Asia Business Media: 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

TAITRA looks to expand its trade fairs in China

News this week: According to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the five trade fairs in China organised by the government-backed trade promotion bureau during 2013 attracted 1.2 million visitors and generated US$1.65 billion of new business for companies in Taiwan.

These mainland China-held trade fairs are part of a wider trade promotion initiative TAITRA launched in 2009, through which TAITRA has hosted 27 fairs on the mainland covering 16 cities from Guangzhou to Shenyang. TAITRA is now planning to launch more fairs further inland in locations such as Guizhou, Yunnan and Inner Mongolia to help Taiwanese companies to sell their products in the mainland market.

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Alibaba seeks more time for group IPO

News this week: The Alibaba Group, one of China’s leading e-commerce companies, is currently seeking to extend the drawdown period for its US$8 billion loan from next month to 31^st December 2014, a move that will reportedly buy the company more time to arrange a potential IPO. The extension requires the approval of all 22 lenders involved with the loan – which was approved in July 2013. As of December 2013, Alibaba has reportedly already drawn-down US$5 billion of the US$8 billion loan.

No time frame or location has been set for an IPO by the company – although Alibaba does have incentives to complete an IPO before December 2015 under the terms of its deal with one of its major shareholders, Yahoo Inc. Market analysts expect the IPO will raise about US$15 billion.

SIGN CHINA expects an impressive edition in 2014

News this week: The leading sign event in China, SIGN CHINA, is scheduled to open its 12^th edition in February 2014. The event will occupy more than 130,000 m² of exhibition space at the China Import and Export Fair Complex. Organised by UBM Trust, a Guangzhou-based joint venture company of UBM Asia, the event will be held from 23^rd to 26^th February 2014.

According to the organiser, over 90% of the 7,000 allocated booths have already been reserved by 1,470 exhibitors and brands. The event’s product categories will cover various parts of the sign supply chain, from signage, printing materials and components, to LED-related categories including displays and lighting. The 2014 edition of SIGN CHINA will also feature a new LED China Conference.

David Tang, managing director of UBM Trust, was quoted, “Sign industry is developing and stepping into its ‘golden age’, while the global economy is gradually recovering. It is no doubt that SIGN CHINA 2014, as an international platform, is looking to move with the industry striving to play an important role in supporting business matching and assisting our participants to seize opportunities.”

Plastics & Rubber Indonesia attracts 700 exhibiting companies

News this week: The 26^th edition of Plastics & Rubber Indonesia attracted 12,228 trade visitors over four days at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran (JIExpo). The show was held from 20^th to 23^rd November 2013 and featured record buyer attendance from 38 countries and regions.

Plastics & Rubber Indonesia, organised by PT Pamerindo Indonesia (PTP), a member of Allworld Exhibitions, was co-located with ProPak Indonesia. The events combined to occupy 21,800 m² of space in total and featured 700 exhibiting companies from 38 countries and regions.

Ms Wiwiek Roberto, senior project manager of PT Pamerindo Indonesia, said, “Through monitoring and adapting to market developments, Plastics & Rubber Indonesia has achieved its goal of bringing hundreds of senior level industry trade professional visitors to the show and presenting them with a wide range of networking platforms included engineers, manufacturers, decision makers and other professionals in the industries.”

Tarsus’ Labelexpo Asia records 10% growth

News this week: Earlier this month, U.K.-listed Tarsus Group concluded a record-breaking 10^th edition of Labelexpo Asia at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). The four-day show grew 10% compared with the previous edition in 2011 reaching 8,500 m² of net exhibition space sold.

According to Tarsus, Labelexpo Asia welcomed over 21,000 visitors from 87 countries and regions – up 19% compared with just over 18,000 in 2011. Nearly 300 exhibitors were featured at the show from 3^rd to 6^th December 2013, where a two-day conference programme was held alongside the exhibition.

John Davy, show director of Labelexpo Asia, commented, “We’ve had fantastic footfall with exhibitors reporting plentiful and strong sales leads while the exhibition floor and conference sessions have been packed for the duration of the event. We’ve also managed our highest ever rebook with 50% of space already confirmed for 2015 which is highly unusual for Asian exhibitions.”

UBM Sinoexpo acquires majority stake in Tiansheng shows

News this week: UBM Asia’s joint venture company in China, Shanghai-based UBM Sinoexpo, has announced the acquisition of two trade shows and their co-located events from Shanghai Tiansheng Exhibition Service Co., Ltd – the China Vending & Kiosk Show, the Shanghai Digital Signage Show. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mr Zhang Xinyuan, owner and general manager of Tiansheng, will continue to lead the show teams working alongside UBM’s Hotelex and Expo Shop teams.

The previous edition of the concurrent shows were held from 4^th to 6^th September 2013 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center and occupied more than 17,000 m² of gross exhibition space. UBM Sinoexpo will officially begin to organise the shows from 2014 onwards.

Jimé Essink, president & CEO of UBM Asia, commented, “China is a big potential market for these two industries. We aim to bring in more overseas participation with our international network and large database to take these two leading and professional events to a new level. The China Vending & Kiosk Show and Shanghai Digital Signage Show also complement the annual Hotelex Shanghai and the co-located Expo Shop China show organised by Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo.”

Friday, December 13, 2013

Global Sources opens China Sourcing Fairs in New Delhi

News this week: Earlier this week, NASDAQ-listed Global Sources opened its China Sourcing Fairs: Electronics & Components, Home Products and Hardware & Building Materials at the Pragati Maidan venue in New Delhi. The fair was held for the first time in New Delhi after its previous five year run in Mumbai.

