Asia Business Media: January 2014

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Alibaba acquires pharmaceutical data platform

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, has acquired a controlling stake in Citic 21CN for US$171 million (HK$1.3 billion). On completion of the deal, Alibaba will reportedly hold 38.1% of Citic 21CN, and 16.2% will be held by Yunfeng Capital – a private equity group set up by Alibaba’s founder, Jack Ma.

Citic 21CN is a Hong Kong-listed technology company that operates a pharmaceutical data platform in mainland China. According to company’s filing with the stock exchange, Alibaba and Yunfeng will acquire a combined 4.4 billion new shares in the company at HK$0.30 per share. China’s state-owned Citic Group will reportedly retain a 10% stake in Citic 21CN.

An Alibaba e-mailed statement read, “The transaction is the foundation for a strategic partnership aiming at jointly driving development of a pharmaceutical-product information platform.” The platform will use Citic 21CN’s drug data and Alibaba’s e-commerce, cloud computing and “big data” capabilities, it also stated.

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NEPCON JAPAN posts record exhibitor numbers

News this week: Reed Exhibitions Japan’s NEPCON JAPAN – 43^rd Electronics R&D and Manufacturing Technology Expo, concluded earlier this month posting a new show record of 1,767 exhibitors – up 11% over the previous year. The three-day trade show was concurrently held along with Automotive World and Lighting Japan.

Billed as Asia’s largest exhibition for electronic design, R&D and manufacturing, Nepcon Japan, ran from 15^th to 17^th January 2014 at Tokyo Big Sight. Over 60,000 visitors were reportedly on hand to view the latest innovations in the electronics and PCB industry including lighting devices, car electronics, and renewable energy.

The next edition of Nepcon Japan will also held at Tokyo Big Sight from 14^th to 16^th January 2015, and the organiser expects more than 1,900 exhibitors to participate at the show next year.

Allworld delays CommuniCast Myanmar 2014

News this week: Allworld Exhibitions announced the rescheduling of its inaugural edition of telecoms trade show, CommuniCast Myanmar 2014. The three-day trade show was originally scheduled to be held from 5^th to 7^th March 2014. It will now take place from 18^th to 20^th November at the Myanmar Convention Centre in Yangon. The organiser is expecting to attract approximately 80 exhibitors.

Rupert Owen, event director of CommuniCast Myanmar, said, “We are tremendously excited to be offered the opportunity to stage this event at such a critical time in the development of telecommunications across Myanmar. The Government has already shown its commitment with the granting of two mobile licenses and this is sending a strong message to the world that Myanmar is committed to infrastructure development on a truly massive scale. Several other developments are also likely become reality during 2014 and this will fit ideally with an event date later in the year.”

Automechanika Shanghai sets new attendance record

News this week: Last month, the 10^th edition of Automechanika Shanghai successfully concluded at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) filling up all 17 halls and an additional seven outdoor tents to cover a total exhibition space of 210,000 m². The four-day show was held from 10^th to 13^th December 2013 and is co-organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and the China National Automotive Industry International Corporation (CNAICO).

A total of 4,618 exhibitors from 38 countries and region were at the show – up 12% from the previous edition. A total of 17 overseas pavilions were featured at the show, including France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, U.K. and the U.S., along with first-time appearances from Australia, Poland and Tunisia. The number of visitors also grew by 14% reaching close to 82,000 from 141 countries and regions.

Jason Cao, senior general manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, commented, “Now, after 10 years of rapid development boosted by the buoyant Chinese economy, technology advancement and global demand, we had a record number of top-quality exhibitors and visitors from China and overseas. By participating in a variety of platforms and channels, including the show, conferences and events, industry players gained knowledge about the latest products, technologies, services and ideas.”

First livestock show concluded in Myanmar

News this week: Myanmar’s first official show serving the feed, livestock and meat industry, Livestock Myanmar 2014 Expo, ran from 23^rd to 25^th January at Tatmadaw Exhibition Hall. Co-organised by two UBM Asia subsidiaries, UBM Malaysia and UBM Asia (Thailand), the show featured around 80 exhibitors from 13 countries where 90% were from overseas.

