Asia Business Media: June 2013

Friday, June 28, 2013

Alibaba and Baidu join anti-fraud efforts in China

News this week: A group of China’s largest Internet companies have joined to form an e-commerce protection framework to counter online fraud under the guidance of China’s Ministry of Public Security. The group of 18 companies includes industry giants Alibaba Group, Baidu and Tencent Holdings among others.

According to the China Electric Commerce Association, Chinese online shoppers were defrauded of approximately US$5 billion in the 12-month period up to June 2012. The participating companies are looking to tackle online scams that include fake ads, selling of pirated goods and non-delivery of goods by fraudulent vendors in China.

Media reports quoted recent research data stating that total online sales in China are expected to reach US$356.1 billion in 2016, up from US$169.4 billion recorded in 2012. The Alibaba Group alone reportedly allocates up to 2,000 employees to monitor online security.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

IMPACT to launch cleaning show in 2014 in Bangkok

News this week: A new trade show to serving Thailand’s cleaning industry, PULIRE Asia Pacific, will be launched in 2014. It will take place from 18^th to 20^th September at the IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center. Exhibitors will showcase products and services in cleaning and hygiene equipment, tools, technology, products, waste management, and related solutions.

PULIRE Asia Pacific will be jointly organised by the Italian Cleaning Equipment Manufacturers Association (AFIDAMP) and IMPACT’s exhibition management team. More than 150 exhibiting companies and 3,000 trade participants are expected to attend the inaugural show.

Mr. Loy Joon How, general manager of Impact, stated, “Support for PULIRE Asia Pacific 2014 is very positive. The cleaning industry is certainly looking forward to having a dedicated platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and establishing business opportunities.”

Coex to add battery show to Energy Week Korea

News this week: The Coex Convention and Exhibition Center announced a new trade show, Interbattery 2013, will be added to Energy Week Korea – scheduled to be held from 16^th to 19^th October 2013.

Energy Week Korea also includes three concurrent events, World Smart Grid Expo, Green Korea, and Renewable Energy Korea. Interbattery 2013 will feature raw materials, battery equipment, electric car charges, energy storage systems, research and development, measurement & assessment method. A conference will also be organised during the exhibition.

A spokesperson at Coex, was quoted, “By incorporating Interbattery 2013 into Energy Week Korea, we are ensuring that absolutely all aspects of the energy industry are represented under one roof. Interbattery will offer a truly unbeatable opportunity for those in the battery market to learn, share, and evolve their business in Korea.”

Pico’s profit flat in first half

News this week: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed Pico Far East Holdings announced its interim results for the six months ended 30^th April 2013. Revenues were US$210 million, a decrease of 9.8% compared with the same period in 2012. Profits in the period were US$12 million - flat compared with the previous year. Dilute earnings per share in the six-month period were HK$0.0768 (US$0.0099).

Pico’s exhibition & event marketing services business generated 72% of the company’s revenues, amounting to US$151 million. The second largest business segment was brand signage & visual communication segment, which generated US$39 million or 18% of total revenues. The remaining revenues were generated through the museum, themed-environment, interior & retail segment (US$14 million) and the conference & show management segment (US$6.6 million).

Mr. Lawrence Chia, chairman of Pico, said, “Despite there being no mega-events like Olympics, World Expo or World Cup occurring in 2013, we have been able to deliver a good set of results in the first half of the financial year. Due to our persistence in delivering quality services and creating the best returns to our clients, we have been able to win new and repeat contracts for events.”

Global Sources opens Miami fair with 500+ booths

News this week: NASDAQ-listed Global Sources opened its China Sourcing Fairs in Miami this week. This edition of the event features more than 500 exhibitor booths. The sourcing show took place from 25^th to 27^th June at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The China Sourcing Fairs targets the trading of goods between the China and Latin America markets. The co-located events include Electronics, Gifts & Premiums, Home Products, Fashion Accessories, and Garment & Textile, as well as the Korea Sourcing Fair.