The three co-located China Sourcing Fairs in India are managed by Pico Event Management under license from Global Sources. The three-day event ran from 12^th to 14^th December featuring exhibitors from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

Tommy Wong, president of Global Sources Exhibitions, was quoted saying, “Bilateral trade between China and India is forecast to increase significantly with China exports growing 20% a year from 2013 to 2015 and 17% thereafter to 2020. The China Sourcing Fairs are the ideal trade platform for buyers in both India and nearby South Asian countries to capitalise on this increasing demand for China-made products.”

Pico Thailand revenue and profit drop

News this week: Earlier this week, Pico Thailand, the Thai-listed subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Pico Far East Holdings, released its results for the financial year ended 31^st October 2013. The company posted revenues of US$33 million, a year-on-year decrease of 19%. Pico Thailand recorded a net profit of US$1.3 million this year, declining 40% compared with the previous year. Earnings per share in the financial year were Baht 0.174 (US$0.0056).

Pico Thailand claimed that the decrease in revenue and net profit was due to a lack of large-scale projects during the financial year. In the previous year, Pico Thailand generated higher revenues from its knowledge communication business and BOI Fair 2012.

UBM India launches security website

News this week: Recently, UBM India, a subsidiary of UBM plc, has launched a security community website, India Security World. The website provides online resources for the security and fire industries.

India Security World aims to bring all industry players on a common platform and users can discuss on the platform, as well as share information on it. According to UBM India, the Indian security market is expected to grow at 30%-35%. In addition, the Indian Government has increased its security budget by 35% to US$1 billion on police modernisation and arranging coordinated intelligence gathering.

Joji George, managing director, UBM India said, “A trend that has emerged is that the security industry is moving towards a ‘one-stop shop’ model in the commercial and industrial markets as customers seek to decrease their systems integration costs. The India Security World will cater to the industry and closely follow IP-based systems gaining ground and also the convergence of IT and physical security.”

Record exhibitor and visitor numbers at Yarn Expo Autumn

News this week: Yarn Expo Autumn concluded with new records this year for both exhibitors and visitors. Nearly 150 suppliers from 13 countries and regions exhibited their products at the event, which was up by 50%. While the number of buyers increased by 25% to more than 6,000 buyers attending during the three-day event.

Yarn Expo Autumn was held from 21^st to 23^rd October 2013 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) and organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT, China Cotton Textile Association, China Wool Textile Association, China Chemical Fiber Association, China Bast & Leaf Fibres Textiles Association, and China Textile Information Centre. The organisers noted the increase in exhibitors was not only due to the new suppliers from Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Sri Lanka and Turkey, but also the increase in Indian and Pakistani suppliers.

The next edition of the event, spring edition of Yarn Expo, will be held in Shanghai, instead of Beijing, and it will be located within Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition, renamed to Yarn Expo Zone. The event will take place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center from 3^rd to 5^th March 2014.

Koelnmesse debuts kitchen and bath event in Shanghai

News this week: Koelnmesse’s Germany-based kitchen trade fair, LivingKitchen, debuted in China in collaboration with the China International Kitchen and Bathroom Expo (CIKB). The show ran from 26^th to 28^th November 2013 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

The revamped show featured 100 local and international brands, including leading brands such as Midea, Haier, Schüller, Blanco, Bosch and Siemens. This edition marks the beginning of a new partnership between co-organisers Koelnmesse and the China National Hardware Association (CNHA).

Zhang Dongli, chairman of CNHA, was quoted saying, “2013 marks the beginning of our cooperation with Koelnmesse’s LivingKitchen, and CIKB has improved substantially in scale and level compared to previous years.”

Alibaba invests US$364 million in Haier to boost China logistics

News this week: Alibaba Group and white-goods and electronics manufacturer Haier Group announced this week that the two companies have formed a strategic partnership. They will jointly offer online sales and delivery of household appliances in China.

Under the terms of the deal, Alibaba Group will also invest US$364 million in Haier Electronics. Of that amount, US$240 million will be invested into one of Haier’s logistics-focused subsidiaries. Alibaba will also acquire a 2% stake in Haier Electronics.

Executive Chairman of the Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, commented, “We will create value for our customers and as a result create value for Alibaba Group and Haier Group. The new economy is not the digital economy, but rather one that combines the real economy and digital economy, a true blending of ‘virtual’ and ‘real.’”

Friday, December 06, 2013

Messe Frankfurt to launch consumer goods show in India

News this week: International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt, announced the launch of an Indian edition of its consumer goods trade fair, Ambiente India, in 2014. The show is launched in partnership with the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), and will cover the interior décor and home accessories market.

The three-day trade fair will run from 19^th to 21^st June concurrently with Messe Frankfurt’s Heimtextil India at the Pragati Maidan. Ambiente India will be segmented into the three product categories of Dining, Giving and Living. The Dining section will cover table, kitchen and household wares. While the Giving and Living sections will cover gifts, stationery and decorations, as well as furnishing ideas, designs, and home accessories.

Raj Manek, managing director of Messe Frankfurt India, commented, “Ambiente India 2014 will represent an ideal platform for showcasing products, developing contacts and uncovering a wide range of innovations in home décor and interior accessories. Coupled with Heimtextil India, the trade fair will provide the domestic market with a comprehensive arena for business, networking, and inspiration.”

Reed launches new event in India

News this week: Reed’s joint venture in India, Reed Manch Exhibitions, has announced plans to launch the Commercial Transport Show (CTS). The exhibition will include a conference serving the commercial transport community.

