TCEB continues backing Kingdom as exhibition hub
The "Better the Best" project of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau will continue next year to promote the exhibition industry in the Asean market.
Since 2010, the TCEB has implemented the project to elevate the standards of fairs, enhance technology development and networking, and increase transaction values through trade shows. It is one of the bureau’s commitments to reinforce Thailand’s position as a hub of international trade fairs.
The project is integrated with the "Believe in Thailand" marketing campaign and highlights the five national-agenda industries – the agricultural and food industry, gifts and furniture, renewable energy, industrial machinery, and packaging.
To help drive those key industries, in 2011 the TCEB lent full support to five trade shows through the "Better the Best" project – ProPak Asia, BIG+BIH (Bangkok International Gift and Houseware fairs), Metalex, Renewable Energy, and VIV Asia. These events generated revenue of Bt470 billion.
TCEB president Akapol Sorasuchart said yesterday that it would increase the support for this project and Thailand’s shows in 2012 and contribute even higher income to the country.
Supawan Teerarat, director for exhibitions, said the close cooperation between organisers and the TCEB was one of the factors behind the trade shows achieving their goals, with increases in exhibitors and international visitors, especially from Asean+6 countries.
It is a strategic step to gear up Thailand for the Asean Economic Community and open up business opportunities for exhibitors.
Next year, the TCEB will focus on four trade shows – VIV Asia for agriculture and food, Renewable Energy, Metalex for industrial machinery, and ProPak Asia for packaging.
The bureau believes that Thailand’s strategic location and readiness are attractive to investors, which will strengthen Bangkok’s role as an exhibition city in the region.
The TCEB plans to fortify Thailand’s leading position in the Asean exhibition industry by expanding the scope of the "Better the Best" project to specific target countries in Asean+6, Bimstec and CLMV.
Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Bangladesh, India, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, while CLMV groups Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam. Asean+6 comprises the 10 Asean member states plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.
