Gyeonggi Province expects to attract high end buyers and participants with top-notch international recognition

◇ The Korea International Boat Show has been internationally approved by the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), the most prestigious accreditation body in the exhibition industry. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yoo Je-hoon

The Korea International Boat Show (KIBS) has been internationally approved by the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI), the most prestigious accreditation body in the exhibition industry.

On September 13, Gyeonggi Province announced that the UFI recently approved Gyeonggi Province’s application for UFI accreditation which was lodged last October. Approval was conferred upon a field inspection by an international accounting firm.  

Established in 1925, the UFI is the largest international organization in the exhibition industry; it currently has its head office in Paris, France. There are 670 organizations specializing in exhibitions from 83 countries around the world that are currently registered as UFI members. KIBS is the first exhibition hosted by Gyeonggi Province to acquire UFI accreditation, and the 33^rd event among more than 550 exhibitions hosted in Korea. 

Since its inaugural event in 2008, KIBS has won four international approvals: Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy approval for 5 years running since 2010; US Department of Commerce Trade Fair Certification in 2013; International Federation of Boat Show Organizers Platinum Member for the first time as an Asian country in 2014; and now UFI certification.

Among all boat shows hosted in Asia, KIBS is the only event approved by the US Department of Commerce, IFBSO, and UFI.

Gyeonggi Province Assistant Governor for Economy Choi Hyeon-deok said, “With approval from the UFI, KIBS now has all the international accreditations it can acquire.” Assistant Governor Choi added, “This achievement is the result of all the efforts put in by Gyeonggi Province and relevant businesses over the past 8 years to improve Korea’s marine leisure industry.”

Assistant Governor Choi also noted, “We expect this accreditation to enhance the credibility of KIBS and have a positive impact on attracting high end buyers and participants from overseas.”

The UFI limits its international accreditation to exhibitions evaluated under strict screening criteria with regards to the number of overseas businesses participating in the event, number of buyers, and so on, for the 3 most recent years through an auditing process conducted by international accounting firms. 

Of particular note, UFI and its stringent accreditation criteria are notorious for extending accreditation to a mere 6% (approximately 900) among more than 15,000 exhibitions around the world. 

Meanwhile, this year’s KIBS which closed on May 31, and the next edition will take place between May 19 and 22, 2016, at Goyang KINTEX and Gimpo Aramarina. 

◇ UFI Certificate for the Korea International Boat Show. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Cheon Kyung-nam ckn0403@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201509141427007055C052&s_code=C052