CTS will feature categories such as trucks and delivery vans, trailers, semi-trailers and platform trailers, truck-tractors, dump-trucks, special purpose vehicles and the equipment solution providers. The inaugural CTS will be held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on 8^th to 10^th July 2014.

Mike Rusbridege, CEO of Reed Exhibitions, is optimistic about the Indian exhibitions market. He recently commented, “We expect to see tripling of business in India in the next three years, from organising 8 exhibitions at present to over 20 exhibitions. We're aiming to build a network of partners.”

ITE Group reports strong revenue growth

News this week: Earlier this week, the ITE Group reported its results in the first nine months of 2013. Revenues were £192.3 million. That is a 12% increase compared with the same period in 2012 when the Group’s revenues were £172.3 million.

Profit before tax increased from £40.5 million to £43.9 million in the same nine-month period. Additionally, cash on-hand jumped from £13.0 million last year to £23.5 million as of 30^th September 2013.

ITE Group’s CEO, Russell Taylor commented, “We have now firmly established ITE in the Asian exhibition markets through investments in ABEC in India, Tradelink and ECMI in Malaysia and SinoStar in China. When we acquired 50% of ECMI Trade Fairs earlier this year, we wanted to develop new exhibitions in the ASEAN region, so we are using this as a launch engine particularly in the emerging Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar markets.”

HC International forms JV to provide financing services

News this week: Earlier this week, Beijing-based B2B media company HC International announced the formation of a joint venture (JV) with another Hong Kong-listed company, Digital China, to provide micro-credit internet financing services.

Subject to the approval and the obtaining of necessary permissions from relevant Chinese authorities, the JV will be 60% owned by Digital China and 40% by HC International. The JV will have a total registered capital of 1 billion yuan (US$164 million).

HC’s e-commerce competitor in China, Alibaba Group, obtained its license to provide small business loans to companies on mainland China in April 2010.

Malaysian Motor Show attracts 300,000 visitors

News this week: Last month, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) held the 8^th edition of its Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS). The exhibition attracted more than 300,000 visitors and featured more than 100 cars and 150 exhibitors.

Organised once every three year, KLIMS was held at the Putra World Trade Centre over a ten-day period (15^th to 24^th November) and covered 30,000 m². Auto brands in the show included Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Infiniti, Peugeot, Citroen, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen, Perodua, Isuzu, Subaru and Daihatsu.

Malaysia continues to be one the most dynamic exhibition markets in Asia. For the third year in a row, in 2012, the industry in Malaysia was the fastest growing market in Asia - expanding by 8.2% as nearly 300,000 m² were sold at local trade fairs. More of the same can be expected to continue in the coming two to three years as the ASEAN markets are forecast to perform well and as new venue capacity comes online in Kuala Lumpur.

88 events lined-up for Suntec in 2014

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention Exhibition Centre has announced a schedule of 88 events for its 2014 calendar. According to Suntec’s management, the venue will host 88 key events in 2014, including 16 major medical events, 16 trade shows, 19 consumer events and 37 international conferences and special events.

Suntec recently reopened in June this year, following its US$147 million upgrade. Suntec reports its team served 196 events and a total of 780,000 visitors since reopening, which included 56 exhibitions and 124 conferences and meetings. First time events to be held in 2014 will include Blueprint - Asia’s Fashion Gateway, Singapore Art Fair, AAMA-TEX, UROFAIR, and Trans Asia.

Arun Madhok, CEO of Suntec, was quoted saying, “Our event list is a testimony to the confidence in the Suntec Singapore team and the value of the facilities and services that we offer. With so many key events already contracted, and considering how well we’ve traditionally done with corporate events, I fully expect 2014 to be a very successful and busy year.”

Friday, November 29, 2013

Informa buys stake in Shanghai Baiwen

News this week: Earlier this week, international exhibition organiser, Informa Exhibitions, announced the acquisition of a stake in the organiser of China Beauty Expo (Shanghai CBE), Shanghai Baiwen Exhibition Co Ltd. While financial details of deal were not disclosed, the formation of a new joint venture (JV), Informa-Baiwen, was confirmed.

The Shanghai CBE is composed of three co-located exhibitions: Cosmetics China, Cosmetech, and Beauty Shanghai. The three events focuses on cosmetics, skincare and fragrances; equipment, packaging and ingredients; and professional salons and spa products. The last edition of Shanghai CBE was held in May 2013, which attracted more than 245,000 visitors and 1,650 exhibitors over 120,000 m² of exhibition space.

Peter Rigby, CEO of Informa, was quoted saying, “The joint venture with Shanghai Baiwen Exhibition Company significantly strengthens our presence in the region, and increases our stake in the beauty and medical beauty industries globally. We look forward to working closely with our partners at Baiwen to extend the strong growth record of CBE and leverage our collective expertise to exploit other opportunities.”

Tarsus forms JV to launch AAITF Bangkok

News this week: London-listed Tarsus Group announced the formation of a joint venture (JV) with Thailand based Inter-Media Consultants to launch a new automotive aftermarket event in Thailand – the Automotive Aftermarket Industry and Tuning Trade Fair Bangkok (AAITF Bangkok).

Serving Thailand’s automotive aftermarket modification and tuning sectors, the organisers expect more than 10,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors to attend the inaugural event next year. AAITF Bangkok will be co-located with the Thailand International Motor Expo on 5^th to 7^th December 2014 at the Impact Challenger Exhibition Centre.

Douglas Emslie, group managing director of Tarsus, commented, “We are very excited about this latest partnership and the opportunity to develop a new event for one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant automotive markets. Combining AAITF’s vast international exhibitor base with Inter-Media’s strong Thai and regional automotive databases will quickly allow AAITF Bangkok to establish itself as mainland South East Asia’s premier automotive aftermarket event.”

