USA - The US-based International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) hopes to raise the profile of the exhibitions industry by working with a presidential initiative to boost exports.
On 11 March President Barack Obama authorised the creation of the National Export Initiative (NEI) to “enhance and coordinate Federal efforts to facilitate the creation of jobs in the United States through the promotion of exports, and to ensure the effective use of Federal resources in support of these goals”.
President Obama said he hoped the initiative would double US exports in five years by providing the tools, assistance and government funding required.
The IAEE has in turn created a tool-kit to help its members, who the association says own, produce and service more than half of the 10,000 exhibitions and trade events that take place annually in the USA. The association aims to promote the interests of American exhibitors abroad as “the primary and most efficient platforms for connecting international buyers with American businesses”.
Steven Hacker, president of the IAEE, told EW: “IAEE views the National Export Initiative as an ideal platform to both highlight the vital role of exhibitions in commerce and export as well as to present our members with new business opportunities. We have met with White House officials in charge of the NEI and have created the NEI Tool Kit on our website to serve as an aid to our members who wish to become involved.
“By providing IAEE members with this tool kit, we believe the results of our work together will be to place exhibitions and similar trade events at the forefront of this vital national project.”
