In a meeting attended by members of the board of directors of the Iran International Exhibitions Association and the Deputy for International Business Promotion of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, the latest status of the exhibition industry and strategies for its development were examined. The participants emphasized the implementation of development plans, the removal of operational obstacles, and the importance of innovation in the exhibition sector.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Jalili, President of the Association, referred to the branding plan for exhibitions across different regions of the country. He stated: “The branding of exhibitions has been designed based on territorial planning and the capacity and potential of each province. This plan has been communicated to all exhibition centers, and God willing, this year all centers will hold their own dedicated exhibition themes—their so-called exhibition brands. The Association will compile a report of the actions taken and submit it to the Trade Promotion Organization.”

He added, “Regarding the development of modern exhibition centers, this initiative is still ongoing in provinces such as Isfahan and Yazd, and, over time, all exhibition centers are expected to carry out development projects in line with global standards. The recent twelve-day imposed war by the child-killing Zionist regime and the criminal United States against our beloved Iran caused disruptions in the exhibition sector, but these issues are being resolved through mutual cooperation and interaction. He highlighted the successful resumption of exhibitions from the first of August in cities like Shiraz, Mashhad, and Isfahan, noting that the Isfahan Furniture Exhibition this year was the best ever held.”

In conclusion, regarding the issue faced by centers under construction that have not received exhibition permits, Dr. Jalili requested that the Trade Promotion Organization allow these centers, for a period of one to two years and until construction is completed, to continue holding exhibitions at their existing venues.

Following this, Dr. Mofidi, Chairman of the Board of Caspian International Exhibition Company (Zanjan), while supporting the innovative programs of the Trade Promotion Organization, emphasized that Dr. Roshan’s new perspectives are essential for the country’s exhibitions. He remarked that the exhibition industry, like many sectors in Iran, is still dominated by a traditional approach, and current managers should be seen as opportunities for implementing new ideas.

Dr. Tahanyan, Vice President of the Association and CEO of Isfahan Exhibition Center, criticized the involvement of chambers of guilds in the exhibition sector, stating: “The guild chambers do not possess the necessary quantitative or qualitative requirements to organize exhibitions, and their management has led to dissatisfaction and a weakening of the status of provincial exhibitions.” He emphasized that these entities lack even the required legal authorization or competence to manage exhibitions.

Dr. Roshan, Deputy for International Business Development at the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, after hearing the points raised, described the meeting as a think tank for the country’s exhibition industry. He stated that the development of the exhibition sector should be based on international relations, media, and information technology. He stressed: “A transparent mechanism must be established for assigning exhibitions to operators, and the key path to trade development is open access to information.” He noted that the growth of the exhibition industry is not achievable without adopting modern approaches and leveraging global experience.

He added: “In developing infrastructure, we should avoid unnecessary investments and, instead of focusing solely on the physical aspect, prioritize the content and intelligence of exhibitions.” Dr. Roshan also highlighted the need for crisis management, the introduction of smart and hybrid exhibition titles, and development based on real capacities. In another part of his remarks, he stated: “Regarding centers still under construction, I also agree that for one to two years, until the completion of new halls, these centers should continue operating at their previous venues.” He expressed hope to pursue the issue of permit renewals for these centers until the problem is resolved.

The Deputy of the Trade Promotion Organization concluded by emphasizing the strategic role of the Iran International Exhibitions Association as the executive arm of the Organization. He underscored the necessity of government cooperation, support for innovation, transparency, and balanced development of the exhibition sector in Iran. According to him, this year, specialized quality inspection companies have been commissioned to evaluate exhibitions using industry-specific criteria, and a transformation charter for the exhibition industry has been developed with the aim of promoting transparency and development.