Tommy Wong, President of Global Sources Exhibitions, was quoted, “China’s trade value with Latin America rose by 8% in 2012 to US$255.5 billion… Demand for China-made products is on the rise. The China Sourcing Fairs here in Miami act as a platform for buyers and manufacturers to meet and conduct business. In fact, pre-registrations from buyers in Latin America are up by 15% this year.”

STO withdraws support for Korea MICE Expo

News this week: The Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) and Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) have ended their partnership of the management of the MICE industry trade show, Korea MICE Expo (KME). The latest edition of KME, organised by KTO and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was held from 26^th to 27^th June 2013 at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul.

STO withdrew its sponsorship of the KME citing reduced budgets. KTO also revealed that other cities in South Korea are being considered as potential hosts of future editions of the annual trade event. Last year’s KME featured 327 booths from 196 exhibitors and more than 3,800 participants.

16.3 mil m2 sold at Asian trade fairs in 2012

News this week: According to the ninth edition of the annual UFI-BSG report on “The Trade Fair Industry in Asia” more than 16 million net m² were sold in the region in 2012.

BSG’s research shows that 16.3 million m² of space was sold by exhibition organisers to their clients in Asia in 2012. This represents growth of total net area sold of 2.7% - rising from 15,876,500 m² in 2011 to 16,307,250 m². Of that total, more than 55% was sold in China and 12% in Japan. Among the 1,948 trade fairs included in our database, 874 or 45% were held in those two countries.

Venue capacity continues to increase. By the end of 2013, available venue capacity in Asia will reach 6,617,755 m². The number of venues operating in Asia this year will be 191 across 15 different markets. Of those, more than 100 are in China – which now accounts for 69% of total capacity in the region.

This research was once again undertaken for UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, by Business Strategies Group (BSG). UFI members are entitled to receive a four page executive summary of the research and to purchase the full report at a substantial discount. For more information on this study, please contact UFI in Asia at: asia@ufi.org or follow this link to order online.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Vinexpo launches two new shows in Asia

News this week: The wine and spirits trade show, Vinexpo, will expand its Asian portfolio to Beijing and Tokyo next year by launching two new events.

The Beijing show will be held from 2^nd to 3^rd June, with an expected attendance of 200 exhibitors and more than 3,000 wine and spirit professionals from Beijing and north China. The Japan show will launch on 1^st and 2^nd November, and is expected to attract 400 exhibitors and 3,000 visitors. According to the organiser, the Beijing show is an “extension” of the Vinexpo Asia-Pacific and the Japan show will have a “special emphasis” during the show.

The last edition of the biennial event, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific was held in Hong Kong in 2012, featuring 1,050 exhibitors and 15,785 visitors.

UBM Asia and Restec to launch furniture fair in Moscow

News this week: UBM plc’s subsidiary, UBM Asia, and Russian organiser, Restec, announced the launch of a new international B2B furniture fair in Moscow in 2014. The new event, FIDexpo, will be held from 12^th to 14^th May at the All Russian Exhibition Centre (WC) Pavilion 75.

Restec has served the furniture industry in Russia for more than 20 years. FIDexpo will showcase mid- to high-end furniture with a strong representation from Asian suppliers and manufacturers. The event will be co-located with ZOW Moscow, an annual international exhibition on furniture components and accessories.

In a separate announcement, UBM highlighted its strengthened ties with the Chinese government and exhibition industry during a visit earlier this month. David Levin, CEO of UBM plc met with Chinese government bodies and exhibition industry players. He visited Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai, and met with senior officials from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), Tianjin and Shanghai Municipalities.

New convention centre to open in Auckland

News this week: New Zealand is set to receive a new US$250 million convention centre in 2017. Named the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), the new venue will be designed, built and operated by the Skycity Entertainment Group.

NZICC will be located in Auckland’s central business district consisting of public convention and exhibition space capable of holding 3,500 delegates. Supporting facilitates located within walking distance of the venue include hotels, shopping and restaurant precincts. The government believes the new venue will be able to attract large-scale international conferences.

