Worldbex 2002: A haven for exhibitors, visitors

Living up to its theme of linking the world in one global construction network, the 7th World Building and Construction Exposition (Worldbex 2002) gathered 500 exhibitors from 20 different countries worldwide. Participants confirmed that the recent exhibition was a huge success.

"The turn-out of exhibitors and visitors was spectacular and so we can now say that we are definitely the most attended building and construction trade exhibit in Asia," enthused Joseph Ang, founding chair of Worldbex Services International, the event organizer.

Exhibitors could not agree more in saying that Worldbex 2002 was the perfect venue for companies in the building and construction industry to maximize exposure and thus open a bigger market for their products and services.

Mariwasa Manufacturing Inc.'s executive vice president Pairoj Anamwathana said that Worldbex 2002 provided them with very good market leads. "People from the consumer group to architects, engineers, and professional designers are all here."

Anamwathana even attested that in comparison to other exhibitions in the country, Worldbex is the best since it was able to capture a wide market. "Industrial and building suppliers also meet here so it opened good business opportunities to companies," he added.

Not only that, for HCG Bathroom Fixtures, joining Worldbex is a very effective marketing strategy. "Aside from showcasing our products, we also meet a lot of potential distributors. In fact, we have appointed several distributors nationwide already and we've met them through the previous exhibition of Worldbex," said Arlan Matunda, regional manager of South Luzon of HCG.

Vignet Construction president Vig Boyd was in awe of the tremendous response of visitors to their Spectus Windows System from UK (United Kingdom). "Worldbex 2002 is an excellent exhibition of international standard. Our UK office is extremely pleased."

While Michael Goh, managing director of Wan Fu Teh, who travelled all the way from Singapore, said that it was worth the trip going to the Philippines for the Worldbex 2002. "This exposition is organized and well on target." He even promised to be back next year for Worldbex 2003.

Worldbex 2002 also opened opportunities for both big and small companies. Roca, a bathroom and sanitaryware company, is still a neophyte in the industry but is surely getting maximum exposure through this exhibition, as Mary Rose C. Sto. Domingo, retail sales manager of Roca, admits.

"We are still building our brand name. However, in three years that we have been joining Worldbex, we were able to tap retailers, engineers, architects, designers and even consumers. People from all walks of life converge at Worldbex," she said.

While, Boysen, the well-known brand in paint, joins Worldbex because this is the only time their staff get to interact and be more intimate with the consumers. Art Suarez of Boysen said that they do not directly deal with the consuming public since they sell their products through resellers and distributors. "This is the reason why we made our booth eye catching so that people would drop by. We want to give them a feeling of ‘home’ with Boysen."

Worldbex is an annual building and construction exposition which brings to the country global market leaders and industry prime movers in a comprehensive exhibition of building and construction products, services and technology. It aims to boost the building and construction business in the country.