The basic plan for the establishment of the Center was initially formulated in 1994. During the following six years, it has gone through many hardships including the economic crisis that saw the nation turn to the IMF bailout fund. At last, we are seeing the fruits of our efforts thanks to the active support of the central government as well as the devoted cooperation of all of you local businessmen.

Today, the exhibition and convention industry is called 'an industry without chimney,' which refers to a futuristic industry of the 21st century with huge potential for growth without doing any harm to the environment. Just being in the center of international business is enough to create jobs and to increase added value as well as having a beneficial ripple effect on the traditional manufacturing industry. Despite the exhibition and convention industry being an industry of major strategic importance, Daegu, to date, did not have a proper exhibition hall, which was a formidable obstacle for the city to strengthen its regional competitive power.

Up to now, the exhibition and convention industry had been concentrated in Seoul. With the birth of EXCO Daegu, the industry will no longer be concentrated in the capital city and EXCO Daegu will play a pivotal role in fulfilling the regional demand for exhibitions and conventions that are becoming larger-sized and more advanced than ever before. The Center will serve as the driving force behind the economy in Daegu while at the same time, provide the opportunity to achieve another major leap forward.

It is my sincerest wish that unique and innovative products will be developed and marketed through the wide variety of exhibitions which will be held in this building in the future. I also hope that this forum will prove to be the 'meeting place' where producers, consumers and buyers can easily meet. At the same time, it is my hope that the growth of Daegu's economy will shift towards a qualitative one and that the unique culture and image of Daegu will be widely disseminated throughout the world.

I have no doubt that the Daegu Exhibition and Exposition Center will serve as an arena for international exchanges in the truest sense by forming a link with the local industries and create a synergetic effect to the maximum degree for the development of the entire region.