Asia Business Media: April 2014

Friday, April 25, 2014

Alibaba to launch mobile telecom services in China

News this week: The Alibaba Group has announced it will offer telecom services in mainland China including 3G data and voice calls beginning in June 2014. The telecom packages will be sold through Alibaba Group’s consumer-focused e-commerce platforms, Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.com.

The service expansion resulted from HiChina, an Alibaba-owned subsidiary, receiving a mobile virtual network operators’ (MVNO) license from the Chinese government in January this year. HiChina was one of 11 private firms granted licenses from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The MVNO program enables private companies to resell telecom services from China’s three largest telecom providers, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom – all of which Alibaba is working with to launch its service.

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.

Alibaba Group reports strong results in Q4

News this week: China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group, posted strong results in the fourth quarter after announcing the company will prepare its IPO in the U.S. in the near future.

Net profit in the quarter was US$1.4 billion, up from US$642 million from the same quarter in the previous year. Revenues in the period grew 66% compared with the same quarter in 2012, amounting to US$3.1 billion. The company attributed the 11^th November online shopping festival as a key driver of growth, during which Tmall.com and Taobao.com, Alibaba’s consumer-focused e-commerce platforms, reported a combined value of goods traded on their platform of RMB 35 billion (US$5.62 billion) in a single day.

According to media reports, Alibaba’s IPO is expected to be one of the largest since Facebook and is estimated to value the company at more than US$130 billion.

Made-in-China.com revenue and profit rise in 2013

News this week: Earlier this week, Shenzhen-listed Focus Technology, the operator of Made-in-China.com, released its financial results for the year ended 31^st December 2013. Revenues were US$84 million, a year-on-year increase of 14%. Net income attributable to shareholders in the year was also up 11%, reaching US$23 million. Diluted earnings per share were RMB 1.18 (US$0.19) in 2013.

The Nanjing-based company generated the majority of its revenues through its online sourcing platform, Made-in-China.com. About half of those revenues were generated from membership fees, amounting to US$40 million. The company’s “Audited Supplier Services” generated 20% of total revenues, or US$17 million, while their other value-added services generated US$15 million – 18% of total revenues.

As of 31^st December 2013, Made-in-China.com had 13,417 registered members. The majority of them (12,936) were registered on its flagship English-language site compared with only 481 members on its Chinese site.

Reed China signs MoU with CCPIT Chengdu

News this week: Reed Exhibitions Greater China, a subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions, has announced the signing of an MoU with the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Exposition (CCPIT Chengdu) outlining future strategic cooperation.

The MoU will help to promote a range of partnership activities including information sharing, executive and line staff training, enhanced support for Reed Exhibitions’ Chengdu-based trade shows in the electronics manufacturing, medicine and medical equipment, gifts and homeware industries.

Reed’s Chengdu-based trade shows in the targeted industries currently include NEPCON West China, China (Chengdu) Gifts & Houseware Fair, and the co-located API China, SINOPHEX and PHARMPACK.

3,000 exhibitors join Chinaplas in Shanghai

News this week: The 28^th edition of Chinaplas (International Exhibition on Plastics and Rubber Industries) has featured more than 3,000 exhibitors at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Organised by Hong Kong-based Adsale Exhibition, some 120,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the four-day show running from 23^rd to 26^th April.

This year’s Chinaplas featured 3,200 sets of machinery on display as well as a diverse range chemicals and raw materials. The show is segmented into the 11 major theme zones of: extrusion machinery, injection moulding machinery, chemicals & raw materials, auxiliary & testing equipment, die & mould, film technology, plastic packaging & blow moulding machinery, rubber machinery & equipment, Chinese export machinery & materials hall, bioplastics, and semi-finished products.

Adsale reported participation from 400 first-time exhibitors, and hosted 14 group pavilions including those from Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Turkey, the U.K., U.S., mainland China, Taiwan, and first time participation from Korea and Switzerland.

HKTDC’s houseware & textile fairs attract 2,300 exhibitors

News this week: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) concluded its Hong Kong Houseware Fair and Hong Kong International Home Textiles & Furnishings Fair earlier this week, with a total of 2,300 exhibitors and 46,000 buyers attending.

