Reed sees bright prospects in Thailand
UK-based Reed Exhibitions, a global event organiser, is committed to long-term growth in Thailand as the heart of the dynamic and vibrant Asean countries.
"Thailand is a bright spot for exhibition industry with steady growth for us while other key markets like Europe and China see slowdown," Chet Burchette, chief executive officer, said yesterday.
Burchette landed in Bangkok to meet his customers and business partners at his company’s flagship machine tools and metal working technology exhibition METALEX, which is being held until tomorrow at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
This event has been a collaboration with local partners for more than 25 years.
Preecha Sananvatananont, co-founder and a director of Reed Tradex, a member of Reed Exhibitions, said the CEO’s visit signified the strong commitment of the parent company to put more effort into Thailand as the hub of the growing Asean region, particularly after the full implementation of the Asean Economic Community at the end of this year.
The expansion of next year’s edition of METALEX is a good example.
It is considered as Asean’s largest machine tools and metalworking technology exhibition, representing more than 2,700 global brands from 50 countries and attracting more than 70,000 international buyers.
Next year’s show would increase its exhibit areas by 40 per cent to 64,000 square metres from this year’s 46,000sqm by occupying the new extended areas now under construction. It expects to welcome more than 100,000 visitors from Asean countries.
"The event will be renamed as the Grand METALEX 2016. Our good news is that 90 per cent of all exhibit space is already booked," he said.
This implies that key industries such as manufacturing, automobile and electronics in this part of the world are continuing to expand.
"Under our strategy, we want to see new customers from new markets in line with bringing new potential shows to Thailand and the Asean market. This would possibly happen through partnerships or acquisitions," he said.
The company is also interested in Myanmar, but the trade and exhibition industry there needs further development of venues, which are quite small with maximum capacity of 1,200sqm. The suitable scale for Reed Tradex would be about 50,000sqm.
"We also want to make sure that the new government can maintain its stability in running the country. We do believe that in the near future, the Myanmar market will be promising, mainly driven by great efforts from the government," he added.
However, Reed Tradex has been engaging customers and exhibiters in Myanmar from its hub in Bangkok.
