RIYADH: Around 1,000 industry specialists from 73 countries are expected to participate in the first edition of the International Exhibition and Conference Summit, which will be held from December 15-17.
Hosted at the Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City and organized by the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority, the three-day event will explore investment opportunities in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) sector in Saudi Arabia, bringing together dozens of local establishments and international event organizers.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi General Authority for Conventions and Exhibitions (SCEGA), Fahd Al-Rasheed, told Arab News: “The participants of the event find themselves at the heart of the development, as the sector MICE in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is expected to experience much greater growth in the coming years. This is driven by Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s strategic plan for socio-economic transformation.
“The MICE sector brings people together to trade, exchange ideas, develop their sectors, promote their destinations, build trust and establish partnerships. To achieve Vision 2030, we have launched 1,064 initiatives,” he added .
“More interestingly, 86% of these initiatives are on track. How can we run 1,064 initiatives simultaneously? The only explanation is that our partnerships allow us to scale up,” he said. confirmed.
“Vision 2030 is one of the most important opportunities for our sector in decades. More than $653 billion is being invested in major projects across the country. Many of the leaders of these projects are here today , bringing with them everything necessary for our prosperity, from meeting spaces to hotel rooms, airports and much more.”
“Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly the ideal location to host this summit. Bringing together the right people, at the right time, in the right place, creates a tremendous opportunity to broaden the horizons of our sector.”
In his opening speech at the International MICE Summit (IMS24), Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb presented Vision 2030 and its significant impact on the MICE sector, highlighting its role in qualitative transformation and improvement of the competitiveness of the Kingdom.
He also highlighted the role of strategic investments and tourism growth in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global MICE destination.
Speaking at the summit, Faisal Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, highlighted the crucial role of patience in shaping sectors such as MICE.
“There are some things you shouldn’t rush,” he said. “Sometimes it is essential to take the time to gain experience. However, the fundamentals remain the cornerstone of any successful industry.”
Regarding misconceptions about the Kingdom, he added: “Many people retain outdated perceptions of our country. Some find it hard to believe that we are building futuristic cities, because they continue to think that we are prisoners of the past .”
Mr. Abbas stressed that MICE was a powerful tool for transforming global perceptions.
“For over 1,400 years we have hosted the Hajj, a testament to our deep-rooted tradition of hospitality,” he said. “Saudi Arabia has moved from enthusiasm for a major annual event to enthusiasm for a continuous stream of events.”
Mr. Abbas added that the introduction of tourist visas had already begun to change perceptions: “Many visitors have expressed to me their astonishment at the Saudi Arabia they discovered, much more positive than what they had imagined.'”
High-profile speakers set to speak at the event include Lord Stephen Carter, CEO of Informa PLC; Brian Britton, Managing Director of RX Global; Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München; Lisa Hannant, CEO of Clarion Events; and Wolfram Diener, CEO of Messe Düsseldorf.
The summit also includes workshops highlighting new technologies in the sector and opportunities for discussions with leaders of government entities.
SCEGA is the official authority responsible for overseeing the development and regulation of the Kingdom’s exhibition and conference sector. Founded by royal decree in 2018, its mission is to amplify the economic impact of the sector by developing strategic policies, implementing regulations in line with international standards, issuing licenses, encouraging investments and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a preferred destination for international events.
