Quick takes

B2B marketing without events

Ruth Stevens, a Business Information Industry Association (BIIA) director, offers her take on the best marketing strategies for businesses adapting to life without events.

HK book fair will try again in December

The SCMP reports that 140 companies have registered for the Hong Kong Book Fair, which has been postponed from its original dates in July to December. Last year the fair attracted 680 exhibitors.

International service industry fair opens in Beijing

At the other end of the spectrum is the annual China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), which organisers anticipate will attract more than 100,000 visitors.

China’s president Xi Jinping is expected to speak at the opening on Friday as China attempts to showcase its economic recovery from COVID-19.

The Economist forecasts China GDP up 1.7% in 2020

China’s economy is expected to grow by 1.7%. China will be the only major economy in 2020 to record economic expansion driven largely by better than expected export figures. The U.S. economy is forecast to contract by 5.3%.

Malaysian border may stay closed until Q2 2021

After second and third waves of COVID-19 infections in markets such as Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, the Malaysian government reconsiders its plan to open its borders. But the country has reopened to essential travel from its neighbour, Singapore.