(Photo: VCG)

SHANGHAI, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Exhibition business has been growing in Shanghai, according to the Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Industries Association.

Last year, the financial hub of China hosted 994 exhibitions, conventions and other activities, a year-on-year increase of 18 percent.

The figure means that more than 2.7 exhibitions were held in Shanghai every day on average.

Shanghai's exhibition business grew from 2016 to 2018, with hosting areas increasing from more than 16 million square meters to more than 19 million square meters, an average annual growth of 9 percent, according to the association. By 2020, the hosting area is expected to surpass 21 million square meters.

Last year, the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10 and concluded with deals worth about $57.83 billion. The expo attracted 3,600 overseas companies.

The CIIE cemented Shanghai's status as a leading city for exhibitions, and the city's attraction will become even stronger in the future, according to the association.