Livestock Myanmar was jointly held with Food Processing & Packaging Myanmar show and is supported by the Myanmar Livestock Federation (MLF). Themes and issues of the show were focused on changes and opportunities in the industry along with future trends including regulations, sustainability, health and productivity.

Mya Han, chairman of MLF, said, “The Myanmar Livestock Federation is delighted to support Livestock Myanmar 2014 Expo, as it provides a great occasion for all industry professionals and players to exchange their invaluable experiences, ideas and innovation. At the same time, the show also helps to encourage more investors into the livestock sector.”

EEAA announces near completion of Glebe Island venue

News this week: According to the Exhibition and Events Association of Australasia (EEAA), the interim 25,000 m² venue, Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island, is now near completion and will be ready for the mid-February start of the 2014 exhibition season as scheduled.

The new facility is located at Sydney Harbour adjacent to the Anzac Bridge. A “commissioning” event at the site was recently held by the venue’s operator AEG Ogden. EEAA praised the completion of construction over a tight six-month schedule and highlighted the positive feedback received from its members on the quality of the facilities.

Joyce DiMascio, chief executive of EEAA, said, “The completion of this project in just six months has been a major collaboration between the NSW Government, Infrastructure NSW, Lend Lease, AEG Ogden and our industry. This has been a big team effort and the EEAA would like to thank NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner for backing this project and ensuring that our Members have a place to do business in 2014, 2015 and 2016 while the permanent facilities at Darling Harbour are being built.”

Friday, January 24, 2014

New Kaohsiung exhibition centre opens

News this week: The new exhibition venue in southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (KEC), is set to officially open on 14^th April 2014. KEC was funded by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade and will be operated by the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center Cooperation, a member of Uniplan Group.

There are currently more than 30 conferences and 10 exhibitions scheduled to run at KEC. Its first event, Taiwan International Fastener Show, will coincide with the venue’s opening date. Other events scheduled at KEC include TAITRA’s Taiwan International Boat Show and a variety of conferences and meetings.

KEC will feature close to 18,000 m² of indoor exhibition space across two halls, as well as 7,200 m² of outdoor exhibition space. The Kaohsiung Exhibition Center Cooperation is reportedly investing a further US$8.3 million to upgrade the venue’s facilities, including telecommunication networks, interior furnishings and F&B outlets.

Deutsche Messe to launch CeBIT in India

News this week: International trade show organiser, Deutsche Messe, has announced a new Indian edition of its flagship IT trade show, CeBIT, which will be held later this year. The inaugural CeBIT India will be held from 11^th to 14^th November 2014 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) alongside a supporting conference.

The new trade show will be organised by Hannover Milano Fairs India, a subsidiary of Deutsche Messe. The organiser will also launch Plugged In, a stand-alone B2C event, overlapping with CeBIT India at BIEC. CeBIT was first launched in Hannover in 1970 as part of the Hannover Fair, with geo-clone editions in Istanbul, Sydney, and Porto Alegre in Brazil.

Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Deutsche Messe’s Managing Board member in charge of overseas trade fairs, said, “CeBIT is one of the world’s best-known trade show brands and has enormous potential. We’re taking it to India because we believe the local Indian market, particularly Bangalore, offers significant opportunities for a specialist IT trade show.”

Event numbers up 13% at Singapore Expo in 2013

News this week: Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre and its convention wing, MAX Atria, held more than 800 events in 2013 – an increase of 13% over 2012. Singex, the venue’s management company reported a total of 7.5 million visitors attended these events, up 25% year-on-year. The venue is forecasting a 10% growth in the number of events and total visitors in 2014.

Large-scale exhibitions currently scheduled in 2014 at Singapore Expo include the International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) and Food & Hotel Asia (FHA), which will attract an expected gathering of 18,000 and 64,000, respectively. Additionally, the 52^nd Multiple District 308 Lions Convention 2014, Senior Networks and Information Processing (ISSNIP) 2014, SenseAsia 2014, InterMET Asia 2014 and Interspeech 2014 will be held for the first time at the venue this year.

Aloysius Arlando, CEO of Singex, said, “We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead and are gearing up for a strong event line up in 2014. Our operations, event services and technical support teams are well-equipped to meet the exacting demands and challenges of these mega shows.”

