Interview
100,000sqm of outdoor display space. Its waterfront location, access to Changi Airport and its runway as well as access to nearby hotels, shopping and dining options make it highly attractive for international organisers and delegates.
Our strategy is to continue positioning CEC as a highly flexible, infrastructure-ready venue for international organisers looking to stage large-scale and experiential events in Singapore. Increasingly, organisers are looking beyond conventional exhibition halls. They want venues that can support immersive experiences, live demonstrations, outdoor activations, networking, hospitality and content programming all in one place. CEC is well placed to meet that demand.
EW: What can you say about Singapore’ s attraction as a MICE destination? The state has built a reputation for building major event platforms around strategic growth sectors. Are you seeing some of the fruits of this? LCL: Singapore’ s strength as an exhibition and MICE destination lies in the fact that it is not just a place to host events. It is a trusted global business hub with strong connectivity, worldclass infrastructure, and deep industry ecosystems in sectors such as aviation, aerospace, defence, sustainability, technology and finance.
Singapore is located at the heart of Asia Pacific and is easily accessible from major markets across Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, India, Australia, Europe and North America. That makes it a natural meeting point for international events.
Second, Singapore is trusted. For global companies, industry associations and government stakeholders, Singapore offers a stable, neutral and business-friendly environment. That matters especially for trade platforms that bring together participants from many different markets.
Third, Singapore has strong sectoral depth. It is not just a place to host events; it is a place where many of the industries we serve already have a real presence. In aerospace, for example, Singapore is home to more than 130 aerospace companies. It also accounts for around 10 % of global MRO output and close to 20 % of global engine MRO output. That gives aviation and aerospace events held here a strong industry base to build on.
For major trade platforms, delegates and exhibitors are not only looking for a convenient venue. They want to be in a market where the right stakeholders are present, where business can be done efficiently, and where the event is connected to real industry growth
We are certainly seeing the fruits of Singapore’ s long-term approach. The country has been very deliberate in building major event platforms around sectors that are strategically important to its economy. The Singapore Airshow is a good example. It has grown into one of the world’ s most influential aerospace and defence platforms, while also reinforcing Singapore’ s role as a hub for the global aviation community.
The economic impact is significant. MICE tourism receipts rose significantly in 2025 to S $ 2.3 billion, which reflect the broader economic value that business events bring through hotel stays, F & B spend, transport, tourism activity and, more importantly, the business connections that are formed here. Singapore Airshow 2026, for instance, delivered more than S $ 416m in economic impact, the highest in the event’ s history.
But the value goes beyond the economic numbers. At the core of these platforms is the ability to bring together governments, industry leaders, innovators and investors for meaningful conversations. These conversations help create partnerships, support investment, encourage innovation and shape the future direction of industries.
We also see this through programmes built into our events, such as AeroCampus, which connects students and young professionals
32 Issue 4 2026 www. exhibitionworld. co. uk