The concurrent events were held from 20^th to 23^rd April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The 29^th Hong Kong Houseware Fair featured about 2,060 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions, with new exhibitors originating from Nepal, Norway, Oman and Poland. Three new zones were highlighted in this edition: Avenue of Inspiration, Creative Arts & Culture Craft, and Baby & Children’s Homeware.

The 5^th edition of Home Textiles & Furnishing Fair attracted more than 220 exhibitors from seven countries and region, including new comers from the Czech Republic and Portugal. A new Design Solutions & Trade Services Zone was added this year alongside other zones including Baby & Bedroom Textiles, Bathroom & Kitchen Textiles, Carpet & Floor Coverings, Upholstery & furnishing, and Window Fashion & Accessories.

ITPO in India fined for anti-competitive practices

News this week: Live Mint & The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) fined the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) US$1.1 million for “abuse of a dominant position.”

ITPO is an Indian government trade promotion agency which among other activities organises exhibitions and owns and operates some key venues in India including Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the Indian Exhibition Industry Association (IEIA) that alleged that in 2006 and 2007, the ITPO arbitrarily imposed “time gap restrictions” on two successive exhibitions “having similar product profiles/ coverage.”

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Interstoff Asia in Hong Kong attracts 221 exhibitors

News this week: Messe Frankfurt’s spring edition of Interstoff Asia Essential, which took place from 19^th to 21^st March 2014, attracted 221 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions – including Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Macau, mainland China, Taiwan and Thailand.

Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), more than 7,000 visitors from 41 countries and regions attended the three-day trade show. According to Messe Frankfurt, visitors from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the U.S., Macau, India, Australia and the U.K. made up the top ten countries and regions.

Wendy Wen, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK), said, “While the visitor number remained stable compared to last year, we are happy with the quality of buyers, so are our exhibitors. The textile and garment industry in Hong Kong has formed a Garment Development Committee, led by the Honourable Felix Chung – a government lawmaker, to figure out a way to further boost the garment retail and wholesale market in the city.”

New space unveiled at Sydney Showground

News this week: Last week, the Sydney Showground launched a new brand campaign to reflect the official opening of its new multi-purpose building, which is now operational for the first time since its completion in early March. The newly opened Halls 6 and 7 will provide an additional 10,000 m² of pillar-less indoor exhibition space bringing the total to 32,000 m² for the venue.

Peter Thorpe, general manager of Sydney Showground, said, “Big is what differentiates us in the market place and we want to ensure that all of our customers, their customers and most importantly, their visitors have a ‘Big Experience’ each and every time they attend an event at Sydney Showground.”

Suntec signs contract extension with IDEM Singapore

News this week: The Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre has announced a contract extension with Koelnmesse to host the next two editions of its dental trade show, IDEM Singapore in 2016 and 2018.

IDEM Singapore was recently held at Suntec from 4^th to 6^th April 2014 attracting 500 exhibitors from 38 countries – a 20% rise over 2012. The dental trade show and conference increased its floor space by 30% this year to cover more than 16,000 m², and featured pavilions from eleven countries. According to Koelnmesse, a total of 7,842 attendees from 61 countries attended the show and conference.

Michael Dreyer, Asia Pacific vice president of Koelnmesse, commented “We will continue to strengthen IDEM Singapore’s position as the preferred platform for companies looking to launch new dental solutions into Asia, by continuing to bring in the key buyers from the region. We hope that IDEM Singapore will grow to become not only a gateway to Asian markets but also a portal to the rest of the world.”

New venue opens in Kaohsiung as Fastener Fair opens

News this week: Earlier this week, the Taiwan International Fastener Show (Fastener Taiwan) was the inaugural event at the official opening of the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (KEC). The Fastener Show attracted 350 exhibitors and was held from 14^th to 15^th April. Organisers estimate 2,000 overseas visitors attended the two-day trade show. The KEC features gross indoor space of 18,000 m² across two halls as well as 7,200 m² of outdoor space.

There were 850 (standard) exhibitor booths, double the number recorded in the previous edition in 2012, featuring fastener services, production, equipment, tools, testing instruments and raw material.

According to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), which organised the show, more than 1,500 international buyers applied through its global branches to participate at the show this year – an increase of 30% compared with the 2012 edition.

