Thailand Political Situation - TCEB Update 8 April 2014 at 18.00 hrs. (GMT+7)

Line-up trade shows in food & agriculture, automotive and machinery industry in Thailand together with new incentive program from TCEB promise for your business success.

Hanoi, Vietnam, March 26, 2014 – Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB conducted a roadshow to Vietnam to promote Thailand as a promising international exhibitions platform for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) TCEB will be a partner of innovative solution for Vietnamese business success on exhibition platform with a highlight on key industries matched well with the demand of Vietnam’s exhibition market. Strong trading relation between two countries and new attractive government incentive programs were underlined.

As part of the roadshow agenda, the business forum ‘Thailand Exhibition…Your Business Success for ASEAN Platform’ was organized in Vietnam’s business center cities; Hanoi on 26 March and Ho Chi Minh City on 27 March. Both sessions significantly put a highlight on growing trading opportunities between Vietnam and Thailand on exhibition platform and particularly the attractive new government support campaigns for Vietnamese exhibition visitors to Thailand.

Mrs. Jaruwan Suwannasat, Exhibitions & Events Director of TCEB said, “Thailand’s strong exhibition platform is ready to help companies capture the full business potential of the fast growing ASEAN region. In 2013, Thailand succeeded in welcoming 191,319 exhibition visitors, a 16.4% growth from a previous year, earning over 480 million USD to the economy. In 2015, we expect to see a potential growth of 30% in exhibition industry in Thailand. The world-class infrastructure and facilities allow us to help exhibition organizers bring out the best of their business presentations, which as a result will deliver profound advantages to the exhibition visitors.”([1])

“TCEB is committed to support, promote and develop the Thai exhibition industry, leveraging not only the country’s strengths but also benefiting ASEAN region as a whole. The agency aims to serve as not only a facilitator who connects and supports private sector in growing their business network, but also a marketer who helps operators promote their business in target markets, develops marketing campaign while providing comprehensive supports. With this roadshow, we look forward to welcoming and supporting particularly our top Vietnam stakeholders fruitfully further.”

H.E. Mr. Panyarak Poolthup, Ambassador of Thailand, stated, “Diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam was established in 1976. The two countries’ bilateral relations have been strengthened year by year particularly since 1995, the year which Vietnam joined ASEAN. Now with an integrated economic platform under strategic partnership, the exhibition industry would definitely further enhance the cooperation between the two countries through advanced exhibition platform and abundance of enthusiastic exhibition stakeholders from both countries. AEC does not only provide more business opportunity, but also open new avenues for both countries to challenge one another and prove how we can grow sustainably together through the development of regional economic community.”

Set a goal to achieve 15 billion USD worth of total bilateral trade in 2020, Thailand and Vietnam’s bilateral trade volume reached 439 million USD in 2013 according to Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce.([2]) Vietnam is the seventh largest importer of Thailand while Thailand stands as the country’s tenth biggest ASEAN investor with more than 300 active projects. Main exports to Vietnam from Thailand are plastics, petroleum products, chemical, automobiles and autographs, machinery and steel while top products imported from Vietnam to Thailand are home appliances, steel products, electronics, motorcycle, machinery and equipment and frozen seafood. In terms of exhibition industry, Vietnam is one of Thailand’s leading exhibition visitor countries. In 2013, it was ranked the second with 3,488 visitors, accounting for 9.3% of the total overseas visitors.

