Asia Business Media

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.”