Thailand, a ‘jewel in the crown’ of ASEAN, boasts greater business opportunity through its exhibition platform. Thailand Convention and Events Bureau, TCEB, incorporated with the Economist opened discussion with UK organizers how to grasp business potential in the region at the run-up of AEC in 2015
The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) incorporated with The Economist recently organized a road show to London. The road show is set to promote Thailand’s exhibition industry as a gateway to business opportunities in ASEAN by highlighting the country’s four high growth industries: jewelry, electronics, automotive, food & beverage and hospitality to UK event and trade fair organizers.

Thailand is considered an important manufacturing base of electronics, automobiles and auto parts as well as jewelry. It is also known as a food packaging exporter as well as great country of hospitality and services. Considering the fact that Thailand’s exhibition industry marks the highest growth in ASEAN at 70% growth rate annually in terms of event space sold and the top 10 visitors and exhibitors are from ASEAN countries, this puts Thailand in a leading position to help trade show organizer from UK to tap into these emerging markets of the region.

Mrs. Supawan Teerarat, Director of Exhibition Department of TCEB said “On behalf of TCEB, I would like to express our sincere gratitude toward the existing organizers from the UK that has chosen Thailand as their exhibition platform for ASEAN market. With the rise of ASEAN Economic Community, exhibition platform in Thailand will help UK companies capture the full business potential of the region. ASEAN is where the big shows are now heading mainly because of the huge domestic demand, growing manufacturing and export base, open investment policy and fast economic expansion.”

This is the first time TCEB together with The Economist by Mr. Justin Wood – Chief Economist of South and South-East Asia Pacific has brought round-table discussion to the UK, sharing the spotlight of Thailand’s exhibition industry and dynamic growth across a wide range of sectors in the region from automobile, food and healthcare to industrial equipment, energy, electronics and jewelry. Last year Thailand’s exhibition successfully resulted in bringing a three new trade shows which are Fastener Fair, Chemspec Asia 2013 and Asian Coatings Show 2013. “Fastener Fair” organized by Mack Brooks Exhibitions Limited. Fastener Fair Thailand brings together in one roof the latest technological innovations and cost-effective solutions for the automotive, electronics, infrastructure, airport and general manufacturing industries right in the heart of Thailand and ASEAN region. Following up the success of last year, the trade show will take in September 2012 at BITEC. Chemspec Asia 2013 and Asian Coatings show 2013 are organized by Quartz Business Media (QBM) Additionally, first-handed information about potential business partnership between UK organizer and Thailand’s leading exhibition venues; namely BITEC, IMPACT, and QSNCC; has been engaged during the discussion.

“TCEB has the primary commitment to support, promote and develop the Thai exhibition industry in order to maintain its leadership in ASEAN. The strategy in 2012 will emphasize on establishing the country’s capability as business gateway of ASEAN by attracting international exhibitions with profiles relevant to the region’s economic-driving industries to Thailand.”

“TCEB will support UK organizers on the staging of a trade show with assistance including site visit and stakeholder’s meeting and market research to help establish business opportunities in the region. To attract and bring in new organizers with high potential to launch new shows in Thailand, last year we arranged four site inspection trips for leading UK organizers to visit Thailand and meet with their potential local partners. With Thailand as the market place, together with TCEB’s offer we are certain that these new shows can be launched & promoted within coming years.

According to the latest statistics compiled by UFI, the exhibitions industry of Thailand continues to lead rivals in ASEAN with total of value of 132 million US dollars gained through 75 events, putting Thailand above competitors in the region. Furthermore, Thailand has maintained the leadership in the exhibitions industry of ASEAN in other aspects, such as the exhibition space totaling up to 432,500 square meters each year, as well as having eight well-equipped exhibition venues which are well-recognised by UFI.

The 10 ASEAN countries together have a population of more than 580 million people that will soon become the world’s biggest market. In addition, Thailand is also a member of ASEAN +6 including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand which incorporates six other high-potential Asia-Pacific countries that have the total trade value of 6.4 trillion US Dollars – ¼ of the global trade – and a total population of 3,296 million equivalent to 48.5% of the world’s population and also provides easy access to the Greater Mekong sub-region,” leaves Mrs.Supawan

Thailand is therefore a market with high potential for the international exhibition industry in ASEAN and has the potential to further grow as the leader in this region. When considering the income earned from exhibition-related activities, Thailand is currently number 4 in Asia, after Hong Kong, China and Japan.

Thailand’s world-class facilities and event venues, transportation infrastructure with more than 500 international flights per week to 191 major cities around the world plus airport-to-city linkage, good-value-for-money in business and leisure, professional service with Thai hospitality are in place as the country is consolidating its position as the top-of-mind exhibition platform in ASEAN.