Thailand is rich with high potential exhibition industries, significantly food and agriculture, machinery, auto parts and equipment which are major industries of Vietnamese market. Upcoming in 2014 – 2015 are quality of international trade show in line to help springboard Vietnamese businesses including ProPak Asia 2014, Manufacturing Expo 2014, ISRMAX Asia EXPO 2014, Food and Hotel Thailand 2014, METALEX 2014, VIV Asia 2015, TIPREX 2015, Pack Print International 2015, Wire & Tube Southeast Asia 2015 and Food Ingredients Asia 2015

To fully facilitate Vietnamese exhibition visitors, a number of incentive programs have been developed. The programs include Connect Businesses Campaign, the newly launched group visitor campaign which is highly beneficial for ASEAN countries. The campaign is with an objective to incentivize business-oriented leads to attend and do the business matching at international trade shows in Thailand. The eligible bodies that may apply for this program include trade promoters, chamber of commerce, business trade association, overseas industrial publication, overseas non-profit organization, and MICE travel agent. Earn 100 USD per person when form up a group of at least 10 trade visitors to attend international trade shows organized in Thailand and achieve 30 business matching meetings.  Unfortunately, each of the additional trade visitors will have to achieve 3 business matching meetings.  Business matching meetings is calculated in lump sum amount for the group. A notable number of Vietnamese travel agents have experienced the campaign Connect Businesses in recent years. Leading travel agents who have thorough understanding and recommended capability regarding this government support campaign are Thien Ha Galaxy, Hafacen, Vietravel, Unicenter and Vietvision Tour.

In addition to Thailand’s incentive programs for exhibition stakeholders, Be My Guest is a buyer appreciation program for potential buyer around the globe, and Spice Up Your Business Agenda, an online program designed for business travelers to gain utmost experience in Thailand through special privileges for restaurants and leisure.

TCEB currently operates a website developed particularly for Vietnamese exhibition stakeholders, contributing updated news feed on exhibition industry in Thailand including attractive government promotion campaigns. Interested trade delegates may visit www.tcebvietnam.com.vn for exhibition insights beneficial to their business opportunities.

As reported by the Union des Foires International (UFI), exhibition industry in Asia has consistently increased by 14% in the last five years, dominated by Southeast Asia with its continuous growth since 2012. With many high potential exhibition industries including print and packaging, energy, jewelry, tourism and wellness, and medical and healthcare, Thailand in fact has strong key industries particularly matched well with the priorities of AEC which are transportation, communication and information, energy, education and culture, and tourism. As the region economic integration will be complete in 2015, Thailand without a doubt is more than ready to help drive business advancement of the 600-million-population community to another level.

According to “The Trade Fair Industry of Asia 9th Edition, 2013” reported by UFI, Thailand’s trade fair industry is the 8th largest trade fair market in Asia, the first in Southeast Asia. The country was ranked 1st in ASEAN in net square meters sold and first in average revenue per fair. With a capacity of 432,500 sq.m. of exhibition space, Thailand has achieved to deliver business opportunities for exhibition operators and business owners from across the globe.

Strategically situated in the heart of Southeast Asia, competitively as a gateway to Greater Mekong Sub-region, Thailand plays a vital role in driving business development of the arising region. Significantly from its exhibition industry, Thailand powers the soon-to-be ASEAN Economic Community with continuous growth in infrastructure and international-standard convention centers as well as high quality facilities nationwide. Standing firm with 6 international airports with more than 500 international flights per week to 191 major cities around the world, upcoming high-speed rail network throughout the kingdom and direct access to Kunming – Singapore rail link, cutting-edge technology and telecommunication 3G/4G available nationwide and a stunning number of quality hotel accommodation recognized by global travelers, the country is an important manufacturing base of electronics, automobiles and auto parts as well as packaging and jewelry. Globally recognized as a leading exporter of electronics, machinery and equipment, processed food products, and agriculture significantly rice and rubber, Thailand confidently looks forward to supporting and co-thriving with Vietnamese exhibition partners in an era of ASEAN regional business integration.

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For more information, please contact

Ms. Siriwan Kamonwichian

Senior Manager Marketing & Support

Exhibition & Events Department

Tel (66) 2 694 6000 Ext. 6038, Email: siriwan_k@tceb.co.th

Mr. Techadhorn Vilaiwan

Executive Marketing & Support

Exhibition & Events Department

Tel (66) 2 694 6000 Ext. 6039, email: techadhorn_v@tceb.or.th