The annual meeting started its work in Baku on January 16 with the organization of the Azerbaijan Exhibition Organizers Association (ASTA) and support from the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBİA).

For the first time, organizers of international exhibitions and conferences gathered in the capital of Azerbaijan. The event's goals are to emphasize the significance and effectiveness of planning international exhibitions and conferences, to provide comprehensive information about the regulations governing participation in certain events, to talk about potential collaboration and government support for organizing exhibitions and conferences, and to address a variety of other pertinent issues in this area.

Within the framework of the meeting, an event called called "The role of international exhibitions in the development of small and medium enterprises: government support and prospects cooperation” was organized in Baku SMB House. The representatives of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Poland and Azerbaijan branches of the international exhibition and conference organizer ICA Group, as well as ICA Eurasia, Caspian Event Management, Kongress servis, Vista, Lentewenc, ITE E&C, Iteca Uzbekistan, Iteca Kazakhstan, ICA Turkiye and Iteca Caspian and exhibition partners attended the event.

Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Farid Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Exhibition Organisers Association and Stephan Murtagh, Exhibition Industry Expert addressed the event called "The role of international exhibitions in the development of small and medium enterprises: government support and prospects cooperation” on January 16.

After the participants finished their speeches, a certificate was presented to the Small and Medium Business Development Agency for its support during 2023.

Afterwards, the participants of the annual meeting of international exhibition and conference organisers got acquainted with the activities of Baku SMB House.

The event will continue its work on January 17-18 with an annual sales and marketing team meeting of the "ICA EVENTS" at the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Azerbaijan has become the region’s hub for events in recent years. Numerous international fairs, exhibits, and corporate events organized in our country serve as evidence of this. These events bring together representatives of various industries and serve as a platform for companies from different countries of the region to exchange experience, establish business relations and create new opportunities. Exhibitions often have a multiplier effect that boosts economic activity in the region and has a favourable impact on business development. The increasing number of visitors provides a chance for hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, and other businesses to make more revenue. Furthermore, the arrangement of exhibitions fosters the growth of the city's infrastructure, as well as the travel and hospitality sectors, and enhances the investment environment in Azerbaijan.

The fact that professionals in the field of exhibitions from various nations come together in Baku is no accident. Thus, our country successfully hosts the major regional events. This is proven once again by entrusting Azerbaijan with the organization of such a distinguished event as the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29. This demonstrates the international community's high regard and confidence for Azerbaijan as well as our nation’s successful endeavour at national, regional, and global levels. At the same time, numerous fairs covering the most important directions of the exhibition industry have been held in Azerbaijan for more than 25 years.