Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau or TCEB is taking to the road again, showcasing its global significance in the Indian state of Gujarat. The bureau is staging its latest roadshow in India, one of the world’s fastest growing economies, in an effort to boost international exhibition relations between the two countries and reinforce its latest campaign ‘Extra Exhibition: Expand Business Opportunities in ASEAN’.
The roadshow is the latest in a series of business forums staged by TCEB to introduce the role of the bureau to potential international trading partners. It aims to promote Thailand’s exhibition industry while positioning the country as a premium platform for launching into the ASEAN marketplace in industry sectors supporting Indian businesses that include beauty and cosmetics, healthcare and wellness, as well as electronics, energy and machinery.
This global initiative showcases three attributes of Thailand: Thailand as a destination; as a source of great business opportunities; and as a place to connect with people. This initiative is supported by the bureau’s world-class support and services, aiming at positioning the country’s exhibition platform as a high potential marketplace to connect companies from around the world with firms in the ASEAN region, and as a gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-Region marketplace.
One of India’s most industrialized states, Gujarat is home to a variety of industries. Local business is primarily built around general and electrical engineering, as well as the manufacture of textiles, vegetable oils, chemicals, soda ash and cement.
In terms of population, Gujarat is one of India’s most prosperous states, with a per-capita GDP that significantly exceeds India’s average, and following TCEB’s visit to Gujarat, it is hoped there will be a greater attendance at trade shows organized in Thailand, from this exciting and growing Indian state.
Jaruwan Suwannasat, Director of TCEB’s Exhibitions and Events Department, said Thailand offers great opportunity to potential trading partners in India. She added, “In 2015, exhibitions in Thailand reached new heights, and this year the country expects to welcome 191,000 international exhibition delegates, generating a total of US 570 million. With the Thailand Extra Exhibition and the Exhibition Extra Advantage Programme, we will further assist and facilitate the demands of international exhibition organisers, exhibitors and trade visitors looking to build their business in ASEAN.”
Exhibition Extra Advantage Programme includes Premiere Exhibition Access Programme which is a customised site-inspection tailor made to support trade show organiser interest to organise the show in Thailand, Be My Guest – buyer appreciation programme to attract buyer from around the globe, and Connect Businesses – an exclusive promotion for match-making at exhibitions in Thailand to earn US$100 for each trade visitor.
India is already an active participant in Thailand’s trade shows, contributing 2.92 per cent of total overseas exhibitors (72,169 pax) in 2015, with the majority exhibiting in the Food & Agriculture sector (29.98 per cent), Automotive (20.49 per cent) and Health & Wellness (17.55 per cent).
Visitors from India accounted for 8.48 per cent of total overseas visitors (193,078 pax), visitors who according to a recent TCEB audit, paid greatest interest to the Food & Agriculture sector (39.93 per cent), then Automotive (27.27 per cent) and Health & Wellness (10.84 per cent).
The top Thai exhibitions for the Indian market, in terms of attendance, are currently VIV Asia, PackPrint International and Asia Cold Chain Show, which account for 43 per cent of India’s total visitors in 2015.