Tarsus’ IIICE doubles in size

News this week: Tarsus Group’s recently concluded Indonesia International Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition (IIICE) doubled in size this year to reach 4,650 m² of exhibition space at the Jakarta Convention Center. IIICE reportedly attracted 131 exhibitors and more than 4,000 visitors.

Organised by PT Infrastructure Asia, a subsidiary acquired by Tarsus in January this year, IIICE 2013 was held from 12^th to 15^th November. The show was co-located with construction-themed trade show Konstruksi Indonesia, Connect Indonesia and Green Airports Indonesia as part of the Indonesia Infrastructure Week.

Alan Solowiejcyzk, CEO of PT Infrastructure Asia, commented, “Both national and local leaders, investors, state owned enterprises as well as other private parties were able to openly discuss potential cooperation in infrastructure development throughout Indonesia. This has proven to be the key to this event’s success.”

MyCEB reports growth in 2013

News this week: According to the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), the economic impact of international events in 2013 increased 21% compared with 2012.

During the period from January to October 2013, the bureau revealed it successfully won 118 event bids which contributed a total estimated economic impact value of US$140 million. MyCEB revealed 42 of the bids won were convention bids – up 62% compared with the full year of 2012.

MyCEB reportedly secured the visit of 40,000 delegates to Malaysia over the next eight years. The total number of delegates for the corporate meetings and incentives sector from January to October 2013 was up 18% from 25,604 to 30,318.

210 exhibitors featured at inaugural Taiwan Jewellery and Gem Fair

News this week: UBM Asia reported the inaugural edition of its Taiwan Jewellery and Gem Fair featured 330 booths from 210 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions. Co-organised by the Taiwan Jewelry Industry Association and Taipei Jewelers’ Association, the four-day trade show occupied 3,100 m² at Hall 3 of the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC).

According to UBM, more than 6,300 buyers from 31 countries and regions attended the show during the period of 15^th to 18^th November 2013. Exhibitor products on display ranged from loose stones, mountings and raw materials to finished jewellery.

The show’s exhibitors originated from Austria, Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the U.A.E and U.S. There were also group pavilions for Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Europe.

Alibaba acquires mobile analytics company

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, has recently acquired Umeng, a Chinese mobile applications statistics and analytics company for an undisclosed sum. Umeng will reportedly continue to operate as an independent entity after the acquisition.

Umeng was founded in April 2010 and provides data analytic services for mobile operating systems including Android, iOS, and Windows platforms. Umeng’s services cover 590 million active equipment, 180,000 applications and 60,000 developers.

Separately, Alibaba Group began offering a cloud computing service, Ju Baopen, to several banks and securities firms in mainland China. According to Alibaba, these financial institutions are now able to provide online payment services through the company’s Alibaba Cloud Computing. The banks’ online platforms will also be connected to its online payment division, Alipay.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Tarsus and E.J. Krause to jointly launch Indonesian ICT show

News this week: International exhibition organisers, Tarsus Group and E.J. Krause & Associates (EJK), will partner to launch a new ICT trade show in November 2014 – Connect Expo Comm Indonesia.

Tarsus has an established presence in Indonesia through its Connect Indonesia event, which is held under the annual Indonesia Infrastructure Week. For U.S.-based EJK, the new launch will extend the reach of its portfolio of EXPO COMM shows, which currently include the Moscow, Tokyo and Beijing editions.

Douglas Emslie, group managing director of Tarsus, said, “I am positive that combining Connect Indonesia’s strong local presence with EXPO COMM’s international reach will quickly allow CONNECT EXPO COMM INDONESIA to develop into South East Asia’s leading ICT event.” Ned Krause, CEO of EJK, also added, “With Indonesia’s economy on the rise, currently the largest in South East Asia, we see massive potential in investing in the market.”

Inaugural ProWine China features 570 exhibitors

News this week: The inaugural edition of wines and spirits fair, ProWine China, concluded in Shanghai earlier this month, attracting 570 exhibitors and 7,650 trade visitors during the three-day event.

Running from 13^th to 15^th November 2013 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), ProWine China is the latest addition to the ProWein portfolio launched in Düsseldorf, Germany. The fair is jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf Group and China International Exhibitions Ltd, a member of the Allworld Exhibitions network. Exhibitors at the fair originated from 30 countries and regions, who were also joined by more than 900 overseas visitors.

Michael Degen, executive director at Messe Düsseldorf and director of ProWein, said, “We are proud and happy to have succeeded in bringing the prosperous concept of ProWein, which is based on variety, internationality and a pure business focus, to the Chinese market. ProWine China made a very good start this year and on this basis we will continue the work for the next edition in 2014. We look forward to further developing the fair into the No. 1 trade fair for wines and spirits in China.”

Messe Frankfurt’s Beautyworld Japan West attracts 210 exhibitors

News this week: Messe Frankfurt recently concluded a record-breaking edition of Beautyworld Japan West with attendance from 210 exhibitors from five countries and regions. The event was held at the INTEX Osaka from 21^st to 23^rd October 2013.

According to Messe Frankfurt, a total of 16,232 visitors attended the fair, which focused in the major fields of “Hair”, ”Total beauty”, “Aesthetics” and “Retail business”. The three-day show was divided into the key areas of the Salon Business Area and the Retail Business Area, as well as four product zones which focused in Cosmetics, Beauty equipment, Nails, Permanent make-up and eyelashes.

