They Build the World’s Biggest Events, Sit on a Mountain of Cash, and Yield 6%—Few Know About It
Pico—a name some Singaporeans might vaguely recall, especially if they’ve noticed the building near Lavender MRT along Kallang Road. Yes, that’s the Pico we’re referring to.
Founded in 1969 in Singapore by Chia Siong Lim as Pico Art Studio, it started out making signs. Today, it has grown into a global leader in total brand activation—handling exhibitions, events, and experiential design. In FY2024, Pico generated over HK$6.3 billion in revenue and employs around 2,700 full-time staff across 36 cities in 22 countries. A long way they’ve come.
They’ve built exhibition stands, delivered services at global mega-events like the World Expos (11 in total, with Expo 2020 Dubai being the largest), and worked on multiple Olympic Games. Their reach spans industries—from transport and tech to retail and the arts—and cities such as Geneva, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Yokohama, and Taipei.
Though the company is now headquartered in Hong Kong and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 0752), its roots remain Singaporean. Today, Pico’s business is truly global:
Greater China: 40.4% of FY2024 revenue (down from 47.8% in FY2023)
Southeast Asia: 21.0% (steady YoY)
Middle East: 10.0%
UK & US: 14.6%
Other regions: 14.0% (up from 4.0%)
All regions saw growth in FY2024—including Greater China—despite economic and consumer headwinds.