UBM’s inaugural Kolkata jewellery show hosts 160+ exhibitors

News this week: UBM’s subsidiary, UBM India, recently concluded the inaugural edition of its Kolkata Jewellery & Gem Fair (KJGF) in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. The three-day trade show attracted more than 160 exhibitors and approximately 7,000 visitors at the Milan Mela Exhibition Complex in Kolkata.

The new show took place from 11^th to 13^th January 2014 and was held in association with the Calcutta Gem & Jewellers Welfare Association (CGJWA). UBM India’s portfolio of jewellery shows in India also includes events in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gujarat, and New Delhi.

Kranti Nagvekar, group director of UBM India, commented, “We are thrilled on receiving such a response from the industry and look forward to conduct several such events in future. The gem and jewellery industry should tap Kolkata since many are unaware of the potentiality of the artisans here.”

Pico’s 2013 revenue and profit drops

News this week: Earlier this week, Hong Kong-listed, Pico Far East Holdings announced its results for the year ended 31^st October 2013. Revenues dropped by 14% year-on-year, down to US$428 million. Profit attributable to owners of the company also recorded a decline of 11% to US$27 million. Diluted earnings per share for the year were HK$0.1729 (US$0.022).

The exhibition & event marketing services generated 74% of the company’s revenues - US$318 million, a 9.4% decrease compared with last year. The company’s management noted a tough economic environment affected international trade and the MICE industry. According to Pico, 2013 was also a year lacking in mega events, which strongly affected its exhibition & event marketing business.

Lawrence Chia, chairman of Pico, commented, “The global economic slowdown has had inevitable knock-on effects which have been felt across the entire MICE industry. Also, given that this was a year lacking in mega events, as a result, our largest core business segment – exhibition and event marketing services – experienced a decline. Fortunately, we anticipated this situation well in advance and worked hard to secure new contracts and retain existing clients.”

Diversified Communications acquires Thailand’s Kavin Intertrade

News this week: Diversified Communications has announced the acquisition of Bangkok-based exhibition organiser Kavin Intertrade Co., Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. After the acquisition, Diversified will maintain a team of 20 employees in Thailand.

The acquisition of Kavin will add a total of seven trade and consumer events to Diversified’s portfolio – including the Thai Franchise & SME Expo (FSE), Thailand Franchise & Business Opportunities (TFBO), Thailand Retail, Food & Hospitality Services (TRAFS).

Daniel Hildreth, chairman of Diversified’s Board of Directors, remarked, “It is exciting to kick off the New Year with an acquisition that brings us to a new region and even more impressive when we consider the ten product launches planned for 2014 and the five acquisitions we closed in 2013. This is all part of a long-term growth strategy, now being finessed and driven by Ted Wirth, Diversified’s president and CEO.”

Friday, January 17, 2014

Mega Expo to launch lighting show in Guangzhou

News this week: Hong Kong-based trade show organiser, Mega Expo, is set to launch a new show focusing in lighting and electronics products – the Asian Lighting & Consumer Electronics Exhibition. The inaugural edition will take place at the Poly World Trade Center Expo in Guangzhou from 14^th to 17^th April 2014.

The Asian Lighting & Consumer Electronics Exhibition will take place twice a year, with its second edition scheduled to take place 14^th to 17^th October later this year. Exhibitor products will include lighting products, consumer electronics, electrical home appliances, telecom, and computer products.

Previously named Kenfair International, Mega Expo’s portfolio of international trade shows include Part 1 and Part 2 of the MEGA SHOW in Hong Kong, Asia Expo-Singapore, Asia Apparel Expo-Berlin, and Asia Expo-Las Vegas.

Allworld to launch food & hospitality show in Penang

News this week: Malaysian Exhibition Services Sdn Bhd (MES), an affiliate company of the Allworld Exhibitions Alliance, and the Malaysian Association of Hotels - Penang Chapter (MAH-P), will jointly launch the new Food & Hotel Penang (FHP) later this year at the Straits Quay Centre in Penang, Malaysia.

FHP is a part of the Food & Hotel Malaysia (FHM) series, and will cover food, drinks, hotels, restaurants & foodservice equipment, supplies, services & related technology. The inaugural edition of FHP is scheduled to take place from 5^th to 7^th November 2014. MES expects to attract 250 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions to the three-day trade show.

Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, chairman of MES, said, “For the first time, we are proud and pleased to bring the Food & Hotel series up North, to one of Malaysia’s island gems and the “Pearl of the Orient” – Penang. Given its diverse and dynamic food and gastronomic culture, it is certainly fitting that Penang hosts the first Food & Hotel Penang 2014.”

Inaugural travel trade show opens in Mumbai

News this week: Earlier this week, the inaugural India International Travel & Tourism Exhibition (IITT) recently opened at the MMRDA Exhibition Center in the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. The show runs from 16^th to 18^th January 2014.

IITT is co-organised by Asian Business Exhibition & Conferences and the ITE Group, and will occupy 10,000 m² of exhibition space. The organisers expect more than 500 exhibitors and 10,000 buyers to attend IITT. Exhibitor categories at the event include NTOs, state tourism boards, travel consultants, tour operators, car rental companies, convention centres, cruise liners, golf courses, resorts and hotels, etc.

A two-day conference was also held as part of IITT, with topics including key industry issues, expert perspectives and challenges of the industry were discussed.

UBM’s Levin to step down in March

News this week: UBM plc has announced the early step down of company CEO David Levin on 1^st March 2014. UBM first announced in September 2013 of Levin’s intention to step down as CEO by 31^st July 2014.

Levin’s hastened departure is a result of his appointment as president and CEO of McGraw-Hill Education in New York. Dame Helen Alexander, Chairman of UBM, will assume the role of executive chairman until a new CEO is appointed. She will chair the company’s Executive Committee and work closely with CFO, Robert Gray.

Dame Helen, Chairman of UBM plc, said, “We are making very good progress in the search for David’s successor and will ensure there is an orderly transition. UBM has a strong and experienced senior management team, and it is very much business as usual. I congratulate David on his exciting new role, and thank him warmly for his enormous contribution to UBM in the past and during this transitional period.”

Committee formed to maximise local benefit of HK-Zhuhai-Macao link

News this week: The Hong Kong Government recently announced the establishment of the Lantau Development Advisory Committee. The committee will solicit proposals on the sustainable development of Lantau, which is the first point of entry in Hong Kong of the 55km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge scheduled to open in 2016.

The announcement was welcomed by the Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA), a band of enterprises and local groups in Lantau, which includes the likes of AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), Hong Kong Disneyland, and Global Sources. According to Allen Ha, chairman of LaDA and CEO of AWE, the LaDA has already recommended the Government to develop more hotel and retail facilities on Lantau.

Andrew Kam, vice-chairman of LaDA and managing director of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, added, “…Lantau will become an essential connecting point for journeys to and from Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao. Coupled with the rich resources in tourism and MICE on Lantau, the Government’s newly-unveiled plan will help enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness in the tourism and MICE sectors. In this regard, LaDA will earnestly promote the development of Lantau and hope that the Government will further improve the transportation network and supporting facilities in the region.”

UFI survey: exhibition business reports growth in 2013

News this week: Earlier this week, UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, reported its biannual survey of the 12^th Global Barometer of the Exhibition Industry.

According to the survey, the majority of companies interviewed declared an increase of their turnover since at least 2011. Moreover, over half of the companies declared an increase of more than 10% for 2013 – led by 80% of interviewed companies in the Asia/Pacific region reporting the increase.

Paul Woodward, UFI Managing Director, concluded, “While we shall remain cautious about the development of the global economic situation, the exhibition media continues to demonstrate its strength with growth over the last 4 years. The industry remains remarkably dynamic with a majority of companies positively embracing the challenges of new ranges of activity or geographical development.”

Friday, January 10, 2014

Alibaba partners Weibo to launch new payment service

News this week: Alipay, China’s leading e-payment company and an affiliate of the Alibaba Group, has partnered with Chinese microblogging platform, Sina Weibo, to launch a new payment platform called Weibo Payment. The new payment service is accessible through mobile app and website enabling Weibo users to make online and offline payments.

