Other sectors are already familiar with the procedure. Now China has discovered the trade fair industry and would like to see a little more know-how transfer from foreign organisers. To tap into that expertise they are planning a new trade fair law. A first draft was completed some time ago – and is discussed at regular intervals. Sometimes in public, sometimes behind closed doors – depending on whose interests are at stake.
 
The draft contains some pretty brazen legislation. In future, organisers would be expected to reveal every last detail of their business plans and cost estimates to the authorities. Many are rubbing their eyes in disbelief. China is a key foreign market, particularly for Germany and, in future, before a permit to stage a trade fair is issued, organisers would be expected to hand over nothing less than a blueprint to the Chinese state. This is quite unabashed interference in business.
 
What is it all about? One can only speculate as to the motives behind this planned legislation. One thing is clear: China is seeking to professionalise its trade fair sector further. The People's Republic is striving to become an exhibition force to be reckoned with, with a top-league position as one of the most important trade fair locations. Over the last ten years, huge trade fair surfaces have appeared in China. Around 2 million m{+2} are available for events. They need to be filled and exhibited on regularly, hall capacities utilised. But suitable topics and know-how is lacking.
 
The draft law may also be a move to improve the quality of events and curb the explosion of trade fairs of recent years. Another theory: The lawmakers want to test reaction abroad, just to see how far they can go. Intercultural communication is not one of the easiest disciplines. In the background, the lines of communication are running hot. Is this trade fair legislation about to be implemented or is it really just a first draft? Nobody seems to really know. Insiders liken the situation to “walking on a mine field” and demand cautious dialogue with the Chinese authorities.
 
“I would be very wary about submitting a complete trade fair concept in all its detail”, says Jochen Witt of JWC, Cologne. The new law will lay down precisely what a foreign organiser must present to the relevant authorities. The Chinese have formulated these requirements in 33 sections. One of the more harmless is the name of the trade fair and its organiser. The matter becomes more serious when exhibition organisers are expected to divulge their marketing plans, their cooperation agreements, business plans or their feasibility studies “If this legislation is enacted, the organisers will be expected to reveal their trade secrets – and submit the contents in English and Chinese to the authorities. Data protection is not regulated, so it is likely that data will spread through the country in an uncontrolled manner”, forecasts Witt. “Even advertising mail shots are subject to scrutiny. If they deviate from the approved material, the event may be cancelled.” He shakes his head: “It's no longer about protection of competition. These approval procedures are wholly unacceptable. It looks more like a ploy to obtain instructions on how to implement a successful trade fair.” Even if the relevant organisation did not yet own the brand of the event, they would have the concept – the “brain but not the brand”.
 
The envisaged law would not help but hinder the activities of foreign organisers. The procedure of “checking, approving, managing” at the ministry of commerce of the People's Republic (Mofcom), where all the threads come together, would slow down rather than speed up the task of organising trade fairs in China. Furthermore: Many of the sections in the proposed trade fair law are “very vaguely worded”, the degree of risk for organisers very difficult to assess, says Witt. ch