UBM’s MIFF attracts nearly 20,000 visitors, 500 exhibitors

News this week: UBM Asia’s Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) recently concluded its 20^th edition and reported attendance of 19,472 visitors from 141 countries and regions – a 6% increase from last year’s 18,397 visitors. The show featured over 500 exhibitors this year from 13 countries and regions.

The five-day show was held from 4^th to 8^th March at two venues - Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) and MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC). According to UBM, 6,171 international buyers were drawn to this year’s show which covered a gross area of 80,000 m². Buyers included a first-time delegation from the Belgium Furniture Manufacturers Association and trade groups from Japan and South Korea.

Datuk Dr Tan Chin Huat, chairman of MIFF, commented, “Within the global furniture trade network, MIFF is commonly known for our type of ‘home-style service and atmosphere meets serious furniture buyers.’ The entire team is pleased that our 20^th anniversary event continued to embody our philosophy of serving our customers and industry well and with style.”

3,300 exhibitors at HKTDC Spring Electronics Fair & ICT Expo

News this week: The Hong Kong Trade and Development Council (HKTDC) attracted more than 3,300 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions to its concurrent events: the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and International ICT Expo both held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

The trade fairs were held from 13^th to 16^th April showcasing a wide range of products and services in the electronics and ICT industries. The Electronics Fair attracted 2,760 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions this year including first-time exhibitors from Brazil, France, Indonesia, Portugal and Thailand. Two new zones were featured this year offering the latest 3D printers and smart devices and accessories.

The ICT Expo featured more than 600 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions. Eight major pavilions from Australia, Russia, China, India, Canada, Taiwan, Korea and New Zealand participated in the show. Two new zones featured at the ICT Expo were Telecom, Network & Data Centre as well as the Mobile & Digital Marketing zone.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Messe Frankfurt partners to organise 2 fairs in Guangzhou

News this week: Messe Frankfurt’s subsidiary, Messe Frankfurt (HK), and the Guangdong Toy Association (GDTA) have signed a Letter of Intent to confirm Messe Frankfurt’s role in organising the Guangzhou International Toy and Hobby Fair and the Guangzhou International Stroller and Baby Product Fair beginning in 2015. Both shows are jointly organised by GDTA and the Guangzhou Litong Exhibition Company.

The Guangzhou International Toy & Hobby Fair and the Guangzhou International Stroller & Baby Product Fair are currently in their 26^th and 5^th editions, respectively. Both shows were held from 8^th to 10^th April 2014 at Guangzhou’s Poly World Trade Center Expo (PWTC).

Mr Li Zhuo Ming, executive vice chairman of GDTA, commented, “Messe Frankfurt has an extensive global network and is a highly-regarded exhibition organisation. I have no doubt that our core competences will benefit both organisations and help us to build a stronger international profile for the Guangzhou International Toy and Hobby Fair. I look forward to working closely with Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd to map out the direction of our potential partnership.”

Food & Hotel Asia in Singapore draws 3,000+ exhibitors

News this week: Earlier this week, the 2014 edition of Food&HotelAsia (FHA) and concurrently held Wine&SpiritsAsia (WSA) opened at the Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre covering a total exhibition space of 102,000 m² – up 10% over the previous edition in 2012.

Organised by Singapore Exhibition Services (SES), a member company of Allworld Exhibitions, the trade shows were held from 8^th to 11^th April and attracted more than 3,000 exhibitors from 65 countries and regions. SES expects around 45,000 trade visitors to attend FHA and WSA.

FHA is made up of six specialty shows, including Bakery&Pastry, FoodAsia, HospitalityStyleAsia, HospitalityTechnology, HotelAsia, and the newly added SpecialtyCoffee&Tea. FHA featured a total of 63 international group pavilions. Organised as a separate event since 2010, WSA featured 168 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions this year.

Record number of exhibitors at HKTDC’s spring lighting fair

News this week: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) closed the sixth edition of the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) earlier this week with a new record of nearly 1,100 exhibitors – up 6% over last year.

The show ran from 6^th to 9^th April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). First-time exhibitors featured this year originated from Australia, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, Italy, Malaysia and New Zealand. Malaysian exhibitors were also featured in a group pavilion. More than 18,000 buyers attended the four-day show, with buyers from the U.S., Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Thailand and Poland posting double-digit growth.

