THE Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) today entered into a MoU with Singapore’s SACEOS to enhance business opportunities for exhibition organisers and visitors in both countries.
Supawan Teerarat, TCEB’s vice president, strategic and business development, said: “The world’s gaze is now fixed on the opportunities presented by the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). As you know, the AEC will stimulate networks and cross-border trade.
“TCEB believes that the MICE industry can operate as a catalyst to boost all sectors, and that Thailand is uniquely positioned to unlock the potential of the AEC,” Supawan added.
SACEOS president Janet Tan-Collis said: “The AEC will offer a new battleground for foreign organisers. Currently, local organisers are competing among themselves and facing competition from foreign organisers. These foreign organisers are now on an aggressive acquisition trail in ASEAN countries.”
“This partnership between SACEOS and TEA brings about collaboration not only in developing business opportunities but also in knowledge sharing (between Thailand and Singapore),” she added.
Under the MoU, areas of future collaboration include the exchange of information to promote products, services and joint offering for member rates for each other’s events for a maximum period of three calendar years, plus a reciprocal hyperlink on their respective websites.
Supawan added: “This will open the door to new market opportunities to uplift the region’s MICE industry, especially within the exhibition sector. We are confident this partnership will lead to new investment among Thai organisers and SACEOS members, contractors, freight and service providers.”
Thailand welcomed 77 trade fairs in 2013 and generated an estimated revenue of about US$174 million, of which some 3,016 visitors from Singapore accounted for eight per cent of the total international trade visitors.
According to Patrapee Chinachoti, president of TEA, the number of trade fairs in Thailand has grown by at least 10 per cent this year, and this new MoU will “definitely help” to increase this number further.
