Exhibitions provide the opportunity for the physical showcase and demonstration of the latest products, services, studies, market trends and opportunities, and functions as a giant platform for face to face engagement and potential business relationship building This makes them indispensable even in the digital age where online marketing and exchange of thought have become
extensive.
The outreach of the exhibition industry is also immense UFI estimates that approximately 32 000 exhibitions are held every year, they directly involved 303 million visitors and nearly five million exhibiting companies Apart from visitors and exhibiting companies, the far-reaching exhibition value chain also encompasses other partners and stakeholders from organisers service providers,
hotels and venue operators to cleaning companies, waste collection and processing service providers.
Exhibitions encompass business, government and civil society With such a wide audience and reach, the exhibition industry can have meaningful collective impact The UN Sustainable Development Goals can be supported in many different ways Through an exhibition’s theme, the way it is organised and operationalised and the way it is supported by its suppliers and partners.
In 2015 United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which specified 17 SDGs These SDGs provide a roadmap for the world’s focus and direction toward sustainable development in the years towards 2030 from no poverty and hunger to more equitable development and environmental sustainability Many organisations in the industry have started aligning their exhibitions and operations with SDGs to create a sustainable future for all To catalyse the spread of these great ideas and best practices across the industry, UFI has developed the UFI SDG database, an online platform where industry players to share and exchange best practices contributing towards SDGs.
UFI opened up for submissions across the three following entry types
Type I Exhibition Theme How the theme of the exhibition contributes to the SDGs
Type II Exhibition Operation How the operator of the exhibition contributes to the SDGs
Type III Company’s Operations How a company’s own operations contribute to the SDGs
