MYANMAR-THAILAND EXHIBITION INDUSTRY GET A BOOST AT TCEB ROAD SHOW IN YANGON

Yangon/ 20 May 2013 – Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) in collaboration with Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) organized the first official roadshow to promote business opportunities and enhance relationships to establish network in exhibition industry between the 2 countries. The roadshow is also supported by The Royal Thai Embassy, Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), and Myanmar Tourism Federation. Held in Yangon, Myanmar, the roadshow is the platform to illustrate how Thailand’s exhibition industry can help Myanmar businessmen to explore and tap into more regional business opportunities as well as the business matching session to discuss and explore business opportunities between Myanmar Associations and Federations with 10 leading local and international trade show organizers who organize high profile tradeshows in Thailand.

Ms. Supawan Teerarat, TCEB’s Exhibition Director, said, “Located in the world’s fastest growing region, Myanmar and Thailand have been now entering to a more challenging time when collaboration especially in trade relations development, and technology exchanges are the crucial forces for the sustainable business growth. TCEB Exhibition have committed to take a role in facilitating and connecting businesses of Myanmar and Thailand to the new opportunities available through exhibition and trade shows to be held in Thailand. As such, the participation in trade shows organized in Thailand will bring not only the networking opportunities with Thai businessmen but also with regional stakeholders at both government-to-government and business-to-business level. This will open up Myanmar businesses to increase their trading value through Thailand’s exhibition platform”.

Thailand’s exhibition industry marks the highest growth in ASEAN in terms of number of exhibition space sold and the top 10 visitors and exhibitors are from ASEAN and Asia countries. The country has been driving the businesses in the region in terms of number of trade fairs identified, estimated annual size, average size per fair and estimated annual revenue. On top of the benefits of being a center of ASEAN and geographically proximity to Myanmar, Myanmar can enjoy the trading and commerce opportunities not only between Thailand-Myanmar but also among ASEAN countries and international counterparts for the sourcing of new technology, knowledge, and trade on Thailand vibrant exhibition platform.

According to the latest statistics compiled by UFI, the exhibitions industry of Thailand continues to lead rivals in ASEAN with total of value of 132 million US dollars gained through 75 events, putting Thailand above competitors in the region. Furthermore, Thailand has maintained the leadership in the exhibitions industry of ASEAN in other aspects, such as the exhibition space net square meters sold totaling up to 462,500 square meters, as well as having eight well-equipped exhibition venues which are well-recognized by UFI.

Trade relations between the two countries have long been established with Thailand as the top three international trade partners of Myanmar. According to the statistics reported by Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade, the trade volume between the two countries in 2012 was approximately 7,287 million US dollars* (211,345.96 million baht), a 9.85 percent higher than 2011. In the first two months of 2013, trade between the two countries already reached 1,326 million US dollars* (38,477.83 million baht) or 64.88 percent compared to the same period in 2011.

“As ASEAN is moving towards a full integration in 2015, a lot more opportunities are waiting for us. We fully hope that this road show would be a good beginning of a brighter future for Thailand and Myanmar bilateral trade and exhibition industry. The collaboration with TCEB will help bridge Myanmar businessmen and members of UMFCCI to explore more regional business opportunities as well as to network and get first-handed information with trade show organizers through the business matching sessions.” said Mr. U Win Aung, President of UMFCCI.

With the underlining of 5 real demand sectors of ASEAN including Transport, ICT, Energy, Education and Culture, and Tourism, these have nurtured Thailand’s competitive advantage on its key highlight industries. Thailand’s 8 key highlight industries comprise of automobile & auto parts, machinery, food and agriculture, tourism, medical, Jewelry, construction & architect, Energy, and ICT. These are the fundamental industries that drive the nation’s economy where International Trade Shows being held in Thailand are the key driver.

“At our Business Forum on 21 May in Yangon, TCEB is accompanied by some of the leading trade show organizers from Thailand which organize many different highlighted international exhibitions including Reed Tradex Company, N.C.C. Exhibition Organizer, VNU Exhibition Asia-Pacific, Bangkok Exhibition Services, Kavin Intertrade, Global Exhibition Services, Messe Dusseldorf, UBM Asia, IMPACT Exhibition Management, and ASEAN Trade Promotion Association. We believe that the Panel Discussion at Business Forum with these top-tier organizers will provide best advantage to Myanmar businessmen, associations, federations who are looking for business expansion through Thailand’s exhibition platform,” added Mrs. Supawan.

Thailand is home to a wide range of international trade shows where some are the flagship trade shows in ASEAN. These trade shows also serve as trading market place and respond to the growing industries of Myanmar including Food & Agricultural, Hospitality & Services, Medical & Healthcare, and Machinery. To name a few, the trade shows include Metalex, Intermach for the machinery industry; Food & Hotel Thailand, ISRMAX Asia, Horti Asia for the food and agriculture industry; Thailand Travel & Dive Expo, Pool & Spa Tech Asia, ASEAN (Bangkok) China Commodity Fair, TFBO & TRAFS for the Hospitality & Services industry; Thailand Lab, Medical Fair Thailand, Elderly Care for the medical & healthcare industry.

“All trade shows under these 4 industries will be a good platform for the Myanmar in 3 key areas: for exploring new business opportunities, for increasing trading value, and for prospective mutual benefit in the future. Moreover, TCEB also has prepared a special group-visitor incentive program called “100 A-HEAD”, for Myanmar trade promoters/associations/federation/chamber of commerce. 100-A-HEAD programme will give a group visitor promoter US$100 for every delegate visiting Thailand when they bring at least qualified 15 people for a minimum stay of 3 days and 2 nights and the “Be My Guest” Buyer’ s appreciation program, which offers complimentary accommodation to key buyers from around the world”, concluded Mrs. Supawan.

Myanmar businesses should look no further when considering extending their reach in ASEAN and the world. Additionally, Thailand has been ranked no.1 in ASEAN in exhibition industry; having excellent exhibition facilities, including international airport which supports more than 500 flights per day, connecting to as many as 190 destinations worldwide plus airport-to-city linkage, good-value-for-money in business and leisure, professional service with Thai hospitality and the ease of doing business.

In 2013, TCEB’s mission to boost MICE industry to grow by 5-10 percent or equal 940,000 MICE travelers which could generate more than US$ 2.93 billion. Thai exhibition industry is expected to attract 172,600 visitors or 18 percent of the total MICE visitors this year and to achieve 30 percent growth by 2015. With a total number of 545,000 visitors and total revenue of US$ 1,550 million. In 2013, Thailand will host 2 mega events including ITU Telecom World 2013 (19-22 November 2013 at IMPACT) and World Stamp Thailand 2013 (2-14 August, 2013 at Royal Paragon Hall).

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For more information, please contact

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization)

Strategic & Market – Exhibition Department

Ms Jaruwan Suwanasart

Senior Manager

Tel: 0-2694-6032

Email: jaruwan_p@tceb.or.th

Ms Siriwan Kamonwichian

Manager

Tel: 0-2694-6038

Email: siriwan_k@tceb.or.th

PR Department

Ms Arisara Thanuplang

Senior PR Manager

Tel: 0-2694-6095

Email: Arisara_t@tceb.or.th

Mr Pishnu Plaikaew

PR Manager

Tel: 0-26946000 # 3014

Email: Pishnu_p@tceb.or.th