The next edition of Beautyworld Japan West will return to INTEX Osaka from 20^th to 22^nd October 2014.

CCID’s profit up 22%

News this week: Hong Kong-listed CCID Consulting has announced its results for the nine months ended 30^th September 2013. The company reported revenues of US$16 million, up 1.6% over the first nine months of 2012. Net profit in the period grew 22% to US$1.5 million. Earnings per share in the nine-month period were RMB 0.0115 (US$0.0019).

More than 60% of total revenues were generated from CCID’s management & strategy consultancy services, amounting to US$9.7 million and up 1.1% year-on-year. Information engineering supervision services posted revenues of US$3.8 million, which accounted for 24% of the total and grew by 4.9% over the same period of last year. The remaining revenues were generated by the market research services, down 1.1% from 2012.

CCID also reported its results for the quarter ended 30^th September. Revenues in the quarter were US$5.1 million, an increase of 6.5% over the same quarter last year. The company posted a net profit of US$910,000, compared with a loss of US$89,000 in 2012.

UBM launches jewellery show in East India

News this week: UBM India will launch a new jewellery show in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. The inaugural event, Kolkata Jewellery & Gem Fair (KJGF) will be held from 11^th to 13^th January 2014 at the Milan Mela Exhibition Complex at Science City in Kolkata.

The three-day event is reportedly the first international B2B jewellery exhibition in East India, and according to the organiser, more than 160 exhibitors will showcase plain & studded gold jewellery, loose diamonds, and intricate modern & traditional jewellery designs. It is estimated over 6,000 buyers will attend the event.

Joji George, managing director of UBM India, was quoted, “The KJGF will be a mix of domestic and international jewellery all under one roof, and will not only let businesses showcase their top of the line products, but also give them a solid networking platform. East India is a key region for the jewellery industry of India and UBM is confident that by working with industry partners we can reach further heights in years to come.”

ITE forms China JV with Worldcoat Exhibitions

News this week: U.K.-based exhibition organiser, ITE Group, has announced the formation of a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with Hong Kong-based Worldcoat Exhibitions Ltd to establish a new organising company – Sinostar ITE. The new JV will oversee two newly acquired trade shows, ChinaCoat and SFChina, formerly organised by Worldcoat Exhibitions.

ITE reportedly invested around £33 million (US$53.4 million) into Sinostar ITE. The owner of Worldcoat and the current CEO of Sinostar International, Mr Raymond Ho, will assume the role of CEO of Sinostar ITE.

ChinaCoat and SFChina are focused in the decorative, industrial coatings and finishing industries in China and surrounding regions. The annual shows are held concurrently alternating between Shanghai and Guangzhou. The upcoming edition will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) from 20^th to 22^nd November 2013. The organiser expects the shows to span 35,000 m² of net exhibition space and attract more than 30,000 trade visitors.

Friday, November 15, 2013

AACVB to headquarter in Thailand

News this week: The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has outbid the likes of South Korea to establish the headquarters of the Asian Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (AACVB) in Bangkok, effective from 1^st January 2014.

Thailand’s selection was attributed to its excellent connection for business along with its strong relations to regionals organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, president of TCEB, said, “The proposal and judgment were completed in late October. This resulted in the association office’s relocation to Bangkok, Thailand, from 1 January 2014 onwards, after its 30-year basing in Macau since the day the association was founded.”

HC International revenue jump 56%

News this week: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed HC International reported its results for the nine months ended 30^th September 2013. Revenues in the period were US$98 million, a year-on-year growth of 56%. Profit attributable to equity holders in the nine-month period was US$16 million, a jump of 158% over the first nine months of 2012. The management attributed the growth in profit to the improvement of revenue and better control of the company’s costs and expenses. Diluted earnings per share in the first nine months were RMB 0.1614 (US$0.026).

HC International also released its results for the quarter ended 30^th September. Revenues in the quarter were US$40 million, up 73% over the same quarter of 2012. The company posted a significant increase of 161% in profit attributable to equity holders during the quarter, which amounted to US$7.6 million.

BOL profit up, revenue down

News this week: Last week, Bangkok-based business information provider, Business Online (BOL), announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30^th September 2013. Revenues for the quarter were US$2.8 million, a decrease of 6.1% from the same quarter last year. Net income in the quarter was up 20%, amounting to US$568,000.

BOL also released results for the nine months ended 30^th September. Revenues during this period were US$8.9 million, an 8.3% increase from the same period in 2012. However, net income dropped 8.7% year-on-year to US$1.6 million. Diluted earnings per share for the nine-month period were Baht 0.06 (US$0.0019).

Global Sources’ revenue down 24% in Q3

News this week: This week, NASDAQ-listed Global Sources released its results for the third quarter ended 30^th September 2013. The company reported revenues of US$45 million, down 24% compared with the same quarter in 2012. Net profit attributable to shareholders in the quarter was US$5.4 million, a drop of 35% from the third quarter last year.

Global Sources also announced results for the nine months ended 30^th September. The company’s revenues were US$137 million, down 17% year-on-year. However, net profit attributable to the shareholders in the nine-month period grew 32% to US$28 million. Diluted net income per share was US$0.77.

Global Sources maintained its revenue guidance for the second half of 2013 to be between US$101 million and US$103 million. Revenues for the second half of last year were US$126 million.

HKTDC autumn fairs attract 200,000+ buyers

News this week: Eight trade fairs organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) from October to early November have attracted nearly 8,700 exhibitors and more than 200,000 global buyers. Excluding trade orders, the HKTDC estimates more than HK$1.4 billion (US$181 million) of revenue was generated by the fairs.

