SINGAPORE - International exhibition association UFI has announced hitting an all-time membership high as it kicks off its 77th Congress.

With 24 new members joining in the past year, the association’s new total comes to 553 exhibition organisers, venues, national and international associations, and partners of the exhibition industry.

“Although UFI, like most oraganisations, has felt the squeeze of the recession of the past two years,” said UFI MD Paul Woodward, “today it is proud to announce that its current health with regards to its membership is excellent.”

The 77th UFI Congress, running from 10 to 13 November at the new Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, also broke attendance records with more than 750 participants representing over 50 countries.

In October the Kuwait International Fair Company was named UFI’s gold partner.