectors and markets with the most exciting growth potential."
David Tang, managing director of UBM Trust, the new joint venture, said the continued growth of Sign China bears testimony to its effectiveness in creating value for participants. "The event can now further tap into UBM's extensive global reach and professional show management expertise to become an important catalyst for the development and upgrading of China's advertising industry."
The partners of UBM Trust make clear their intention to use the new joint venture as a platform for further business development in China and beyond.
Launched in 2003, Sign China has grown rapidly along with China's advertising market which, according to CTR Market Research, jumped 13.5 percent year-on-year to $74 billion in 2009. This annual event has won strong industry credibility and support, and becomes the most international trade exhibition of its kind in China.
This year's Sign China ends today at the China Import & Export Fair Pazhou Complex in Guangzhou after four show days, with an exhibition area of 70,000 square meters, which represented a growth of 15 percent from 2009. It has attracted 1,000 exhibitors and is estimated to be visited by a total of 55,000 advertising industry professionals.
