Bangkok / March 2010 – The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization), or TCEB, is driving efforts to enhance productivity in Thailand’s exhibition sector. TCEB will offer its support to 6 international flagship events held in Thailand, representing six industry sectors, to help them extend their international market reach and develop these events as “regional champions”. TCEB has set a revenue target of 518.7 billion baht for the 6 events, and additionally expects the initiative to drive further expansion in international exhibition events for other industry sectors. TCEB predicts that by year-end, the MICE industry will return growth of 25%, and is confident that Thailand will be recognized as the leader of ASEAN’s exhibitions industry for the fifth consecutive year.
Mr Akapol Sorasuchart, TCEB President, declared, “TCEB’s past efforts to promote and support the exhibition industry have been very successful, as recognized by the international exhibitions industry association UFI. UFI’s survey reported that in 2008 Thailand was ranked No 1 in the ASEAN region, hosting 71 exhibition events.
“Based on this strong performance, Thailand’s 2010 plan aims not only to increase the number of international exhibitions held in Thailand. One of our additional priorities is to support and develop key exhibition events in Thailand’s strategic industry sectors as regional flagship events, i.e. ’Regional Champion Shows’.
“TCEB therefore adjoined the special project by launching the ‘Better the Best’ initiative to accomplish this goal, and also in order to provide an imperative prospect in the international arena. We think this will reinforce the country’s profile and visibility at regional level in terms of the globally preferred exhibition destination.”
The ‘Better the Best’ initiative will enhance the international competitiveness of Thailand’s exhibitions industry at both regional and global arena, and help increase the numbers of international exhibition event operators, exhibitors and visitors coming to Thailand. TCEB has already selecting 6 high-profile exhibitions for inclusion in the programme, namely the Bangkok International Gems & Jewelry Show, Propak Asia, Bangkok International Gift & Houseware (BIG+BIH), Metalex, Renewable Energy and VIV Asia.
According to the Director of Exhibition, TCEB, Mrs Supawan Teerarat; she explained that “the 6 industries represented by these exhibitions (gems and jewellery, machinery and auto parts, food and agriculture, energy, packaging, gifts and houseware) receive priority government support, including export promotion, under the National Agenda.”
“TCEB support includes international marketing efforts overseas, market promotion and roadshows to elevate the profile and visibility of key exhibition events held in Thailand, and business matching events to maximize value for participants. Ultimately, we hope that by helping these exhibitions achieve their full potential, Thailand’s status as a regional trade and investment hub for these industries will also be enhanced,” added Mrs Supawan.
TCEB’s support under the ‘Better the Best’’ initiative aims to help strengthen the networks and leadership of trade associations and individual exhibition event organizers in each industry sector. The initiative is expected to lead to increased numbers of buyers and sellers visiting Thailand, and also to encourage the growth, leadership and international profile of exhibitions serving secondary industry sectors.
Concluding, Mr Akapol commented on the prospects for 2010, “TCEB anticipates that its support for these 6 exhibition events will generate revenues of almost 518.7 billion baht, comprising 514.5 billion baht in direct revenues from business deals, and 4.2 billion baht from MICE travelers. We expect to welcome a total of almost 58,600 MICE visitors. These figures are most encouraging, as they represent a 25% growth over last year”.
