Meetings Industry is one of three segments of the event industry, including the organisation of business meetings, with dedicated market participants, goals and objectives, standards, development priorities and communication tools. The meeting in this context means a business event in case of which a certain number of people gather together to discuss or carry out certain activities.
The International Congress and Convention Association ICCA has determined that the congress market is composed of40 million events, 2 billion participants and annual industry revenues of more than €800 billion. According to the ICCA, around 19,000 different events are held around the world by 7,000 international specialist associations on a regular basis. The list of the top five world leaders, where business events are held, remains unchanged: the United States, Germany, UK, France, Spain.
The share of Russia in the world market of international congress events, according to official estimates, is less than 1%. According to the ICCA, Russia ranks 22nd in the European ranking of countries by events held. The first place is occupied by Germany. The total number of congress events held annually in Russia is 12,000 — 13,000.
According to VNITs R&C, Moscow hosts more than 5,000 events annually, St. Petersburg hosts 2,000-3,000 large business events including congresses, conferences, forums, summits. In 2017, VNITs R&C prepared a new project reflecting the level of congress and exhibition potential of the capitals of the SCO member states and the CIS. The international rating covers 15 cities, including the capitals of existing members of international organisations, as well as two countries — India and Pakistan, which will become the SCO official members in the near future.
According to the survey data, the following capitals were included in the top 5 international rating: Beijing, Moscow, Kiev, New Delhi, and Astana.
The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of nationwide and international conventions; exhibitions; and business, public, youth, sporting, and cultural events. It was established in pursuance of a decision by the President of the Russian Federation.
The Foundation was established in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russia’s economic potential, promoting its national interests, and strengthening the country’s image. One of the roles of the Foundation is to comprehensively evaluate, analyse, and cover issues on the Russian and global economic agendas. It also offers administrative services, provides promotional support for business projects and attracting investment, helps foster social entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives.
Each year, the Foundation’s events draw participants from 209 countries and territories, with more than 15,000 media representatives working on-site at Roscongress’ various venues. The Foundation benefits from analytical and professional expertise provided by 5,000 people working in Russia and abroad.
The Foundation works alongside various UN departments and other international organizations, and is building multi-format cooperation with 212 economic partners, including industrialists’ and entrepreneurs’ unions, financial, trade, and business associations from 86 countries worldwide, and 293 Russian public organizations, federal and regional executive and legislative bodies of the Russian Federation.
The Roscongress Foundation has Telegram channels in Russian t.me/Roscongress, English – t.me/RoscongressDirect, Spanish – t.me/RoscongressEsp and Arabic t.me/RosCongressArabic. Official website and Information and Analytical System of the Roscongress Foundation:roscongress.org.