The HKTDC reported a 6% increase in overseas buyers to approximately 120,000, out of a total of 200,000 buyers from 163 countries and regions. Double-digit growth of buyers was observed from emerging markets including Brazil, the Chinese mainland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland and Ukraine. Moreover, buyers from traditional markets such as Australasia, France, Japan and Korea were up by at least 4%.

HKTDC deputy executive director Benjamin Chau noted, “According to our statistics, each business traveller spent an average of HK$11,000 during their stay. Based on this figure, the total amount spent by overseas buyers and exhibitors during the fairs could amount to more than HK$1.4 billion, not including earnings from trade orders and related business services.”

400+ industry leaders turnout for UFI Congress in Seoul

News this week: UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, reported the attendance of more than 400 exhibition industry leaders at the 80^th UFI Congress. The annual event is taking place from 13^th to 16^th November at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul.

Hosted by the Association of Korea Exhibition Industry (AKEI), this year’s event is themed ‘Managing for the future’, where industry CEOs and strategic thinkers have gathered to network and discuss trends affecting the global exhibition industry. Apart from the main conference, a number of smaller meetings were held including the Annual UFI General Assembly, the UFI Board of Directors Meeting, UFI Regional Chapter Meetings and a meeting of the UFI Associations’ Committee.

Chen Xianjin, president of UFI, commented, “We will be exploring a variety of options exhibition organisations can apply in today’s society which promise to develop stronger exhibition markets for organizers, exhibitors and visitors tomorrow. While these are challenging times for our face-to-face industry, they are exciting ones too as we develop creative ideas and solutions for the future.”

Friday, November 08, 2013

Restructured Alipay to receive financing

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, has announced the latest restructuring of its payments division, Alipay. Alipay is currently a subsidiary of Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co. Ltd., a company 80%-owned by Alibaba’s founder and chairman, Jack Ma.

As part of the restructuring, Zhejiang Alibaba will be absorbed and become the Alibaba Small and Micro Financial Services Group. Alibaba will offer 60% of the shares in Alipay’s new parent company to strategic investors, with the remaining 40% to be owned by around 24,000 Alibaba employees. According to Alibaba, founder Jack Ma will retain a 7% stake in the new entity.

Alibaba’s spokesman John Spelich said, “Today’s announcement underscores that employees of both Alibaba Group Holdings and Alibaba Small and Micro Financial Services Group are being incentivised to work hard to achieve success for the company.”

TTG revenue drops in Q3

News this week: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed China.com reported its quarterly results ended 30^th September 2013. TTG Media, a subsidiary focused on the travel media segment, recorded revenues of US$2.4 million – a decrease of 18% compared to the same period in 2012.

During the quarter, the company cancelled an exhibition in India, due to low participation of domestic Indian exhibitors. In the same quarter, the company also organised a profitable exhibition in Singapore, the Singapore Gifts Show and produced two special publications, TTG Show Daily: PATA Travel Mart, and TTG mice Planner.

Overall revenues in the quarter at China.com were US$4.4 million, down 2.9% compared to the same quarter in 2012. In the period, TTG accounted for about 55% of China.com’s revenues, while other revenues were generated from China.com’s Internet portal business.

Baidu revenue jumps 42%

News this week: Last week, NASDAQ-listed Chinese-language Internet search provider, Baidu, announced its results for the quarter ended 30^th September 2013. Revenues jumped to US$1.5 billion, a growth of 42% compared with the same quarter last year. Net income attributable to the company was US$498 million, a moderate increase of 1.3% over the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share in the quarter were RMB 8.63 (US$1.41).

As of 30^th September, Baidu had about 464,000 active online marketing customers, a year-on-year 42% growth. Revenue per online marketing customer this quarter was US$3,121 – an increase of 19% compared with the third quarter of 2012.

The management forecasts revenues in the fourth quarter to be between US$1.51 billion and US$1.44 billion, an increase of 46% to 50% over the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012 were US$1.02 billion. The company stated the forecast reflects its current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

700 exhibitors at HKTDC’s optical fair

News this week: Earlier this week, the 21^st edition of the Hong Kong Optical Fair opened its doors to a new show-record of 700 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

Co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association (HKOMA), the three-day show ran from 6^th to 8^th November 2013. The HKTDC reported first-time exhibitors from Israel, Macau, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Thailand.

A total of eight group pavilions featured this year, including those from the Chinese mainland, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Visionaries of Styles and the HKOMA. HKTDC reported the attendance of 70 buying missions from more than 2,700 companies, which were represented by close to 3,900 buyers from 50 countries and regions.

150+ exhibitors at inaugural Myanmar Water

News this week: The inaugural Myanmar Water, reportedly Myanmar’s first ever international water, wastewater and industrial wastewater treatment and purification show, concluded last month with more than 150 exhibitors and 3,000 trade visitors’ participation.

Organised by UBM Asia, Myanmar Water was held from 24^th to 26^th October 2013 at the Tatmadaw Exhibition Hall. International pavilions at the show included Malaysia and Singapore, while other exhibiting companies originated from Austria, China, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, the U.K., Vietnam, and also Myanmar.

The event was also supported by the Myanmar Industries Association (MIA), Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (UMFCCI) and the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). Highlights of the event included a Business Matchmaking session, Networking Reception, Business Seminar and conference sessions.

ITE Moda forms JV with Hong Kong fashion show

News this week: U.K.-based exhibition organiser ITE Moda, a subsidiary of ITE Group, announced a joint venture (JV) partnership has been formed with Entrepot Asia to collaborate on developing newly launched Hong Kong fashion trade show The Hub.

