Prepared by Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick Shanghai

On March 30, 2006, the IPG Shanghai Expo Task Force, led by Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick in China, organised the first formal corporate information session for the Shanghai Expo. Attracting more than 150 senior executives from Fortune 500 companies, the event served as a launch pad for the Shanghai Expo sponsor selection process.

Initiated by Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick, the corporate information session was attended by Shanghai Municipal Vice Mayor Mr. Yang Xiong and deputy director of the Executive Committee of Shanghai World Expo Mr. Zhong Yanqun. Representatives from the American and European Chambers' of Commerce, Japanese External Trade Organization and Hong Kong Trade Development Council and were also present.

In 2002, China won the bid to host the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai. This is the first time that the event will take place in a developing country with a theme that is related to city—“Better City, Better Life”. Expected to attract 200 countries/international organizations and 70 million visitors, the six-month long Shanghai Expo will account for a total investment of US$3.55 billion.

The IPG Shanghai Expo task force has been intimately involved with the Shanghai Expo since the beginning. Besides directing the campaign that won China the hosting bid, IPG also compiled the market development master plan that will direct all commercial operations for the years leading up to 2010, drafted its global promotion and communication strategy, coordinated a Shanghai Expo luncheon at Aichi Expo Japan in 2005 and made its first marketing brochure in 2006.
For more information, contact Ning Shao, IPG Shanghai Expo Taskforce leader at nshao@webershandwick.com.  
The entire Powell Tate team was involved in this project. 

Pictures of the first Shanghai Expo corporate information session.

Attendants at the information session listening intently.