‘Biggest Fair’ to be held at Impact Muang Thong Thani next month

Veraded Jitsakdanont, managing director of Union Pan Exhibition Co, said it planned to stage “Thailand Biggest Fair 2016” from May7 to 15 at Impact Muang Thong Thani.

“In terms of space, this will be the largest consumer fair in Asia with a total space of 47,000 square metres,” he said.

The company expected to attract more than one million visitors during the nine-day fair and generate spending up to Bt800 million. The event will feature 12 different events under one roof. More than 2,000 exhibitors have already agreed to showcase their products and services.

This year highlights including best furniture fair, electronic and power fair, fashion and beauty and spa, wedding, baby and family items, Bangkok best bike, animals, a float market, green tourism, and net idol market.

“We will organise events in mid-year to tap consumer spending coming from the government’s mega-projects. The current Baan Pracha Rath project should not halt spending in the long term,” he added. 

Last week, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau revealed that Thailand remained a strong venue for events and exhibitions especially fundamental businesses such as automotives, energy, food and agriculture products, healthcare and wellness, plus infrastructure. Additionally, supporting the growth of the exhibition sector will help to transform Thailand into a trading nation.

 

Days Inn hotel launched at Patong Beach

Wyndham Hotel Group, which has recognised growing demand from price-conscious travellers to South East Asia, recently launched its first Days Inn branded hotel in Thailand. 

The former Aloha Villa Phuket was rebranded to Days Inn Patong Beach after a facelift. Set in the heart of Phuket’s entertainment district, the economy hotel consists of 36 double rooms, 80 twin rooms and six triple rooms.

Days Inn Patong Beach Phuket, a 122-room hotel, is a franchise agreement with developer Roberts Phuket LLC, and is well poised to offer comfortable and affordable accommodation consistent with the expanding Days Inn brand.

Wyndham Hotel Group will be placing further emphasis on key emerging markets such as Thailand, in line with the larger global development strategy to increase its footprint across the region. Days Inn is a globally recognised hotel brand with nearly 1,800 economy to upper-mid-scale properties located throughout the globe. 

Barry Robinson, president and managing director of Wyndham Hotel Group South East Asia and Pacific Rim, said: “Phuket is a major beach resort in Thailand and attracts millions of visitors annually. This is a timely opportunity for us to expand our offerings, with the country hitting a ground-breaking record of 29.99 million tourist arrivals in 2015, which is a phenomenal increase of 20 per cent from 2014.

 

BMW Group Thailand opens new parts centre 

BMW Group Thailand has recently opened a new parts distribution centre, with a total area of 14,000 square metres, in Bangkok Free Trade Zone at KM23 on Bang na-Trad Road to enhance its logistical efficiency and elevate its capability to deliver quality services in response to the remarkable rise in BMW, Mini, and BMW Motorrad ownership.

According to Cesar Badilla, After Sales director at BMW Group Thailand, the new parts distribution centre – which operates with support from TLM Logistics Management, Yusen Logistics Thailand and DHL Supply Chain Thailand – is almost three times as large as the previous facility. The complex will enhance logistical efficiency as it is capa?ble of handling over 40,000 different part models and has an expanded parts shipment capacity of 2,000 lines per day.

 

Wholesale fair with cheap goods 

To help relieve cost of living for consumers, the Business Development Department will organise the “Wholesale: Thai Traditional Shop and Society Fair” in 60 provinces to sell cheap products to consumers.

Pongpun Gearaviriyapun, director-general to the department, said the event is expected to generate more than Bt500 million in sales.

More than 345 wholesalers and retailers will join the event, which will be organise from this month to May in each province.

 

Rice exporters to visit Hong Kong this week

In a bid to retain its position as the largest rice supplier in Hong Kong, the Commerce Ministry will conduct a roadshow mission to lead rice exporters to Hong Kong this week – from Tuesday till Thursday – for marketing and business matching.

Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said that she will lead Thai rice exporters to this market as an attempt to promote Thai rice, especially Hom Mali (Jasmine rice), and other specialty rice grains, including Hom Nil rice, and Riceberry, which have higher value-added and higher nutrition.

During this mission, Apiradi will meet with Hong Kong Trade and Economic Development Minister Gregory So Kam-Leung in a bid to expand Thai rice trade, encourage the finalisation of the Asean-Hong Kong Free-trade agreement, plus call for support from the Hong Kong government on Thai SMEs that investing there

 

Asean IPA backs reform of intellectual property protection 

Asean Intellectual Property Association (Asean IPA) has supported Thailand’s roadmap to reform the country’s intellectual property protection – a brainchild project of the Department of Intellectual Property to tackle serious IP infringements more effectively.

At a seminar titled “An Asean Outlook on Intellectual Property: What to Expect in 2016,” hosted by Asean IPA late last week in Bangkok, Asean IPA representatives – from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore – hailed Thailand’s IP roadmap as a progressive step to build confidence among foreign investors and the international community amid the new Asean Economic Community. 

Despite Thailand’s strong and continuing effort to crack down on infringements by promoting awareness and effective enforcement, the country’s intellectual property regimes are still deemed to be of concern, and Thailand remains on the Priority Watch List (PWL) under the United States’ Special 301 Report. Also, during the Thailand Trade Policy Review at WTO last November, several countries asked questions and raised concerns on IP-related issues in Thailand. 

So, the Association encourages the Thai government to enhance its cooperation with trademark owners and relevant government agencies to eradicate infringements, protect Intellectual property rights, and fully and successfully integrate itself into the AEC business environment.