ITE Moda acquired a 20% stake in The Hub through the new JV. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. ITE Moda will work alongside co-founders Peter Caplowe and Richard Hobbs to develop The Hub’s business in Asia.

The inaugural event took place at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) from 28^th to 30^th August 2013 and featured more than 100 international brands and companies. ITE Moda’s portfolio of fashion events also includes Jacket Required, Bubble London, Scoop, and Moda.

The next edition of The Hub will run from 25^th to 27^th February 2014 at the AWE.

Friday, November 01, 2013

Alibaba unveils U.S.-based investment organisation

News this week: China’s leading e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, announced the establishment of a U.S.-based investment organisation that will focus on supporting innovative platforms, products and ideas in e-commerce and emerging technologies.

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the team will be led by Michael Zeisser as chairman of U.S. Investments for Alibaba Group. Zeisser has previous experience with Liberty Media’s eCommerce Group for strategies in digital media and Internet commerce. So far, three U.S. companies have received growth funding from Alibaba, including Fanatics, ShopRunner and Quixey.

Joe Tsai, executive vice chairman of Alibaba and head of Alibaba’s strategic investments, commented, “Alibaba is run by entrepreneurs, and we believe in supporting entrepreneurs with great vision and a strong sense of mission for their companies.”

1,300 booths at Global Sources’ fashion shows

News this week: Earlier this week, NASDAQ-listed Global Sources opened its fall 2013 fashion shows at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) with 1,300 exhibiting booths. The four co-located shows, China Sourcing Fairs: Fashion Accessories, Garments & Textiles, Underwear & Swimwear and India Sourcing Fair: Garments & Accessories, ran from 27^th to 30^th October 2013.

Global Sources highlighted a notable increase in size at the belts & footwear pavilion and underwear pavilion by 20% and 19% respectively. The company also organised a series of on-site activities for buyers and exhibitors, which included the Trends Forum, Product Showcase, Seminars, Private Sourcing Events, and VIP buyer office suites.

Tommy Wong, president of Global Sources Exhibitions, was quoted, “The global apparel and accessories retail market is in healthy shape and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4% by 2017. Our Fairs give international buyers and quality exhibitors in the industry an ideal platform to meet, trade and benefit from this booming market.”

HKTDC’s lighting fair attracts 2,360 exhibitors

News this week: The Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) opened this week with a new show-record of 2,360 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions. Organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the four-day fair took place from 27^th to 30^th October at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

Highlights of this year’s show included the Hall of Aurora, which showcased more than 470 lighting brands from some 340 exhibitors. Other product zones also included the LED & Green Lighting Zone and Small-Order Zone, which featured some 820 and 140 exhibitors, respectively.

According to the HKTDC, new exhibitors originating from Denmark, Israel, Turkey and the U.A.E. were in attendance this year.

Netsun’s revenue up 20% in Q3

News this week: Another Shenzhen-listed company, Zhejiang Netsun, also announced its financial results for the quarter ended 30^th September 2013. Netsun’s revenues were US$6.7 million, up 20% over the same quarter last year. Profit attributable to company shareholders for the quarter was US$1.4 million, down 4.8% year-on-year as a result of increased operating expenses.

The Hangzhou-based online sourcing platform also released its results for the nine months ended 30^th September. Revenues in the period were US$27 million, a jump of 42% year-on-year. Profit attributable to company shareholders in the nine-month period was US$4.6 million, down by 6.7% from the same period last year. Earnings per share in the first nine months of 2013 were RMB 0.17 (US$0.0278).

Revenue and profit up for Made-in-China.com

News this week: Shenzhen-listed Focus Technology, the operator of Made-in-China.com, has released its results for the quarter ended 30^th September 2013. Revenues were US$22 million, an increase of 21% over the same quarter in 2012. Net income attributable to company shareholders grew 8.0% year-on-year in the quarter, amounting to US$6.0 million.

The Nanjing-based company also reported its results for the nine months ended 30^th September. Revenues in the period were US$63 million, which grew 15% over the same period of 2012. Net income attributable to company shareholders in the nine-month period was US$16 million, rising 6.8% year-on-year. Diluted earnings per share were RMB 0.84 (US$0.14) in the first nine months of the year.

Mega Expo to list on HKEx

News this week: Hong Kong-based exhibition organiser Mega Expo, organiser of the Mega Show Part I and Part II, recently announced the company’s initial public offering (IPO) plans on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx).

The listing offers a total of 60,000,000 initial shares, of which 54,000,000 will be conditionally offered as Placing share, with the remaining 6,000,000 as Public Offer shares. The listing price range was set between HK$1.23 and HK$1.33 per share, valuing Mega Expo at US$9.5 million to US$10.3 million.

Application for Mega Expo’s IPO lasted from 25^th October to 30^th October. Mega Expo is scheduled to be listed on the Main Board of the HKEx on 6^th November with stock code “1360”.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Alibaba puts IPO plans on hold

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, has put its initial public offering (IPO) plans on hold to allow Hong Kong’s stock exchange and its regulators to rethink over its proposal of a dual-class share structure listing. The listing structure would allow its 28 partners to nominate a majority of board members to retain control over the nomination of a majority of board members.

Jonathan Lu, Alibaba’s chief executive, was quoted, “We decided to put down the issue after the last round of discussions. Hong Kong may need some time to understand the creative management structure for a creative company.”

The company earlier confirmed that its partnership structure has been accepted by both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ Stock Exchange for a potential IPO in the U.S., as well as engaging in discussion with the London Stock Exchange (LSE) about a possible listing in the U.K.