Kevin Bowler, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand, said, “Holding an event in New Zealand would exceed all visitor expectations. All of this natural beauty, unspoilt by the country’s equally impressive cosmopolitan flavour makes New Zealand the perfect place for business and pure leisure.”

CEIR posted a 1.3% increase in Q1 in U.S. exhibition industry

News this week: The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) has released its results on the performance of the U.S. exhibition industry in the first quarter of 2013. According to CEIR, the overall U.S. exhibition industry grew by 1.3% in the quarter, compared with the same quarter last year. The real GDP in the same period was up by 1.8%.

Three of the four metrics tracked by CEIR (net square feet sold, number of exhibitors and revenues) increased in the first quarter of 2013. The decline of 0.2% recorded in the number of attendees was attributed to the weakness of participation from government employees. The net square feet sold recorded the biggest increase of 2.3%, which was followed by a 2.2% increase in the number of exhibitors, while revenues in the quarter grew by 1.0%.

ProPak Asia expands to over 40,000 m2

News this week: The latest edition of international food, drink and pharma processing and packaging trade show, ProPak Asia, has expanded to all six halls at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) to cover more than 40,000 m²of exhibition space.

ProPak, organised by Bangkok Exhibition Services (BES), is expected to attract more than 38,000 visitors. The show opened to over 1,800 exhibitors from 41 countries and regions, and exhibited 12 international pavilions originating from 10 countries and regions.

Justin Pau, general manager of BES, said, “We estimate over 38,000 visitors from over 60 countries will attend ProPak Asia 2013 over the next 4 days with an approximate trade value of 26,000 million baht (US$850 million) worth of deals to be conducted onsite and significantly more after that.”

COEX unveils new marketing unit

News this week: The Coex Convention and Exhibition Center has announced the launch of its Coex International Events Marketing Unit to handle overseas marketing and promotional efforts. Previously managed by Coex’s Convention and Venue teams, the new department will be responsible for servicing overseas PCOs, planners and associations bringing conventions to the venue.

The Korean venue also announced the redevelopment of its underground mall into an environmentally friendly space comprising of indoor and outdoor space, alongside hundreds of stores, cafes and eateries. Construction began this spring and is expected to re-open in December 2014.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Reed to partner with ShanghaiMart at merged mega gift show

News this week: Reed Huaqun Exhibitions, a joint venture subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions China, has agreed with exhibition venue ShanghaiMart to jointly develop the Shanghai International Gift & Home Trade Fair – a trade show previously produced by ShanghaiMart.

The new show will be renamed the Shanghai International Houseware, Premium, Arts & Crafts Creative Design Exhibition and it will be organised by Reed Huaqun with support from the China Gift Chamber of Commerce (CGCC). The three day show will run from 28^th to 30^th August 2013 at ShanghaiMart.

Nat Wong, president of Reed Exhibitions Greater China, commented, “This event marks the successful combination of the best elements of two big players: Reed Huaqun and ShanghaiMart. We’ve disassembled the competition model to create better business growth and a far bigger and more synergistic event. The merger of gift shows from Reed Huaqun and ShanghaiMart will deliver fantastic win-win results through the synergy of combining both parties’ strongest advantages.”

Pico Thailand’s revenues fall 20% in Q2

News this week: Pico Thailand, the Thai-listed subsidiary of Pico Far East Holdings, announced its results for the quarter ended 30^th April 2013. Revenues in the quarter were US$8.6 million – down 20% compared with the same quarter last year. Pico Thailand’s management attributed the decrease to the completion of major contracts – specifically the “Teacher TV” project. Net income in the quarter was US$406,000 – representing a drop of 61%.

Pico Thailand also reported the results for the six months ended 30^th April. Revenues in period were US$17 million – a decrease of 29% compared with same period in 2012. According to the company, the decrease was primarily due to the revenue generated at the BOI Fair held in the first quarter of last year.

