Asia Business Media

Beijing objects to U.S. labelling Taobao as a “notorious market”

2012-01-27T16:33:00.000+08:00

News this week: Last week, Beijing hit a back at U.S. trade authorities stating that the U.S. “acted irresponsibly” when they cited Taobao, an Alibaba subsidiary, as a “notorious market.”

Shen Danyan, from China’s Ministry of Commerce, stated “Since there is no conclusive evidence, there is no detailed analysis, this is very irresponsible and not objective.”

This statement was a reaction to a list released by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in mid-December. The list highlights markets used to sell pirated and counterfeited goods. The updated list did remove Baidu, the leading Chinese language search engine, but Taobao remains on the USTR list.

After the list was released in December, the Alibaba Group responded by stating that the company continued to be committed to protecting intellectual property rights.

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U.S. finally moves to ease visa restrictions

2012-01-27T16:32:00.000+08:00

News this week: The U.S. government is finally taking steps to simplify the U.S. visa application process. On 19^th January, President Obama signed an executive order with the aim of the reducing paperwork and time required to process visas. The executive order specifically sets out to reduce the waiting time of applicants from China and Brazil. It also eliminates the need for Taiwanese to apply for U.S. visas.

The move will provide a clear benefit to the U.S. economy as it will be easier for millions of tourists and business travellers to enter the U.S. This also has wide ranging benefits for the U.S. exhibition industry which has long-suffered due to the slow, bureaucratic visa system.

Stephanie Selenick, president of International Trade Information, previously noted that visa applicants in Shanghai wait an average of 51 days for a visa interview and more than 120 days in Sao Paulo.

This executive order will solve the problem, but at a minimum it is a step in the right direction with potentially strong benefits for U.S. exhibition organisers looking to attract international visitors and exhibitors.

New convention centre approved in India

2012-01-27T16:29:00.001+08:00

News this week: Plans to build a US$55 million international convention centre have been approved by the Indian state government of Bihar. The state of Bihar is located in the north-east of India and features a population of over 100 million people – making it the 3^rd most populous state in India.

The riverside convention centre will reportedly have a capacity of 5,000 which includes three meeting halls – each with a seating capacity of 50 to 300. Other facilities planned for the project will include a plenary hall, cultural and media centres, VIP lounge, shopping areas and a food court.

Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar, commented in the press, “The government has already given its in-principle approval to the project, which is aimed to provide world-class venue for recreational, cultural and other activities in the city.”

The government did not release a completion date for the project.

KLCC to revamp lighting

2012-01-27T16:28:00.000+08:00

News this week: The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) has announced plans to invest more than US$650,000 to replace the lighting system in all five of its exhibition halls.

This refurbishment will see the lighting of the exhibition area switched to LED bulbs. Management of the venue estimates that the investment will result in a 28% drop in current lighting energy usage and should result in a savings of 800,000 kWh per year – or approximately US$82,000 per year.

KLCC features over 9,700 m² of gross indoor exhibition space across five halls. The venue opened in mid-2005.

in-cosmetics Asia records strong results

2012-01-27T16:26:00.000+08:00

News this week: Last week, Reed Exhibitions released the results of its delayed in-cosmetics Asia show. The exhibition was originally scheduled to be held in November in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was delayed until mid-December due to the severe flooding that hit Thailand last autumn. in-cosmetics Asia attracted nearly 3,900 visitors – including over 1,000 from 53 countries.

266 companies from 29 countries exhibited at the show – a 13% increase over the 2010 edition of the event. in-cosmetics covered 3,329 m² at Bangkok’s International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC). in-cosmetics Asia 2012 is scheduled to be held at BITEC in Bangkok from 6^th to 8^th November 2012.

Yahoo discusses asset sale with Japanese partners

2012-01-27T16:22:00.001+08:00

News this week: The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Yahoo is currently engaged in discussions with its Japanese partners in an attempt to determine the best strategy in a potential asset sale.

Yahoo Japan is reportedly valued at roughly US$6 billion and U.S.-based Yahoo Inc. is considering selling its stake in the Japanese company while trying to avoid incurring a large U.S. tax obligation. Yahoo Inc. owns approximately 35% of Yahoo Japan, while Softbank Corp. owns 42% of the company.

The Wall Street Journal article quoted Akira Kajikawa, Yahoo Japan’s chief financial officer, “Yahoo Inc. is still trying to finalize the mechanism [for selling its stake] and we are cooperating with them.”

MGTO launches new incentive program

2012-01-21T15:11:00.001+08:00

News this week: Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) announced the launch of the “Incentive Travel Stimulation Program” aimed at developing the territory’s business tourism.