According to Alipay, there are currently more than 400,000 retailers promoting products via their own Weibo accounts. In April 2013, the Alibaba Group paid US$586 million for an 18% stake in Weibo. The company subsequently launched a service allowing Taobao users, Alibaba’s consumer-focused e-commerce arm, to link their accounts with those of Weibo.

A recent report released by the Payment and Clearing Association of China forecast the country’s mobile payment to surpass US$132.2 billion in 2013, a five-fold increase from 2012. Market research firm, iResearch, also reported in November that Alipay accounted for 78% of the China mobile payment market in Q3 of 2013.

1,800 exhibitors to join HKTDC’s fashion fairs

News this week: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced that some 1,800 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions will take part in this year’s Hong Kong Fashion Week for Fall/Winter and World Boutique trade shows at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The concurrent shows will run from 13^th to 16^th January 2014.

According to the HKTDC, first time exhibitors attending Fashion Week will come from Australia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and the U.S. Debuts at World Boutique will include those from Angola, Korea, Myanmar, Spain, Sweden and Thailand. The HKTDC expects a show record of 300 exhibitors and more than 650 brands from 18 countries and regions to join World Boutique.

Fashion Week, in its 45^th edition, will feature three new product zones: Activewear, Packaging & Design and Wool & Cashmere. Group pavilions this year will include those from mainland China, India, Macau, Taiwan, Thailand and one organised by the Hong Kong Apparel Society.

Inaugural FESPA China attracts 400 exhibitors

News this week: The inaugural edition of screen printing trade show, FESPA China, recently concluded with around 400 printing manufacturers and suppliers at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. The three-day show ran from 18^th to 20^th November 2013 occupying 40,000 m².

FESPA China is managed in partnership with the China Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging Association (CSGIA), FESPA’s associate member in China. The organisers reported the show attracted more than 9,000 visitors from 77 countries and regions, with the largest group of overseas visitors originating from India, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia.

FESPA’s ambassador, Nigel Steffens, was quoted saying, “We’re extremely pleased with the success of FESPA China 2013. We wanted to build on the CSGIA’s event’s 30 year heritage and make it international, appealing to visitors from neighbouring countries, so it’s rewarding to see the breadth of attendance from Asia and further afield.”

Global Transport Forum partners with AES on SmartRailAsia

News this week: London-based Global Transport Forum (GTF) will partner with Asian Exhibition Services (AES) for the upcoming edition of rail and metro technology event, SmartRailAsia 2014.

Organised by GTF, this year’s SmartRailAsia will be held from 26^th to 28^th November 2014 at the Bangkok International Trade Exhibition Centre (BITEC). The three-day event is estimated to cover 5,000 m² of exhibition space and attract more than 100 exhibitors and 2,000 visitors.

SmartRailAsia, part of the SmartRail series with editions in Europe and the U.S., is supported by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, and the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Transport Foundation. This year’s event will also include a conference attended by more than 100 senior speakers covering safety critical signalling and communications systems, floor innovation seminars and technical insights into IT, ticketing systems and rolling stock technology.

MMI appoints new MD in Asia

News this week: Messe München International (MMI) announced the appointment of Ryan Loh as managing director of MMI Asia Pte Ltd. in Singapore and MMI Asia (Hong Kong) Ltd. effective 1^st January 2014. He succeeds Reinhold Unterburger in both positions, who left MMI at the end of 2013.

Loh, a veteran with more than 20 years of managerial experience in the Asian trade fair industry, takes on the new roles in addition to his current position of managing director of MMI (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. – a role which he assumed in September 2012.

Tarsus to acquire underwear show in Shenzhen

News this week: London-listed Tarsus Group plc will acquire a 50% stake in the China (Shenzhen) International Brand Underwear Fair (SIUF) from Mr Zhang Fengwei and associates. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Specialist acquisition broker for the exhibition industry, Mayfield Media Strategies (MMS), acted as broker on behalf of the sellers for this deal.

Launched in 2006, SIUF is an annual event held in Shenzhen. The 2013 edition was held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center (SZCEC) with a net exhibition space of 15,900 m². Tarsus expects the acquisition to complete in the next few months pending Chinese regulatory approvals, upon where Mr Zhang and associates will continue to manage the business.