In that six-month period, the company recorded a net profit of US$308,000, compared with a profit of US$2.0 million last year. Earnings per share in the period were Baht 0.042 (US$0.0014).

Adsale’s ShanghaiTex attracts 1,000+ exhibitors, Chinaplas grows 22%

News this week: Organised by Hong Kong-based Adsale, the 16^th edition of International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex) reportedly opened to more than 1,000 exhibitors spread over 100,000 m² of exhibition space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

The show took place from 10^th to 13^th June 2013 and the organiser expected to attract more than 60,000 visitors and 30 associations and enterprise delegations. The theme of this year’s ShanghaiTex was “Leading the Transformation and Upgrading of China Textile Industry.” It also hosted group pavilions from Italy, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Adsale’s plastics and rubber show, Chinaplas, attracted some 114,000 visitors and more than 2,900 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions at the China Import & Export Fair Complex in Guangzhou. Chinaplas alternates between Guangzhou and Shanghai. The show took place from 20^th to 23^rd May 2013 and it occupied 220,000 m² – up 22% over the 2011 Guangzhou edition.

New facilities on track at Sydney Showground

News this week: This week, the Sydney Showground announced significant progress has been made on its planned new exhibition and event facilities. The development will be funded by the Royal Agricultural Society – following a detailed procurement process.

The venue reported that contractual documentation is expected to be finalised in the coming week with expansion work to begin in late August at the closing of mining exhibition, AIMEX. The new facilities are scheduled for completion in February 2014.

Peter Thorpe, Sydney Showground’s general manager, confirmed, “Not only are we pleased with the progress of our expansion project but we have also committed significant financial resources to the upgrade of our existing facilities. I am also excited to announce that in the past weeks, Sydney Showground has secured a number of high profile events including Sydney Home Show, Mind Body & Spirit Festival and Australia’s premier IT conference and exhibition, CeBIT. We are extremely thrilled about these events choosing Sydney Showground as their home for the next three years.”

HKTDC’s jewellery show goes to two venues in 2014

News this week: The recently concluded Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will adopt a “2 Shows 2 Venues” format beginning in March 2014.

The new arrangement will see the show split into the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show to run concurrently at two separate venues. According to the HKTDC, finished jewellery products will be exhibited at the International Jewellery Show in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 5^th to 9^th March, while loose stones and raw materials will feature at the International Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show in the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) from 3^rd to 7^th March.

Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director of HKTDC was quoted saying, “The brand new arrangement of ‘2 Shows 2 Venues’ will allow more exhibitors to participate, in which a greater variety of jewellery exhibits will be on feature. The two shows are perfectly timed and housed to generate a synergistic effect, maximising exhibitors’ exposure and buyers’ sourcing opportunities, and providing a perfect setting for the shows to grow and prosper.”

Friday, June 07, 2013

TCEB’s new President outlines policies

News this week: The Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has officially appointed its new President, Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, on 16^th May 2013. Mr. Nopparat replaces Akapol Sorasuchart, who resigned in March 2012, and will be tasked to implement the bureau’s existing five-year strategy with five key policies.

The key policies aim to enhance public image of TCEB and attract mega-sized events including: 1) Coordinate projects between public and private sector and hold industry-wide brainstorming sessions; 2) Build TCEB’s public image; 3) Encourage pooling of mega projects in Thailand; 4) Strengthen marketing policies; and 5) Develop a MICE Intelligence Centre.

Nopparat was quoted saying, “In enhancing the growth and driving the industry forward rapidly, there are 5 policies I believe are important as they are the foundation for the integration of the whole MICE system… My mission concerns the rise of Thai MICE as the industry that generates major revenue for Thailand just after the tourism industry… TCEB has foreseen that Thai MICE industry will multiply its value to 88,000 million baht (US$2.9 billion) in 2013, while numbers of MICE travellers could reach 940,000.”

Nikkei BP and IDG form business alliance in Japan

News this week: Earlier this week, Tokyo-based media company, Nikkei Business Publications (Nikkei BP) and technology media company, International Data Group (IDG), announced the formation of a business alliance in Japan.