Growth at UBM’s Asian livestock shows

News this week: UBM Asia, subsidiary of UBM plc, concluded two Asian livestock shows, LIVESTOCK PHILIPPINES in Manila and LIVESTOCK ASIA in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The second edition of LIVESTOCK PHILIPPINES, held from 7^th to 9^th August 2013 at SMX Convention Center, attracted more than 200 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions. It also recorded a 25% increase in number of visitors compared with the 2011 edition. International pavilions this year included those from mainland China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the U.K. The next edition will return to SMX Convention Center from 24^th to 26^th June 2015.

LIVESTOCK ASIA featured a show record 300-plus exhibitors from 30 countries and regions this edition. Held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) from 24^th to 26^th September 2013, one of the highlights this year was a panel discussion on the challenges of feeding the world’s nine billion people by 2020. Next edition of the biennial LIVESTOCK ASIA will run from 21^st to 23^rd September 2015 at the KLCC.

Additionally, UBM Asia will launch new livestock shows in Vietnam and Myanmar next year. VIETSTOCK 2014 Expo and Forum will be launched from 15^th to 17^th October 2014 at Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; while LIVESTOCK MYANMAR will be held from 23^rd to 25^th January 2014 at Tatmadaw Exhibition Hall in Yangon, Myanmar.

Intertextile Shanghai draws 3,700+ exhibitors

News this week: Messe Frankfurt announced a record-size edition of the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics opened this week with more than 3,700 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions. The show occupied 170,000 m² of exhibition space spread over 15 exhibition halls at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPITEX), and the China Textile Information Centre. The show was held from 21^st to 24^th October 2013.

The overall theme of this year’s show was “Recycle”, which saw the organisers launch a newly added All About Sustainability zone. Overseas pavilions featured this year include those from Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Taiwan, Thailand and Turkey, as well as the Pakistan zone.

Global Sources’ fall series shows themed “Lifestyle”

News this week: NASDAQ-listed, Global Sources, opened its fall 2013 series of consumer goods shows on 19^th October. The four co-located events, China Sourcing Fairs: Baby & Children’s Products, Christmas & Seasonal Products, Gifts & Premiums, and Home Products, were held at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) until 22^nd October.

Under the theme “Lifestyle”, the focuses of the shows were innovation, eco-friendliness and social-compliance. Products were showcased under the three main areas of: decorating, living and giving. The successful theme of “Modern Dining” in the previous edition held in spring prompted Global Sources to launch the “Lifestyle” products showcase, which featured 240 products from in-demand suppliers.

Tommy Wong, president of Global Sources Exhibitions, said, “Whether the economy is up or down, consumers always strive for a better quality of life and our Fairs are renowned for offering buyers quality and innovative products at competitive price points. This is a huge market with the global housewares and specialties market alone forecast to grow by an 8.4% annual rate till 2017 with total revenues exceeding US$76 billion.”

Comexposium partners to launch SIAL ASEAN

News this week: French trade show organiser, Comexposium, will partner with the Manila Foods and Beverages Expo (MAFBEX) to launch a new food exhibition – SIAL ASEAN.

The three-day show will run from 11^th to 13^th June 2014 at the World Trade Center Metro Manilla (WTCMM). The organisers are expecting to attract 800 exhibitors, half of which are expected to be from overseas, and around 15,000 trade visitors.

Renaud Hamaide, managing director of Comexposium Group, commented, “These developments fit perfectly into the global strategy of the Comexposium group. This is constantly underpinned by both its products and exhibitors in search of opportunities, principally in areas of the world that post significant economic growth.”

UBM’s events revenue up 2.7% in Q3

News this week: Earlier this week, London-based B2B media group, UBM plc, released its interim results for the nine months ended 30^th September 2013. The company posted revenues of £580.5 million (US$940 million) in the period, a slight increased of 0.6% from last year. Adjusted operating profit in the first nine months of 2013 was £117.9 million (US$191 million), a year-on-year 4.3% decrease.

Revenues from its events business in the first nine months of the year were £331.3 million (US$536 million), up 2.7% over 2012. However, adjusted operating profit from events dropped 9.7% to £92.8 million (US$150 million) in the period. According to UBM, five of its top 20 events were held in the quarter, where the company reported strong double digit growth of its Children-Baby-Maternity-Expo. Forward booking for UBM’s 2012 top 20 annual events are up 8.5% compared to last year.

David Levin, CEO of UBM, commented, “Our performance in Q3 continued the positive momentum we have seen develop through the year. Large events, notably our shows in China, have performed well, and we continue to expect good growth in Q4 boosted by strong biennial revenues. We have seen softer conditions in certain markets, mainly in Brazil and India, and have slightly reduced the number of new launch events originally scheduled for Q4.”

Friday, October 18, 2013

3,600+ exhibitors at UBM’s September jewellery show in Hong Kong

News this week: The 31^st edition of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, organised by UBM Asia, concluded last month with record-breaking numbers - 3,633 exhibitors from 48 countries and regions.

UBM hosted the seven-day show at the two venues in Hong Kong. AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) from 11^th to 15^th September featured the raw materials, equipment and packaging sectors; while the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) displayed the fine jewellery section from 13^th to 17^th September.

Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia, said, “Demand for diamonds and gemstones was robust. The 6.8% growth in visitor numbers from Asia compared to last year’s edition tells us that the region continues to be the engine of growth for the luxury jewellery market. Specifically, the number of buyers from the Chinese mainland was up 11% and India up 11.6%. We also noticed growth in the number of buyers from other Asian markets such as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.”

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