No Overlap Between Next Year's Taipei and China Cycle Shows

SHANGHAI, China (April 22) - During the 2002 Taipei International Cycle Show which took place from April 11 to 14, it was strongly rumoured that the dates of the 2003 Shanghai Cycle Show would be exactly the same of the 2003 Taipei Show. However, these rumours were denied at the Shanghai Cycle Show which took place last week. According to Feng He Wang, Director and Chairman of the China Bicycle Association (CBA) and organizer of the China Cycle Show in Shanghai, there will be no overlap between next year's Taipei and Shanghai Cycle shows. "I also picked up these rumours that we are going to put our dates right on the ones of the Taipei Show. This is not true. We don't want any conflict with Taipei," Wang assured Bike Europe in Shanghai. With regard to the number of visitors at the 2002 Taipei International Cycle Show, according to statistics released by the organizer, the China External Trade Development Council (CETRA), an all-time high of 20,762 people visited the bicycle trade show in Taiwan of which 2,736 were overseas buyers. Also the number of exhibitors were record breaking with 611 who occupied 1,747 booths. Despite the statement of the Shanghai Cycle Show organizer that he does not want any conflict with the Taipei Cycle Show, it is obvious that a strong competition between the two Asian shows is likely. Feng He Wang said that next year's Shanghai show will take place end of April. He also announced that due to the steady growth of the China Cycle Show it will move to another fairground in 2003. "Next year's China Cycle Show will be held at the new and huge Shanghai fairground in Pudong. We just signed a contract with them," a proud Wang says. The new fairground is a joint-venture between Chinese and German investors. These German investors are show organizers Messe München, Messe Hannover and Messe Duesseldorf. For Wang these German partners will guarantee a much better international show service and reputation of the upcoming China Cycle show. More details about this deal and this year's China Cycle Show will be in Bike Europe's May issue. (JB)