Under the agreement, IDG will license its CIO and Computerworld brands to Nikkei BP. Nikkei BP will have exclusive rights in Japan to use these two brands in its business, as well as launching the CIO and Computerworld websites in Japanese. The partnership will support the marketing activities of Japanese ICT companies in their global expansion, as well as supporting marketing activities of non-Japanese ICT companies in Japan.

Nikkei BP is a cross-media company providing value-added information on management, technology, and life to the business industry. Under the ICT industry, Nikkei BP publishes print and digital media which includes Nikkei Computer. IDG, through its media brands reportedly serves an audience of 280 million technology buyers across 97 countries.

Asian Adult Expo expands into extra hall

News this week: The 2013 edition of the Asia Adult Expo (AEE) will expand into an additional hall at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) this summer due to the increased demand. Organised by Hong Kong-based exhibition organiser, Vertical Expo, the adult products and services show will run from 29^th to 31^st August.

According to Vertical Expo, the original exhibition space has already sold out. The 2012 show attracted 38,300 visitors and 80 exhibiting companies. The upcoming edition will feature adult products and services, as well as supporting events including keynote sessions and seminars hosted by industry marketing experts.

An AEE spokesman was quoted saying, “Over half of the world’s adult products originate from Asia, so naturally it is the sourcing ground for importers around the world. The estimated sales volume of adult products in Asia is estimated to be billions of US dollars every year. It is a promising market for innovative and quality items.”

Computex draws more than 1,700 exhibitors

News this week: The world’s second largest information and communications technology show, Computex Taipei, opened this year to an impressive 1,724 exhibitors occupying 5,042 booths. The show’s organiser, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), is expecting to draw 10% more international visitors this year to reach a total show attendance of over 140,000.

The five-day mega show will run from 4^th to 8^th June this year across four major Taipei exhibition halls: Taipei World Trade Center NANGANG, Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 and 3, and the Taipei International Convention Center.

This year, Computex is segmented into the three major show themes of Cloud Technology and Services, Smart Mobility, and Touch Enabled Applications. TAITRA will reportedly host a scheduled 1,800 one-on-one procurement meetings at the show – an increase from the 1,000 held last year.

Suntec Singapore reopens after renovation

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre has recently reopened with US$147 million worth of new features and service enhancements. The extensive renovations began in June 2012.

Facilities in the upgraded venue include more than 2,100 m² function space, 36 convertible meeting rooms, six halls covering 12,000 m², and a 10,000 m² column-free hall that connects to a multipurpose hall. Free Wi-Fi is now provided throughout the building, and is capable of handling up to 6,000 devices any given time.

The first event after Suntec’s reopening is the Special Olympics Singapore National Games Closing Ceremony. Suntec Singapore’s CEO, Arun Madhok, mentioned at the event, “Our first event could not have gone better. It is very rewarding to see people enjoying themselves the way they are tonight. We have been working very hard over the past year for this moment and it is a great feeling to welcome visitors to our new centre.”

Messe Frankfurt signs agreement with Australian auto association

News this week: Exhibition organiser Messe Frankfurt and the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) have signed an agreement to promote six Automechanika trade fairs of strategic interest to businesses in the Australian automotive aftermarket. The AAAA will also assist Messe Frankfurt to raise the profile of the Automechanika brand and key fairs in the Australian market.

Messe Frankfurt’s Automechanika series of trade shows operates 13 international editions around the world. In particular, the agreement aims to benefit AAAA members who exhibit or visit the Frankfurt, Dubai, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Moscow and New Delhi shows.

Executive director of AAAA, Stuart Charity, said, “This agreement presents AAAA members with significant opportunities to more readily access expanding international markets. The Australian aftermarket now exports about AU$800 million (US$773 million) worth of product a year. This agreement will increase international marketing opportunities and lower costs for innovative Australian aftermarket businesses.”

Asia Business Media