Douglas Emslie, managing director of Tarsus Group, said, “We are delighted to add SIUF, a market leading exhibition to our portfolio. China is an important market for us and this acquisition fits with our “Quickening the Pace” strategy as well as providing synergies with our Off-Price shows in the US. This acquisition will consolidate our position in this fast growth market.”

Friday, January 03, 2014

KLCC’s Peter Brokenshire retires, Pryor named as replacement

News this week: The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has made two key changes to its managerial team following the announcement of Peter Brokenshire’s retirement - effective at the end of March 2014. Brokenshire led the venue over the 11-year period since its opening.

Alan Pryor has been promoted to general manager, taking over from Peter Brokenshire. Pryor joined KLCC in 2011 as deputy general manager with previous experience at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC). In addition, Simon Lomas will be promoted to fill the role of deputy general manager. Lomas was previously with the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

HKTDC expects 2,600+ exhibitors at next three fairs

News this week: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will open three trade fairs next week at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). More than 2,600 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at the three fairs held from 6^th to 9^th January.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair will feature about 1,960 exhibitors from 39 countries and regions, while the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair will feature a new record of 460 from 29 countries and regions. The concurrent shows will debut new features this year including the Smart-Tech Toys Zone, Baby Food and Healthcare Products Zone, Brand Name Gallery and the World of Strollers and Gear.

The 14^th edition of Hong Kong International Stationery Fair, which is co-organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK), will have about 210 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions with group pavilions from Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. A new DIY Supplies Zone will also be launched this year.

Allworld’s Shanghai F&B show closes with 1,820+ exhibiting companies

News this week: The 17^th edition of FHC China recently concluded in Shanghai featuring a total of 1,820 exhibiting companies from 70 countries and regions. The food and beverage trade show took place from 13^th to 15^th November 2013 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC).

According to the show’s organiser, Allworld Exhibitions, a record 33,839 trade visitors attended the show over three days - 48% of the visitors were from Shanghai and a record 39% were from other parts of China. The remaining 12% travelled from overseas. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) organised the largest international pavilion at FHC China this year with 135 booths.

UBM’s Marintec China attracts 1,700 exhibiting companies

News this week: Jointly organised by UBM Asia and the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers, Marintec China attracted more than 1,700 exhibiting companies occupying six halls of the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). According to UBM, nearly 58,000 visitors from 88 countries and regions attended the show – up 13% compared to the previous edition in 2011.

This year’s Marintec China was held from 3^rd to 6^th December 2013. The theme of the event was “Green Technology, Transformation, Breakthrough”. A maritime forum was held alongside the exhibition to provide a platform for discussion on the topics including shipping and ports, shipbuilding, ocean engineering and marine finance.

Eco Expo Asia features nearly 300 exhibitors

News this week: Green technology trade show, Eco Expo Asia, recently showcased the latest products and solutions of close to 300 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) in Hong Kong. The show ran from 28^th to 31^st October 2013 and it also featured a conference programme attended by nearly 700 delegates.

Eco Expo Asia is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), with co-organising support from the Hong Kong Government’s Environment Bureau. Exhibitor products and solutions ranged from energy-efficient building solutions to large-scale smokeless industrial incinerators.

The organisers reported slightly less than 13,000 trade visitors from 98 countries and regions attended the four-day event – up 12% compared with the 2012 edition. International pavilions featured this year included ones from Canada, Germany, Japan, Macau, Russia, Switzerland and mainland China.

Alibaba to expand cloud computing overseas

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, announced it will extend its cloud-computing services to overseas markets beginning in March this year. The company did not disclose the specific markets it plans to target.

This development comes on the back of U.S.-based Amazon’s recent announcement of the launch of its cloud computing services in China. Alibaba’s cloud-computing division, Aliyun, will set up data centres outside China to serve local enterprises as well as Chinese companies’ overseas operations.

Aliyun’s director, Zhang Jing, was quoted saying, “After five years of development and three years of commercialisation, Aliyun is able to provide sustainable services to customers, backed by its resourceful parent, Alibaba.” In August, ChinaSoft International announced a strategic agreement with Aliyun and the Lishui municipal government for a state-funded cloud project in Zhejiang province.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Friday, January 10, 2014

Friday, January 03, 2014

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