FIBO - the annual international trade fair for fitness, wellness and health held in Germany - will this year stage its first event in China, aiming to provide the industry with a regional platform in the potentially-lucrative Asian market.

Running from 10-12 September in Shanghai, FIBO China is a collaboration between FIBO organiser Reed Exhibitions Deutschland and its Chinese partner firm Reed Sinopharm Exhibitions.

The trade fair hopes to attract manufacturers of training equipment, concepts and functional training gear, as well as the body performance segment with nutrition, weight control and medicine offerings.

Themed areas featuring physical therapy and training concepts will also be featured, while other exhibits will cover sports apparel, accessories and equipment, and services for fitness centres.

Like its German counterpart, FIBO China will consist of two days reserved exclusively for trade visitors, plus a third trade fair day open to B2B and B2C visitors.

The move demonstrates FIBO’s confidence in what is a rapidly-expanding market. The Chinese fitness sector gained fresh impetus from the Beijing Olympics, with an average annual growth rate for gym memberships of 8.42 per cent in the five whole years since, according to FIBO.

It also states that there are now 400 million Chinese aged between 18-50, but only 13 million belong to a gym, suggesting serious market potential for the fitness industry.

For more FIBO stories, follow the links below:

http://www.health-club.co.uk/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=256823

http://www.health-club.co.uk/detail.cfm?pagetype=detail&subject=news&codeID=183943