Asia Business Media: July 2012

Friday, July 27, 2012

UBM to launch first CBME India

News this week: Following the partnership announcement of the Shanghai International Children-Baby-Maternity Industry Expo (CBME) last week, UBM plc has further announced the new show launch of CBME in India.

The new show, CBME India – the Children, Baby & Maternity Industry Expo, will be held at Bombay Exhibition Centre from 11^th to 13^th April 2013. The show will consist of a seminar and exhibition, providing opportunities for local and global manufacturers and providers of children, baby and maternity products and services to meet with retailers and wholesalers.

Product categories to be exhibited at the show include Maternity & Baby Care Products, Baby Carriages, Bedding & Furniture, Toys, Educational Products & Souvenirs, Children, Baby, and Teenager Apparels, Maternity Clothing, Underwear, Hosiery & Accessories, Food, Health Care Products, and Service Organisations & Associations.

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Infomedia18 publishing business restructured

News this week: Indian B2B publisher Infomedia18 announced a restructuring that sees its publishing business, which includes special interest magazines and business directories portfolio, consolidated with Network18 under a new division ‘Network18 Publishing’. The company’s printing press business will continue to remain with Infomedia18.

The new Network18 Publishing will comprise of three sub-divisions: business to consumer (B2C) magazines, business to business (B2B) magazines and business directories division (BDD). Network18 Publishing will be headed by Sandeep Khosla, former CEO of Magazine Publishing of Infomedia18.

B Sai Kumar, group CEO of Network18, commented, “We believe that the special interest and B2B spaces will be one of the key drivers for publishing in India, both in print and new media. With Network18 Publishing, we’ve aligned our assets to capitalise on this trend both from a community building as well as a commercial perspective.”

Alibaba Group reorganizes business units

News this week: China’s leading e-commerce company Alibaba Group announced the organisational restructuring of the company into seven major business groups. The sub-business groups will comprise of: Taobao.com, eTao, Tmall.com, and Juhuasuan; Alibaba International Business Operations (formerly the international unit of Alibaba.com); Alibaba Small Business Operations (the domestic unit of Alibaba.com); and AliCloud. The presidents of the seven business groups will report directly to Alibaba Group chairman and CEO Jack Ma.

This is the first reorganisation since Alibaba.com was privatised a month ago. Alibaba’s online payment division, Alipay, will remain an affiliate of the Alibaba Group. The company’s management aims to establish “unified data, safety, risk management and technology foundation” through the restructuring, with more emphasis placed on implementing company-wide management and I.T. systems.

Mr Ma was quoted in an internal company e-mail, “We must accelerate the implementation of the ‘One Company’ strategy and effectively integrate the China Business Unit with Taobao marketplace so as to truly create a mechanism for openness, synergy and sharing.”

Baidu Q2 revenue up 60%

News this week: Market leading Chinese-language Internet search provider, Baidu, reported revenues of US$859 million for the quarter ended 30^th June 2012 – representing a 60% year-on-year increase. Net income attributable to the company was US$436 million, a growth of 70% over last year. Diluted earnings per share in the period were RMB 7.86 (US$1.24).

The number of active online marketing customers increased by 18% reaching 352,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and revenue per online marketing customer in the period was US$2,440, a rise of 35% over 2011.

Baidu’s management expects revenues in the third quarter to be between US$983 million and US$1.01 billion, representing an increase of 50% to 54% over the corresponding period in 2011. Revenues generated in the third quarter of 2011 were US$655 million. The company stated the forecast reflects its current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Tarsus records strong performance in emerging markets

News this week: Earlier this week, London-listed media group, Tarsus, has released its financial results for the six months ended 30^th June 2012. Group revenues were £19 million, flat with the 2011 figure; while like-for-like revenue was up 14% after adjusting for biennial cycles. Adjusted profits before tax in the first half of 2012 tripled from the 2011 figure to £1.8 million.

Tarsus management reported very strong performance from emerging markets. Emerging markets (Middle East, China and Turkey) increased by more than 26% year-on-year, generating £7.3 million. Adjusted profit before tax in emerging markets in the period was £1.5 million, tripled 2011’s £50,000.

Douglas Emslie, Group Managing Director, said, “Our significant progress in the first half has been driven by excellent performances in the US from our Medical and Off Price products and in the Emerging Markets by very strong growth in the Turkish and Chinese businesses…Our position in China will be significantly enhanced with the addition of GZ Auto, the leading automotive aftermarket show.”

