Shenzhen Government Online
GBA hall steals show at ICIF
From: Shenzhen Daily
Updated: 2021-09-24 10:09

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Hall at Hall 12 of the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District stole the show Thursday when the 17th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) opened.

  

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A bird’s-eye view of the 17th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF). Photo by Sun Yuchen

The hall displays cultural products and cooperation achievements of the 11-city urban agglomeration in the GBA, featuring digital culture, innovative design and cultural tourism.

  

Macao’s Cultural Affairs Bureau has set up the Macao Creative Pavilion at the fair since 2010, organizing the SAR’s cultural and creative entities to participate and promote assorted local original brands and products. So far, a total of 126 entities from the SAR have showcased their cultural and creative products at the annual fair.

  

Meanwhile, Hong Kong exhibitors are displaying excellent works of jewelry design, cultural media, cultural and creative design, interior design, and other types of design.

  

“We have made active efforts to support artistic and design dialogues in the GBA and facilitate Hong Kong designers’ engagement in the GBA development,” said Kang Fu, manager of HK Creative & Design Pavilion set up by the Hong Kong Association for Creative Education.

  

Hong Kong-based Bauhinia Culture Holdings Co. Ltd. debuted at the ICIF this year. “We aim to promote the group’s enterprise culture and achievements overseas,” said a booth staffer who only identified herself as Zhang.

  

The five-day cultural feast is being held at its main venue in Bao’an for the first time. Previous fairs took place at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District.

  

According to the organizer, this year’s fair has attracted 3,356 government entities, enterprises and cultural organizations, which is 1,044 more than 2019 and 113 more than last year. Among them are 2,488 on-site exhibitors from across the country.

  

Nearly 100,000 visitors are expected to participate in the offline event.

  

Due to the pandemic, 30 foreign countries and regions set up pavilions showcasing their cultural products at the virtual Belt & Road International Hall.

Halls 9 and 10, covering 40,000 square meters in total, are themed in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, showcasing the country’s cultural reform and development.

  

This year’s fair also gave special attention to traditional Chinese culture. Hall 13 has been designated as the Chinese intangible cultural heritage zone, displaying arts and crafts with Chinese characteristics.

  

Founded in Shenzhen in 2004, ICIF has grown into the largest, highest-level, and most effective and influential expo in China’s cultural industries after 16 years of development.

  

Its total transaction volume rose from 35.69 billion yuan (US$5.52 billion) in 2004 to 250 billion yuan in 2019.



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