This year’s highlights included the Avenue of Inspiration, a new zone featuring new designers and design start-ups. Other speciality zones at the show included the Hall of Aurora, World of LED & Green Lighting, Commercial Lighting, Decorative Lighting, Display World, Lighting Accessories, Parts & Components, Technical & Outdoor Lighting, and World of Chandeliers.

400 exhibitors join UBM’s inaugural IFEX

News this week: UBM Asia has recently concluded the inaugural edition of its Indonesia International Furniture Expo (IFEX) which hosted 400 exhibiting companies at the Jakarta International Exhibition Center (JIExpo). Running from 11^th to 14^th March, the event showcased various types of furniture, decorations and handicraft items covering all available space at JIExpo.

According to UBM, the three trade days attracted 6,113 buyers from 108 countries and regions, of which 2,021 originated from overseas. The top 10 visiting countries were Australia, China, the U.S., Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Netherlands, France, Germany and the U.K. IFEX also hosted several official buyer delegations including groups from Belgium and Turkey.

Christopher Eve, senior vice president of UBM Asia, commented, “We expect IFEX to increasingly become one of the leading furniture exhibitions in the region as more venue capacity becomes available for expansion of the exhibition… By coordinating the dates of IFEX with those of our Malaysia International Furniture Fair (MIFF), we can offer international furniture buyers with convenient one-trip, two-stop access to two of Asia’s leading sources of furniture – Malaysia and Indonesia.”

Global Sources’ spring sourcing shows to host 6,800 booths

News this week: Global Sources’ spring edition of China Sourcing Fairs will be hosting a total of 6,800 exhibitor booths during the month of April. The first shows will take place from 12^th to 15^th April at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), including four electronics-focused events: Electronics & Components, Security Products, the inaugural edition of Mobile & Wireless, and the Korea Sourcing Fair: Electronics & Components.

The seven remaining shows will run from 27^th to 30^th April at AWE and includes Gifts & Premiums, Home Products, Fashion Accessories, Garments & Textiles, Underwear & Swimwear, India Sourcing Fair: Garments & Accessories and the Korea Sourcing Fair: Gifts & Premiums.

According to Global Sources, this year’s spring electronics series will host a show record of more than 4,200 booths – up 7% from last year’s edition. The electronics series was sold out two months in advance and the new mobile and wireless co-located show will feature more than 1,050 booths.

Northstar acquires Singapore’s WIT

News this week: U.S.-based B2B media firm, Northstar Travel Media, announced its second Asia acquisition in a month with the purchase of Singapore-based Web In Travel (WIT), an online community and events organiser focused on the intersection of travel and technology.

In a deal estimated to be worth less than US$5 million, WIT’s business portfolio will join Northstar Travel Media Singapore, a newly formed subsidiary resulting from Northstar’s purchase of several travel trade magazines from Contineo Media in March (Contineo Media was formerly known as Ten Alps Communications).

Yeoh Siew Hoon, founder and editor of WIT, will become editorial director of Northstar Travel Media Asia, reporting to Bob Sullivan, executive vice president of Northstar Travel Media. The remaining WIT team will continue to operate its business as usual.

Friday, April 04, 2014

TCEB unveils latest exhibition-focused strategies

News this week: Earlier this week, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) unveiled its 2014 marketing strategy for the exhibition industry which includes a three-year industry-focused roadmap. TCEB is targeting a 5% increase in the number of MICE travellers for the international exhibition segment to 181,200, and a 10% growth in revenue to US$473 million in 2014.

TCEB identified three key marketing roles in the strategy. As connector/facilitator, the bureau will focus on establishing connections and providing support for the private sector to enable business opportunities. Secondly, TCEB will act as marketer/partner by developing international marketing campaigns and helping to accommodate business needs, and lastly as creator/initiator by identifying and winning new exhibition business opportunities for Thailand.

Nopparat Maythaveekulchai, TCEB’s president, was quoted saying, “The trend of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions as well as strategic partnerships in the exhibition industry from Europe and the USA is rising, in accordance with rapidly growing demand for business opportunities in ASEAN. TCEB is confident that Thailand will be able to attract eight new exhibitions into the country while upgrading 32 existing exhibitions towards high industry calibre, from a total of 83 – 85 exhibitions in 2014.”

