Exhibition World Issue 1 | Page 25

Singapore

Support available in Singapore for events in growth industries

ingapore is expecting

S a full MICE recovery by 2024 , in line with the Singapore Tourism Board ( STB )’ s forecast of the country ’ s tourism sector recovering to pre-pandemic levels .

This projection is based on a robust events pipeline secured this year and beyond , as well as strong business confidence from organisers and delegates to hold events and meet here , says STB . Singapore ’ s mutual 30-day visa exemption arrangement with China , along with positive air passengers numbers reported by the International Air Transport Association also serves as a promising signal for the recovery of the industry .
Upcoming major events in 2024 include the following exhibitions and trade fairs :
• Singapore Airshow ( 20 – 25 February 2024 )
• CeMAT Southeast Asia ( inaugural , 15 – 17 May 2024 )
• NRF 2024 : Retail ’ s Big Show
Asia Pacific ( inaugural , 11 – 13 June 2024 )
• Seafood Expo Asia ( 4-6 Sep 2024 )
• Medical Fair Asia ( 11-13 September 2024 )
• Worldchefs Congress and Expo ( 20 – 25 October 2024 ).
The STB says it can offer a suite of benefits and incentives to help event organisers defray the cost of holding an event in Singapore , such as the Business Events in Singapore ( BEiS ) scheme and the Singapore MICE Advantage Programme . These schemes can help build a strong foundation for quality events to be anchored in Singapore for the longer term . More information on the public schemes for the industry can be found at the www . visitsingapore . com website .
The national CVB says it is also committed to growing Singapore ’ s calendar of leisure experiences , which provide a vibrant backdrop for MICE visitors to experience Singapore alongside their business engagements . alaysia ’ s national

M convention and exhibition bureau , myCEB shares some of the new strategy initiatives it is driving this year to further develop and grow exhibition industry in the country .

In general the key focus , the bureau reports , it to help key economic sectors and industries with their development in the country and increase the number of Business Events in Malaysia . The task set is to grow the domestic and local trade show market , while also increasing efforts to bring more international shows to Malaysia . One success is the recent announcement that the Automechanika Kuala Lumpur show is to become annual from 2024 . Organiser Messe Frankfurt confirmed the news and said its 2024 edition will be held 1-3 August at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre .
The once-biennial event has been a gateway for trade between Malaysia and the rest of the world for over 20 years . Fiona Chiew , general manager of Messe Frankfurt ( HK ) Ltd , said : “ The decision for Automechanika Kuala Lumpur to become an annual event was based on feedback from government bodies , industry associations , exhibitors and visitors .
“ Malaysia ’ s New Industrial Master Plan 2030 was a reoccurring theme in our extensive discussions , where the EV sector is set to play a critical role over the medium to long term .”
The strategic direction reflects the growing global focus on sustainability , technological innovation , and solutions for mobility and logistics across the automotive industry . Examples include Proton ’ s recent Memorandum of Agreement ( MoA ) with Smart Automobile to explore the possibility of locally assembling Smart vehicles . MyCEB says it is also to undertake a feasibility study on potential new trade shows for Malaysia .
Asia , Europe and the Middle East are MyCEB ’ s main focus in
26 Issue 1 2024 www . exhibitionworld . co . uk