Malaysian media company acquires events business

News this week: The subsidiary of Malaysia-based Star Publications, I.Star Ideas Factory, has acquired the business and assets of events organiser CNM Events Marketing for US$14.2 million. As part of the deal, CNM Events will provide a profit before tax guarantee of at least US$9.5 million over three years after the deal is complete.

CNM Events’ portfolio of events and exhibitions include The Star Education Fair, The Star Property Fair and CHEER cheerleading competition. The company’s other major focus is on home and lifestyle, and it is also the owner of the Perfect Livin and Perfect Lifestyle exhibitions.

First held in 2008, the Perfect Livin fair was held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in 2011, and reportedly attracted 108,000 visitors and 123,000 visitors to the April and August editions, respectively.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Global Sources’ inaugural show in Brazil sold out

News this week: NASDAQ-listed Global Sources announced its inaugural China Sourcing Fair in Brazil has sold out with over 500 booths booked. The show will be managed by Milton Exhibits and will run from 14^th to 16^th August at the Imigrantes Exhibition Center in Sao Paulo.

The three-day trade show will showcase products from China in the Electronics, Gifts & Premiums, Garments & Textiles and Hardware & Building Materials categories, as well as products from Indian manufacturers at the co-located event, India Sourcing Fair. The show is supported by the Brazil-China Chamber (CCIBC) and it will feature group pavilions from Guangdong, Hebei, Hunan and Tianjin, the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association and the Federation of Indian Export Organisations.

Tommy Wong, president of Global Sources Exhibitions said, “Brazil has proven itself a critical trading partner to China as evidenced by the booming growth rate of 30% year-on-year in exports from mainland China in 2011. Moreover, mainland China is Brazil’s largest trading partner. This further supports the Chinese government’s implementation of their ‘going out’ strategy – an export-focused policy in key emerging markets that supports growing demand for reliable and competitive China products.”

Reed Exhibitions & Manch Communications extend partnership

News this week: After announcing a partnership agreement last month, Reed Exhibitions and Manch Communications announced a further extension to their partnership in India – a new trade show, the India Composites Show, will be launched later this year.

The India Composites Show will be held from 1^st to 3^rd November 2012 at the Pragati Maidan venue in New Delhi and it is expected to attract more than 100 exhibitors at its inaugural edition. The composites market serves many high growth industries including medical, aerospace, defence, automotive, electrical, renewable energy and mass transportation infrastructure.

Manch Communications’ co-owner Anuj Mathur stated, “Asia is expected to maintain its leadership in terms of composite shipments helped by the growing economies of China and India. The rationale for an India-centric event that showcases the composites sector has never been more relevant.”

New head appointed at Seoul Tourism Organization

News this week: Earlier this week, the Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) announced the appointment of Sung-Real Lee as its new president and CEO effective on 2^nd July 2012.

According to the Seoul Convention Bureau (SCB), one of Lee’s first objectives is to boost the Korean capital’s profile as a tourism destination and increase its competitiveness in the international meetings industry – which will include expanding the accommodation infrastructure of the city.

Mr. Lee stated, “As the city is set to host a record number of 10 million international visitors this year, it is essential for Seoul to continue expanding the number of hotel rooms in the city – especially those that are specifically geared towards accommodating international visitors.”

Lee has over 30 years of experience in the private sector, including key positions in finance and project development divisions at the Hyundai Group.

Penang government aims to develop MICE business

News this week: In a bid become an international MICE destination, the Malaysian state of Penang plans to set-up a new convention and visitors’ bureau (CVB) along with plans to develop several new MICE facilities and hotels in the coming years.

The new Subterranean Penang International Convention & Exhibition Centre (sPICE) will consist of a 500 person ballroom and it is scheduled open in 2015. There will be one hotel within sPICE and another in close proximity which will offer more than 400 rooms and is expected to open in 2014. Another convention facility, The Light Waterfront Penang will have a capacity of 8,000 people and is scheduled to open in 2017.

Penang state minister for Tourism Development & Culture, Danny Law said, “With such (upcoming) facilities, we need to have a CVB to market Penang and to ensure that we can bring business to them. From next year on, PITM will not only sell Penang to international buyers, but also products of South-east Asia.”

