Jaruwan Suwannasat, Director of Exhibitions & Events Department, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) said that "In the first quarter of 2015, TCEB's major success in supporting Thai exhibition industry via ART campaign is significantly increase in terms of number of international exhibitors and visitors and revenue with approximately 41.54% and 45.34%, respectively, compared to the same period of last year. In the meantime, the support from the ART campaign has helped raise profile of trade shows in earlier 2015. For instance, 3W Expo in January 2015 managed to host totally 62 education courses with instructors from 6 countries, compared to 30 courses with instructors from 4 countries as previously planned, and thus welcomed more international attendees around 16%. Horti Asia, in March 2015, saw a 30% increase of international participants especially from ASEAN countries and more than expected number of journalists from 10 countries, mostly from ASEAN nations. Looking forward to the second half of 2015, the ART campaign, along with TCEB's other several strategic initiatives, will continue to enhance the crucial role of exhibition industry in promoting both intra ASEAN economic collaboration and its fuller integration to the global economy."
Two key trade shows that reflect Thailand's strength and potential in the automotive industry are heightened in the ART campaign - Assembly and Automation Technology and Automotive Manufacturing, scheduled on 24-27 June 2015, both are integral parts of the Manufacturing Expo 2015, Thailand' s largest manufacturing and supporting industries event.
The Assembly & Automation Technology 2015 is the only show that is dedicated to industrial automation and assembly technologies from the widest range of industry sectors including auto-parts, plastics, electronics, and many more. As for Automotive Manufacturing, participants will discover the most comprehensive range of technologies for auto-parts and industrial-parts manufacturing while having new experiences and gaining new ideas in the event's seminars and on-site activities.
Activities under the support of the ART campaign for the two shows are:
- Referral marketing (Word of Mouth) – comprises AEC roadshow by the organizer, with allowance for air ticket, accommodation and transportation during the show visit; referral invitation by business delegates, with reward for invited attendee and allowance for accommodation; holistic marketing approach including direct marketing to execute activities to support the campaign in order to make sure that the messages will spread to the target group; and networking function, to foster ties between the exhibitors, buyers, business delegates and widen the network of this industry
- Incentive campaign for buyer – comprises overseas guest hosting, by inviting key buyer's principles or their contacts to visit the show; networking function, by hosting networking function with their overseas guests during the show; and regional sales meeting during the show.
According to Suttisak Wilanan, Deputy Managing Director of Reed Tradex Co., Ltd., the organizer of the two events, "With the ART campaign, TCEB plays an active partnership role in supporting comprehensive marketing and promotional activities. The main reasons that make the two shows being chosen are their endeavor to strengthen Thailand as regional hub for automotive and auto parts industries. Currently all carmakers with assembling plants in Thailand are looking into streamlining their supply chain by sourcing auto parts and technologies from local market, resulting in continued growth momentum in the sector for a long term future. Moreover, Thailand's prolific auto part sector attracts potential business partners from neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia."
In promoting the two shows, Reed Tradex focuses on the ASEAN plus six markets as well as road show, direct marketing activities, collaboration with auto-related industry associations and seeking support from relevant authorities in overseas market.
The Manufacturing Expo 2015 is a major platform in enhancing the manufacturing sector and attracting international investment with confirmed attendance from over 5,000 investors from the ASEAN countries, of which 1,000 are from Japan. Japanese exhibitors account for 60% of international exhibitors. The expo is expected to welcome over 76,000 visitors, of which 10% is international visitors, and generate revenue of not less than Baht 5 billion to Thailand.