Exhibition World Issue 4 — 2019 | Page 23

Asia Thailand focuses on smart industries as key to exhibition success Incentives whet appetite for food expo in Seoul 846 exhibitors across 1,717 stands, and more than 40,000 local and overseas buyers and visitors. Core themes for the 2019 edition include food tech, food packaging, local ajor Korean food expo, ingredients, health ingredients, farmed he Thailand Convention and Exhibition Coex Food Week, is offering foods, and baked goods. The exhibition will Bureau (TCEB) hosted 22 international incentives for overseas spread across all four of Coex’s exhibition exhibitions certified by UFI in 2018-2019, exhibitors and buyers. halls. The expo also includes concurrent more than any other ASEAN country. During 2019, TCEB also supported and won bids for 17 The show is expected to attract 60,000 buyers from South Korea and abroad when new international exhibitions, more than half of which it runs 20-23 November 2019 in the Coex are focused on Thailand’s 10 S-Curve industries. These centre in Seoul. include smart devices, digital, energy, food and health. Thailand will also be hosting the UFI Global Congress Since its launch in 2006, Coex Food seminars and workshops, and biz- matching meetings. Incentives for buyers attending Coex Food Week in 2019 include three nights of complimentary accommodation, Week has grown to become Korea’s leading interpretation services, participation in from 6-9 November, and has recently launched its new tradeshow for the global food and beverage pre-organised biz-matching sessions, and a ‘360 Degree Exhibition Success’ campaign. industry. In 2018, Coex Food Week attracted buyer’s kit. Ms. Nichapa Yoswee, TCEB’s Senior Vice-President – Business, commented: “New trends are emerging where international organisers are utilising Thailand as a gateway to the ASEAN region. “They are also keen to explore the many business opportunities provided by the Thai government’s ‘Thailand 4.0 - EEC’ (Eastern Economic Corridor) initiative, which is considered ASEAN’s largest in terms of investment values and development potential.” Among the events coming to Thailand are CEBIT ASEAN Thailand from Germany, Infocomm Southeast Asia from Singapore, and ANDTEX from the United States. “New trends are emerging where international organisers are utilising Thailand as a gateway to the ASEAN region.” Ms.. Nichapa Yoswee, TCEB’s Senior Vice-President Suntec Singapore unveils EVA mentors at Suntec Singapore. “This is the EVA-lution of venue services,” said Suntec Singapore CEO Arun untec Singapore Convention Madhok. “Through EVA, our customers & Exhibition Centre (Suntec and visitors can find all the necessary Singapore) is launching its information about our Centre. Event Essential Virtual Assistant organisers, for example, can ask her about (EVA) on 6 August 2019. EVA is a knowledge-based online platform where customers can find all relevant information about Suntec Singapore. Instead of emailing or calling Suntec w w w.exhibitionworld.co.uk has undergone a year of training with her services and products, access forms and permits and get information on processes and procedures.” EVA accepts queries that are typed into a search bar. Eventually, she will upgrade her skills and become a chatbot, as well Singapore’s staff, customers can choose to as acquire artificial intelligence (AI) query EVA anytime and anywhere. EVA capabilities. Issue 4 2019 23