Bureau International des Expositions

What Bureau International des Expositions does

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1931 and headquartered at 34, Avenue d'Iéna, 75116 Paris, France. It is the sole body authorised under the Paris Convention to oversee and regulate international Expos, governing the timing, duration, size, theme requirements, and participation framework for World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos, and Triennale Milano. BIE currently has 184 member states, which exercise control through General Assemblies and various committees; the secretariat is led by Secretary General Dimitri S. Kerkentzes and operates with 11-50 staff.

BIE's portfolio comprises four product lines (World Expos held every five years, Specialised Expos up to three months in duration, A1-category Horticultural Expos, and the Triennale Milano design exhibition), supported by documentation resources including the BIE Library, the World Expo Museum in Shanghai, the Annual Bulletin publication, and a Capacity Building Programme for member states. Notable upcoming and recently concluded events include Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai (29 million visits), Specialised Expo 2027 Belgrade, Horticultural Expo 2027 Yokohama, World Expo 2030 Riyadh (expected 42 million visits and 200+ participants), and the proposed Horticultural Expo 2029 Korat.

The business model is intergovernmental rather than commercial. BIE is funded through member state dues from 184 sovereign contributors and participation-related fees and contracts tied to host-country agreements, with pricing and contributions determined through diplomatic and General Assembly processes rather than public commercial pricing. Distribution of participation opportunities flows through formal General Assemblies, International Participants Meetings, and bilateral See Agreements that lock in host countries (e.g., Saudi Arabia for Riyadh 2030, Serbia for Belgrade 2027) and participating nations (e.g., France as first signatory for Riyadh 2030 via COFREX). BIE does not develop proprietary technology products; its core function is regulatory coordination under the Paris Convention framework.

Name

Bureau International des Expositions

Legal name

Bureau International des Expositions

Website

https://bie-paris.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is the Paris-based intergovernmental organisation, founded in 1931, that oversees and regulates World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos, and Triennale Milano for its 184 member states under the Paris Convention framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Exhibition Governance

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Certification Expos Organizers (THAHABAD)

Keywords

• International expo governance
• Intergovernmental exhibitions
• World expo regulation
• Exhibition policy coordination
• Member state diplomacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member State Dues: BIE operates through membership fees from its 184 member states. Countries pay dues to support the organization's operations and regulatory functions.
2. Expo Participation Fees: Countries and organizations pay fees to participate in approved Expos. These include participation contracts and fees for pavilion space at organized events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and oversees international Expos, including World Expos, Specialised Expos, Horticultural Expos, and Triennale Milano. Operating under the 1928 Paris Convention, the BIE provides governance, sanctioning, registration, and policy coordination for these global exhibitions among its 184 member states.

Product overview

The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) operates a portfolio of international exhibition products: World Expos (large-scale events every 5 years), Specialised Expos (focused 3-month exhibitions), Horticultural Expos (A1-certified horticultural events), and Triennale Milano (triennial design exhibitions). Supporting services include the BIE Library (documentation archives), World Expo Museum (official Expo museum), Annual Bulletin (annual publication), and Capacity Building Programme (Member State training). The organization regulates and oversees major upcoming events including Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, Expo 2027 Belgrade, Horticultural Expo 2027 Yokohama, Expo 2030 Riyadh, and proposed Horticultural Expo 2029 Korat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• World Expos

Quantifiable outcome

• BIE has organized and regulated over 100 international Expos since its founding

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• COFREXcoreOthers · 25 August 2026COFREX (Comité Français d'Organisation et d'Exploitation des Expositions Internationales) is the official French organization responsible for organizing France's participation in international Expos. France became first country to sign participation contract for Expo 2030 Riyadh through COFREX, with Chairman Jacques Maire signing the agreement.
• Saudi ArabiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2026Saudi Arabia is the host country for World Expo 2030 Riyadh. BIE signed the See Agreement with Saudi Arabia establishing the legal and administrative framework for Official Participants, covering travel, visa, tax, customs and mobility support. Expo 2030 Riyadh runs October 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031, expected to host over 200 participants and 42 million visits.
• Tunisia Government / CEPEXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026BIE partnered with Tunisia's Government, Ministry of Trade and Export Development, and CEPEX (Export Promotion Center) to organize a Capacity Building Programme session in Tunis. This two-day multilateral training session supports nations in preparing for Expos.
• World Expo MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2025The World Expo Museum, located on the former site of Expo 2010 Shanghai, is the world's only official museum and documentation center dedicated to Expos and authorized by BIE. BIE and Expo 2027 Belgrade signed MoU for WEM participation in Belgrade Expo 2027, contributing to legacy preservation.
• SerbiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 August 2025Serbia is the host country for Specialised Expo 2027 Belgrade. BIE signed See Agreement with Serbian government to facilitate international participation and guarantee privileges for official participants. Serbia was elected host by BIE Member States in June 2023 during the 172nd General Assembly.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MCH Group (Messe Schweiz): MCH Group operates major exhibition venues and events in Basel and Zurich (e.g., Art Basel, Swissbau). It is comparable as an integrated venue-and-event organizer, though smaller in scope and commercial rather than intergovernmental.
• Informa Markets: Informa Markets operates a large portfolio of international trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions across industries. Like BIE, it convenes global audiences for major exhibitions, though Informa serves commercial sectors whereas BIE serves sovereign nations.
• Reed Exhibitions (RX): RX is one of the world's largest trade show and event organizers, operating hundreds of B2B exhibitions globally. While commercially focused (vs. BIE's intergovernmental mandate), RX shares the same core competency of organizing major exhibitions at international scale.

Direct peers

• International Horticultural Exhibitors Association (AIPH): AIPH is the international body that certifies A1-category horticultural expos, including the Horticultural Expos that BIE oversees. It is directly comparable as a specialized intergovernmental/membership organization regulating international horticultural exhibitions.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association): ICCA is the global community for the international meetings and events industry, representing suppliers and destinations. Like BIE, it is a membership-based international organization that sets standards and aggregates data for major global events.
• UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry): UFI is the global trade association for the exhibition industry with hundreds of member organizations. It is directly comparable as a membership-based international body that sets standards and provides governance for the exhibitions sector, paralleling BIE's role for World Expos.

Regional players

• Fira de Barcelona: Fira de Barcelona is one of Europe's largest exhibition venue operators, hosting international trade shows, congresses, and corporate events. Comparable as a large-scale exhibition infrastructure and event organizer, though focused on the Spanish/Catalan market.
• Koelnmesse: Koelnmesse is one of Europe's largest trade fair organizers, hosting major international exhibitions such as gamescom, Anuga, and imm cologne. It is comparable as a venue-driven exhibition operator, though regionally concentrated in Germany.
• Dubai World Trade Centre: DWTC operates a major exhibition complex in Dubai hosting international trade shows and conferences. Comparable as a venue-driven exhibition operator in the Middle East — geographically complementary to BIE's Expo 2030 Riyadh footprint.

Emerging players

• World Expo Museum (Shanghai): The World Expo Museum is the only official museum dedicated to Expos, located on the former Expo 2010 Shanghai site and authorized by BIE. It is closely comparable as a BIE-affiliated cultural/educational institution extending the legacy of past Expos.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bieparis
• Facebookfacebook.com/bieparis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bureau-international-des-expositions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bureau International des Expositions