The program will run from January to December 2012 and any incentive group with over 50 non-local participants staying in Macau hotels for more than two consecutive nights will be eligible. MGTO will offer maximum support of MOP$300 (US$37) for each non-local participant in the incentive activity in Macau. The program will also provide complimentary tourism information kits and welcome gifts.

The “Incentive Travel Stimulation Program” is an extension to the incentive sector of the “Strategic MICE Market Stimulation Program”, which was launched by MGTO in May 2009.

Messe Frankfurt to launch Secutech India

2012-01-21T15:09:00.000+08:00

News this week: Germany organiser and venue owner, Messe Frankfurt, will launch an Indian edition of Intersec in Mumbai. There are already Intersec editions in UAE and Buenos Aires.

The Indian event will be under the brand of Secutech, another Messe Frankfurt’s security shows brand with editions in Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan. Secutech India 2012 will be held from 1^st to 3^rd March at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, managed by Messe Frankfurt’s subsidiary, EPOC Messe Frankfurt.

Secutech India will include information security, electronic security, home land security and fire & safety. The organiser expects the event to attract 150 exhibitors covering an estimated 10,000 m² of exhibition space and 15,000 visitors.

UFI survey lowered expectations for global exhibition industry

2012-01-21T15:08:00.000+08:00

News this week: UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, announced the results of its biannual “Global Barometer Survey”. Data of the survey was collected from 172 companies from 49 countries which includes UFI members and members of SISO (Society of Independent Show Organizers) in the U.S., AFIDA (Asociacion International de Ferias de America) in Central and South America, and EXSA, the Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa.

While the 8^th survey shows that a majority of respondents in all regions declaring their business were impacted by the economic crisis, but they recorded positive growth in 2011. In terms of gross turnover projections, Europe is the only region to be considered flat, while Asia/Pacific remains solid, Americas and the Middle East/Africa regions remain relatively unaffected.

Looking ahead, however, the outlook is less optimistic. In past surveys, 63% of companies stated that they expected the economic crisis would be over by the end of 2012. Now, close to 50 percent believe it will not end until 2013.

Singex & Fiera Milano launch Rehabtech Asia

2012-01-21T15:06:00.001+08:00

News this week: A new trade show for the assistive technology, integrated care and rehabilitation engineering industry, RehabTech Asia, will be co-organised by Fiera Milano and Singex Exhibition Ventures in Singapore next year. The inaugural show will be held at the Singapore Expo Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27^th February to 1^st March 2013.

The three-day event will be supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau and will feature a trade exhibition that is supported by a conference, hosted buyer programme and business forum.

Ilaria Cicero, head of Fiera Milano’s legal department, said in the press release, “In 2010, the market for assistive devices in the E.U. had an estimated annual value of €30bn (US$38 billion). We anticipate the same trend in Asia, as the spotlight shifts to the needs of people with disabilities and their caregivers. We are confident of the business potential of Southeast Asia and beyond, and that RehabTech Asia will be a strong addition to the well-established ReaTech tradeshow circuit in Europe and South America.”

Fiera Milano also organises ReaTech Brasil, through its subsidiary and in cooperation with ReaTech Italia.

TAITRA and CEA agree to cooperate

2012-01-21T15:05:00.001+08:00

News this week: During this year’s four-day International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and U.S.-based Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which states that the two organisations will cooperate in the area of exhibition advertisements. According to TAITRA, the MoU also includes an agreement to exchange experiences in hosting their respective electronic events, namely, Computex Taipei and CES.

As organisers of two of the largest electronic events worldwide, both TAITRA and CEA hope the partnership will help provide additional media presence at the trade shows and boost exhibitor numbers.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, TAITRA’s executive vice president, Walter Yeh, noted that Computex Taipei has formed similar successful partnerships with German electronic fairs, CeBIT and IFA.

VNU sets-up joint venture in Thailand

2012-01-21T15:01:00.001+08:00

News this week: VNU Exhibitions Europe and TTC Exhibition & Convention Center have agreed to establish a joint venture. The new company, VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific, will be based in Bangkok.

VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific will focus on the development of B2B exhibitions in South East Asia covering the agri-food, water & energy, sustainable building & construction and laboratory equipment industry sectors. The company will look for growth through new event launches, cooperating with third parties and acquisitions in the ASEAN region.

The current partnership between the two companies, VIV Asia, Ildex Vietnam and VIV/Ildex India, will continue, with VNU Exhibitions Asia Pacific taking over the role of TCC. The new company will head by managing director, Gerard Leeuwenburgh and general manager, Ladda Mongkolchavivit.