AAXO NEWS

Growing African membership within AAXO is crucial

The African Association of Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) continues to grow as the representative trade body for exhibitions. Its focus is on developing and advancing the interests of a dynamic, people-driven industry. The last two years have seen the exhibition industry emerge from a two-year hiatus.

By Gary Corin, chairperson of AAXO

AAXO provided astute leadership during the pandemic under the then-chairperson, Projeni Pather. The past two years have marked an industry recovery that is showing signs of growth beyond 2019 levels. Devi PaulsonAbbot, the outgoing AAXO chairperson, has been at the forefront of creating and driving initiatives that reflect the changes, challenges, and opportunities that exhibitions bring. These include economic stimulators and growth points for local and international markets.

Taking on the leadership of AAXO is a privilege. As the preamble to this column demonstrates, our industry interests have been in good hands. A dynamic, skilled and passionate AAXO board is in place. Their aim is to take identified initiatives and drive and grow them. The exhibition organising fraternity fully supports the ongoing endeavours to promote and highlight the benefits of exhibitions as a medium.

Our focus, as AAXO, remains undiminished. It is pertinent to outline some of the key initiatives that we shall be driving over the next 12 months. Growing African membership within AAXO is crucial. The drivers and demands of the exhibition industry are unique within local markets. Yet, from a macro-perspective we share similar obstacles throughout the continent. Issues such as appropriate venue access, reliable utilities such as water and electricity and logistical supplies from exhibition stand construction to marketing enablers such as bandwidth affect all African organisers. Collective collaboration and sharing within AAXO structures will enhance problem-solving and lead to improved exhibition offerings.

Attracting youth and talent to the exhibition industry is a key priority. AAXO has launched a Youth Chapter. It will look to attract new, young, and dynamic skilled people to our sector. Programmes aimed at uplifting knowledge, education, training, and skills will be amplified.

Sustainability, environmental, social, and governance best practices will be a further priority for AAXO and its members. Long-term vision with immediate action points aimed at achieving those extended realities will be championed. This means taking action from the boardroom through to physical deliverables on the floor of live exhibitions.

Communicating the virtues and key benefits of exhibitions as a medium is fundamental to sustained exhibition industry growth. Exhibitions create direct and indirect employment. Business and leisure travel, accommodation, and hospitality are impacted positively in host cities and venues. Trade is stimulated within each event regardless of where it is positioned in its supply chain. It is an unequivocal fact that exhibitions stimulate positive economic activity. It’s an exciting story to tell.

It is my privilege to be a part of the next AAXO chapter that stories the success and innate commercial, social, and developmental opportunities exhibitions bring. The AAXO team looks forward to engaging all stakeholders as we look to sustain the growth and importance of our medium.