TCEB promotes Pattaya with MICE app

News this week: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has partnered with the city of Pattaya and local MICE operators to develop and launch the smartphone app “Prachum Muang Thai D-MICE @ Pattaya” designed to promote Pattaya’s MICE capabilities. The new app is part of a marketing strategy supplemented by other promotional events aimed at attracting a younger audience to participate in Thailand’s domestic MICE market.

The app categorises more than 60 tourist attractions including conference venues, recreation spots, activities and MICE services provided in Pattaya. MICE experiences include: Adventure, History & Culture, Experiential, Green Awareness, Corporate Social Responsibility Awareness, and Luxury Travel.

Thongchai Sridama, TCEB’s acting president, said, “Pattaya can support event themes in all these categories. We believe Prachum Muang Thai D-MICE @ Pattaya application is another important market mechanism that can help boost Pattaya’s MICE industry by 20%, from the overall events related visits of 1.7 million in 2011… This will help Thailand become the regional MICE city and build domestic events to 1.9 million individuals to create an income of US$343 million.”

According to TCEB, Pattaya is one of four major Thai cities slated to be included in the project. The Chiang Mai initiative will be launched by the end of 2012.

UBM Asia’s Shanghai baby show partners with Turkish organiser

News this week: During UBM’s Shanghai International Children-Baby-Maternity Industry Expo (CBME), UBM Asia announced a co-operation agreement with Istanbul-based EFEM to support the sales and marketing of the two organisations’ baby product shows.

EFEM is the organiser of the International Istanbul Mothers, Babies, Children Products Fair (MBCP) and Wintexpo Autumn Winter Baby Child Fashion Fair (Wintexpo). According to the news release, MBCP is now the third largest baby products show in Europe, while Wintexpo is the leading baby products show in Turkey.

CBME 2012 is currently on at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) – running from 18^th to 20^th July. A total of 1,287 international exhibitors will be showcased at the event occupying 115,840 m² of exhibition space. The organiser expects 90,000 visitors to attend during the three-day show. UBM Asia also announced the launch of the Brazil and India editions of CBME next year.

Friday, July 13, 2012

UFI’s survey shows exhibitions remain stable

News this week: Earlier this week, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the results of its 9^th Global Barometer Survey. Data of the survey was collected from 221 companies from 61 countries which includes UFI members and members of SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers) in the U.S., AFIDA (Asociacion International de Ferias de America) in Central and South America, and EXSA, the Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa.

According to the survey, about 60% of the companies in all regions expect their turnover to increase during the year. In terms of operating profit, about half of American companies forecast an increase by more than 10% with nearly half of the Asia/Pacific companies concurring. It is noteworthy that 44% of the companies surveyed believe that the negative impact of weak economies in the U.S. and Europe will end in 2013.

Paul Woodward, UFI Managing Director, concluded, “Apparently our industry is more conservative in their outlook than the results would show to be true. The results of our most recent Global Barometer survey confirm that our exhibition media continues to outperform expectations despite the tough economic environment.”

More details can be found here: UFI press release or here: UFI Global Barometer Survey result.

HKTDC’s exhibitions up 3.7% last year

News this week: Last week, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) published its annual report for the financial year ended 31^st March 2012. The HKTDC’s revenues generated from exhibitions and missions increased by 3.7% reaching US$208 million. Overall, the HKTDC’s total revenues, including a US$49 million government subvention, were US$313 million – up 1.8% year-on-year.

Revenues from print magazines and the online marketplace were US$24 million - flat compared with last year. Revenues from operations of the HKTDC-owned Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) were up by 7.1% to US$19 million.

HKTDC executive director, Fred Lam, stated in the annual report, “As the world intensified its focus on Asia in 2011/12, our goal was to ensure that Hong Kong remained a priority business platform for eastward-looking companies. With that as our guiding principle, we organised events and missions to key area of the world… offered meaningful opportunities for Hong Kong businesses.”

i2i Events Group appoints new business head in China

News this week: The i2i Events Group (formerly Emap Events) has announced the appointment of May Zhang as its new Business Head for China. Ms. Zhang has over twenty years of events experience in China including with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre (SNIEC) and with Messe Cologne.

i2i CEO, Mark Shashoua, commented, “We are delighted to welcome May to the i2i Events Group team and look forward to working closely with her in developing our business in China. International expansion is a crucial part of i2i’s growth strategy and China will become a key territory for us. We are substantially building outbound business from China to our UK events and are developing a portfolio of launch exhibitions and large scale events to take place in China from 2013.”

Asia Business Media