Messe Frankfurt to launch automotive aftermarket show in Chengdu

News this week: The inaugural edition of Chengdu International Trade Fair for Automotive Parts and Aftermarket Services (CAPAS) will be launched at the Chengdu Century City New International Exhibition & Convention Center in south-western China later this year. The show is organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Automotive Sub-Council (CCPIT-Auto).

The three-day trade show will run from 21^st to 23^rd July 2014, covering three main automotive industry sectors: Parts & Components, Repair & Maintenance and Accessories & Tuning. The organisers are expecting to gather 700 exhibitors over 35,000 m² of exhibition space, and attract some 20,000 trade visitors.

Jason Cao, senior general manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK), commented, “Our aim is to make CAPAS the leading trade fair for automotive parts and aftermarket services in Southwest China. We are supported in this endeavour as Messe Frankfurt owns the global brand Automechanika, the world’s largest automobile aftermarket trade fair series held in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa and the company’s extensive global network will attract both exhibitors and visitors to the show.”

Hong Kong Affordable Art Fair closes with record attendance

News this week: The second edition of Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong concluded with record visitor number last month at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Running from 21^st to 23^rd March, Affordable Art Fair in Hong Kong attracted more than 29,000 visitors this year, up from 15,000 in 2013.

Exhibit categories ranged from photography, prints, and sculptures to painting. This year, more than 120 local and international exhibitors attended the three-day show. The Affordable Art Fair is held in various cities around the world, including New York, London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Mexico City, Toronto, Singapore, Hamburg, Maastricht, Milan, Stockholm, and Bristol.

Will Ramsay, the founder of Affordable Art Fair, said, “The second fair in Hong Kong saw unprecedented success in the company’s history, it was a great success both for galleries and their artists, and our local Hong Kong visitors – in fact, this has been our best attended fair ever, overtaking the record of 25,000 visitors set by our flagship fair in Battersea London.”

Visitors jump 60% at first relocated Intertextile Shanghai

News this week: Earlier this month, Messe Frankfurt’s Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition reported a 60% jump in the number of attending visitors over 2013’s edition to more than 40,000. The three-day event was held from 3^rd to 5^th March 2014 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center.

Previously held in Beijing, the relocated show received visitors from 91 countries and regions. According to Messe Frankfurt, overseas visitors were up 105% and domestic visitors saw a 52% increase over last year. Visitors originated from 91 countries and regions, with the top five consisting of Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, India and the U.S.

The show’s organisers also attracted 1,469 exhibiting companies from 23 countries and regions to Shanghai, a 12% increase in terms of international exhibitor participation. The top five overseas exhibitors originated from Italy, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong.

1,700+ exhibitors at 30th anniversary of MM&T and Fashion Access

News this week: APLF Limited, a subsidiary of UBM Asia, organised the 30^th anniversary edition of MM&T and Fashion Access from 31^st March to 2^nd April 2014 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The organiser estimated a total of 1,700 exhibitors and around 30,000 buyers attended the event.

MM&T is an annual event for the global leather industry. Exhibitors at MM&T covered a wide range of industry sectors including semi-finished and finished leather, hides and skins, exotic leather, equipment, chemicals and dyes for tanning and leather trading.

Fashion Access featured a wide range of fashion products including branded fashion collections, fashion accessories, footwear, garments, small leather goods, sustainable products and travelware.

Australia’s Cirrus Media acquires FST Media

News this week: Australia-based B2B media company, Cirrus Media (formerly Reed Business Information Australia), has acquired FST Media for an undisclosed sum. FST Media is a leading producer of technology conferences and specialist publications for the banking and financial services sector in the Asia Pacific region.

Under the terms of agreement, FST Media will retain its brand with the addition of several new key vertical markets to its current portfolio. FST Media’s managing directors, John Todd and Angela Horvat, will remain in their posts and become shareholders of Cirrus Media.

Jeremy Knibbs, CEO of Cirrus Media, said, “Cirrus Media is excited at the prospect to extend FST Media’s expertise in conferencing and specialist publications across our portfolio. Meanwhile, FST Media will further benefit from Cirrus Media’s strength in developing media brands, particularly through deeper digital engagement and content.”

Asia Business Media