Due to the pandemic, the 21st China Environmental Protection Expo has been postponed!

　　Affected by the pneumonia outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus, IE expo China—now in its 20th edition and widely regarded as a leading indicator of trends in China’s environmental protection sector—has been forced to suspend operations.

　　On February 26, the organizer of IE expo China issued an announcement titled “Notice on the Postponement of the 21st IE expo China 2020,” stating that the 21st edition of the event, originally scheduled to take place in Shanghai from April 21 to 23, 2020, would be postponed. The specific new dates will be announced separately.

　　The organizer stated that the decision to postpone the exhibition was made after a comprehensive assessment involving multiple stakeholders. A survey distributed by the organizer to exhibiting companies revealed that, in light of the current COVID‑19 situation and containment measures, 96% of exhibitors either expressed support for or recommended postponing the event.

　　“At this critical juncture, our top priority is to ensure the health and safety of exhibiting companies and visitors, as well as to safeguard their rights and interests. Postponing the exhibition serves the best interests of exhibitors, attendees, and our partners.”

　　According to reports, this year’s IE expo China will mark its 20th anniversary. To date, nearly 2,000 environmental‑protection companies from around the world have confirmed their participation, showcasing their latest technologies and highly efficient solutions. Some exhibiting companies surveyed noted that the pandemic has directly impacted their resumption of work and production; the postponement of the expo has given them more time to prepare for participation. Amid the ongoing pandemic, consumption, manufacturing, and investment remain subdued or delayed, yet demand for environmental governance persists. The companies interviewed believe that the expo’s organizing team is fully capable of delivering another outstanding event once the pandemic subsides, helping businesses better seize emerging opportunities amid shifting market dynamics.

　　The organizer told reporters that, over the 20-year history of the China Environmental Protection Expo, postponements due to force majeure are far from unprecedented. Following the SARS outbreak in 2003, the event was delayed, yet both its exhibition scale and visitor numbers saw significant growth compared with the previous year, with most exhibitors achieving results well beyond their expectations. Today, after two decades of dedicated cultivation in China’s environmental protection sector, the China Environmental Protection Expo has amassed a database of more than 600,000 domestic and international professional buyers and shares a global database with IFAT’s worldwide exhibition network—this robust data infrastructure underpins the event’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, the expo collaborates with over 500 industry-specific media outlets and independent social‑media platforms to promote its offerings. As a result, both the brand’s influence and the operational team’s expertise now far surpass those of the SARS era 17 years ago.

　　“Although the exhibition’s postponement has resulted in some losses to our pre‑event marketing investments, we will continue to ramp up our spending and manpower for promotional campaigns and buyer outreach. By leveraging internet technologies to broaden our brand’s reach and drawing on our brand equity and robust data resources, we are committed to ensuring the event delivers tangible results for participating companies.”

　　The organizers also stated that, following the postponement of the exhibition, they will engage individually with exhibitors, visitors, and partners to provide more comprehensive follow-up services. They are confident that the 21st China Environmental Protection Expo will once again deliver a premier event for exhibitors, industry professionals, and partners alike.

　　It is reported that the Chengdu exhibition of the China Environmental Protection Expo, scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 2 at the China Western International Expo City, as well as the Guangzhou exhibition, set for September 16–18 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, will proceed as planned, with all preparatory work advancing smoothly and in accordance with the established schedule.