Expo Affairs, Delhi, 18th April 2026
Looking back at history books, it once seemed that humanity had entered an era of peace after the end of World War II. Although the Middle East has long remained a geopolitical flashpoint, the world as a whole appeared to enjoy several decades of relative stability. Yet, as history repeatedly reminds us, such confidence is never absolute. Recent tensions and conflicts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran serve as a stark reminder that the global order still rests on fragile foundations. This instability does not remain confined to military or diplomatic spheres. It extends deeply into the global economy and industries—particularly into the international exhibition and convention sector, where I am directly engaged—and, more broadly, into all forms of global trade and business exchange.
The Rise of Exhibitions in the Post-War Order In the aftermath of World War II, the world arrived at a critical consensus: that war must never be repeated. Out of this recognition, a new international order was constructed, centered on multilateral cooperation, including the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. Competition among nations gradually shifted away from military confrontation toward economic, technological, and cultural domains. Within this transformation, World Expos and large-scale international exhibitions grew rapidly. They evolved beyond mere industrial events into platforms for peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.
Exhibitions became arenas for the exchange of technology and culture, gateways for companies to expand into global markets, and stages upon which humanity could envision its future. As freedom and democracy expanded alongside economic prosperity, the exhibition industry entered what could be described as a renaissance.
The Return of Geopolitical Risk Today, however, this trajectory is facing renewed disruption. Geopolitical risks, particularly in the Middle East, are impacting not only global supply chains but also the exhibition industry. Some exhibitions have been postponed or scaled down, while international collaboration projects have been halted or reconsidered. While these disruptions may not be as visible or immediate as those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition industry—deeply interconnected across borders—is experiencing significant yet often unseen ripple effects. In India, where I am currently based, exhibition projects linked to Middle Eastern partners have faced delays, and in some cases, key participants have withdrawn. This serves as a clear reminder that the exhibition industry is not merely an events business, but a structure intricately tied to global geopolitics. Peace as the Foundation of the Exhibition Industry At its core, the exhibition industry depends on peace. It exists only when people, companies, and nations can move freely and engage with one another.
War and tension inevitably suppress its growth, while stability and peace create the conditions for expansion. This is not simply an economic observation; it reflects the deeper reality that the exhibition industry is closely intertwined with the trajectory of human civilization itself.
The Emergence of AX: A New Paradigm At the same time, we are witnessing another transformative force: AX—Artificial Intelligence Transformation. AI technologies are rapidly being integrated into the exhibition industry. Virtual exhibitions, digital twins, and data-driven personalized experiences are no longer conceptual—they are already part of reality. These innovations have the potential to fundamentally redefine the nature of exhibitions. However, AX also introduces profound challenges. Just as AI is being used in modern warfare for information manipulation and psychological operations, it is also blurring the boundaries between truth and falsehood in everyday life. The proliferation of deepfakes and AI-generated content is making it increasingly difficult to distinguish what is real. We are entering an era where knowledge and content risk being diluted, where authenticity itself becomes uncertain. Exhibitions as a Platform for Verifying Reality Paradoxically, as AX advances, the importance of physical spaces for verification becomes even greater. The more digital and intangible our world becomes, the more we will rely on tangible, physical environments to validate reality.
Exhibitions will evolve beyond simple showcases into platforms that: Verify the practical feasibility of technologies Assess the authenticity of content Build trust in companies and innovations Facilitate consensus across industries In this sense, exhibitions may become the most powerful platforms for answering a fundamental question: What is real? Companies will increasingly need to utilize exhibitions not merely as marketing channels, but as formal validation mechanisms.
The Quantum Leap Ahead The emergence of quantum computing will accelerate this transformation even further. As the speed of information generation and dissemination increases exponentially, the need for reliable standards of verification will become more urgent than ever. Ironically, those standards may be found not in digital systems, but in physical experiences. Exhibitions will stand as one of the most credible platforms where technologies and ideas can be directly experienced, tested, and validated in the real world. What Must We Consider Now?
We now stand at the intersection of three defining forces: War and geopolitical tension Technological transformation driven by AX The restructuring of global power and industrial systems In such a context, the exhibition industry must evolve beyond its traditional role. It must become a forum for shaping the future direction of humanity. The questions before us are clear: What role should the exhibition industry play in times of global uncertainty? How can AX technologies be used responsibly? How do we restore and sustain truth and trust?
A New Mission for the Exhibition Industry Exhibitions are no longer merely business platforms. They are spaces where humanity tests and verifies itself. They grow in times of peace, yet become even more critical as technology advances. And above all, they are emerging as the front line in distinguishing truth from falsehood. In this era, the exhibition industry is being called upon to assume a new and vital role. And the process of finding that role may well become one of the most important discourses of our time.
