<After 5 years of continuous work, the National Exhibitions and Conferences Program (NECP) announced the completion of the establishment and regulation of the exhibitions and conferences sector (meetings industry) and the preparation of its regulatory and investment structure until it became mature and ready. In a report marking the fifth anniversary of its establishment, the National Exhibitions and Conferences Program explained that the program worked on the principle of partnership, which was adopted by the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage since its establishment in 1421 AH, as a way to work on the development and development of national tourism.

Development of the exhibition system

<In less than five years, it was able to develop the system of procedures, provide a single communication platform for those dealing with business events held in the Kingdom, and build fruitful working relationships with all those dealing with the program, within the framework of this integrated vision that seeks to be a leading national institution in developing the meetings industry, not only at the local level, but at the regional and global level, through thoughtful planning, upholding quality values, providing elements of competition, applying the best international methods followed, creating a regulatory environment that stimulates investment in the industry, and developing exhibition and conference centers in the Kingdom.

Implementation of the Saudi Meetings Industry Plan

<The program worked on preparing the executive plan for the development of the Saudi meetings industry (2014-2018), which included: Analyzing the status of the meetings industry during the period (2009-2013), identifying its strengths and weaknesses, challenges and opportunities available in the work environment, and preparing strategic directions for the development of the meetings industry during the period (2014-2018) to make the industry a major developmental tributary to the national economy, promote investment, provide job opportunities for citizens, and project a positive image of the Kingdom, and (8) strategic pillars of development were adopted, including 23 detailed objectives, 90 initiatives, and 24 indicators to measure performance, and the program completed (76%) of initiatives.

The program has completed (76%) of the initiatives.

Achievements of the Foundation and Building Phase

<During the institutional building phase of the program, the supervisory committee and advisory group of the program were formed, the technical environment for the program and the sector was prepared, and the work of the National Committee for Exhibition Companies was developed and transformed into the National Committee for Exhibition and Conference Companies. The program focused on developing and preparing the regulatory environment to be stimulating and supportive of investors, preparing a system that defines the types of events and licensees, and adopting working mechanisms between the program and each of the following ministries: Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Customs, and Ministry of Commerce: The Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Customs, Ministry of Commerce and Investment, the General Organization for Vocational and Technical Training, and the Council of Saudi Chambers. It also approved the rules, policies and procedures for holding trade fairs, consumer goods exhibitions, introductory fairs, conferences, lectures, meetings and workshops. The Cabinet approved granting the program's supervisory committee the authority to join the membership of international organizations and associations specialized in exhibitions and conferences in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The National Exhibitions and Conferences Program has subscribed to the International Association for Conferences and Meetings (ICA), and is currently working on completing the procedures to subscribe to five other associations and organizations.

National Exhibitions and Conferences Program

Facilitating and facilitating the procedures for holding exhibitions

<The establishment of the Saudi Speakers Bureau was approved to build and manage a database of local and international speakers to improve the quality of conferences and speed up their licensing procedures. The program's achievements also include the adoption of a policy of collecting financial compensation for the program's services and applying it gradually as of 28/3/1436 H corresponding to 18/1/2015 G. It includes registration and licensing services for exhibitions, conferences, meetings, workshops and training courses held in hotels, and adjusting the dates and places of their residence, and the levels are reviewed annually, in addition to adopting the main classifications of institutions, companies and facilities of the meetings industry, and enables the program to rely on itself financially in its operational activities without financial burden on the state.

The program organized the Saudi Speakers“ Bureau with the aim of building and managing a database of local and international speakers to improve the quality of conferences and accelerate the procedures for licensing the conferences. The program organized the Saudi Forum for Conferences and Exhibitions four times, and took a decision to develop these forums and install them in Riyadh as an annual event under the name ”Saudi Forum for the Meeting Industry", in addition to the program's participation in a number of international exhibitions and forums, most notably registering the Kingdom's first participation with a pavilion at IMEX in May 2017, competing with 150 countries to attract international business events.