Phl firms urged to join Thai trade fairs

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino businesses are being encouraged to participate in Thailand’s international trade exhibitions and shows to take advantage of opportunities to increase trade between the two countries as well as with other nations in the Southeast Asian region.

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau exhibition director Supawan Teerarat said in a press conference of the launch of the Thailand International Exhibition...Business Success for ASEAN market that the Thai government wants to attract more Filipino businesses to take part in their trade exhibitions to promote business opportunities not only between the two countries but also in the ASEAN as Thailand has been taking the lead in terms of holding trade fairs in the region.

“Participation in trade shows organized in Thailand will bring not only networking opportunities with Thai businessmen, but also with regional stakeholders at both government-to-government and business-to-business level.This will open up Filipino businesses to increase their trading value through Thailand’s exhibition platform,” she said.

She said many international trade shows have chosen Thailand as their venue given the country’s strategic location that allows it to easily reach out to countries in the region.

She said it only takes one to three hours to get to other countries in the region from Thailand making it a gateway to mainland ASEAN.

According to the UFI or the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the exhibitions industry of Thailand continues to be the leader in the ASEAN as it gained $132 million through 75 events.

Supawan noted that Thailand currently hosts major shows on sectors that are part of those being promoted in the ASEAN such as food, agriculture, machinery, automotive, textiles, energy, jewelry, infrastructure covering information and communication technology, transportation as well as tourism.