The Yiwu Model of China’s Exhibition Economy

Starting with the development history of the China Yiwu International Commodities Fair and based on an analysis of its promotion of the regional economic growth, this paper discusses the active role of the exhibition industry in bolstering regional economic growth, adjusting industrial structure and promoting economic development and economic openness in nearby areas. It analyses the successful experience of the fair and the prominent features of the ‘Yiwu Model’ of development in China’s exhibition industry, including the adaptation to local conditions, integration of advantages, exhibition-driven development of trade, and promotion of harmonious development. These features are the hallmarks of an effective approach to the development of the exhibition industry in small and mid-sized cities.