IFAI Expo Asia 2011 roared into Singapore, the lion city, 22-25 March, and provided a new much-needed technical textiles forum for the Asia Pacific region. The combined trade exhibition and educational symposiums held at the glittering new Marina Bay Sands Convention Center, covered the spectrum of the cutting-edge developments occurring in the industry.
Participants were quick to praise the event and call for its continuance. "This was the show that we were missing in Southeast Asia," according to Eike Eberle, SIOEN Coated Fabrics (Shanghai). "It was held at exactly the correct location. If you are holding another show in Singapore next year, we are definitely interested in participating again."Technical Symposiums
Organized concurrently with the exhibition were state-of-the-industry technical symposiums drawing large attendance. Under the leadership of Professor Roshan #
Frank Sinclair, President and CEO, Sinclair Equipment Co., said, "The show has been wonderful for us. Excellent location. We're very happy and we would do it again in a heartbeat."
Ni Guangping, General Manager, Zhejiang Xingyida Reinforced Material Co., Ltd., was glad his company had participated. "We had to borrow extra chairs for all the visitors in our booth. We met several potential clients here who are now going to visit our factory."
The event, organized by the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), attracted more than 1,400 registered participants from 39 countries. Large buyer delegations came from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Australia and Japan, as well as a surprising number of visitors from North America, Africa, Middle East and Europe. The visitor survey overwhelmingly showed that participants were looking for match-making opportunities.
"We are very pleased with the results," said IFAI President Stephen M. Warner. "The mission of our organization is to provide the marketplace for the industry to gather and exchange information. IFAI Expo Asia 2011 exceeded our expectations."
Notable dignitaries attending included Sujit Gulati, Joint Secretary of India's Ministry of Textiles; Rory Holmes, president of INDA, the nonwovens association in North America; and Pierre Wiertz, General Manager of EDANA, the nonwovens association located in Europe.
Exhibition
The exhibition opened with a spirited ceremonial ribbon-cutting officiated by IFAI Chairman of the Board Peter McKernan, Edward Chew of the Singapore Tourism Board, and IFAI President Warner. The festival atmosphere continued with dancers in traditional lion costumes--accompanied by a drum and cymbal corps--leading delighted delegates and media onto the show floor.
Exhibitors came from 18 countries and included the largest U.S. contingent ever to participant in a technical textile show in the Asia Pacific region. IFAI Expo Asia 2011 was supported by the Singapore Tourism Board and the U.S. Department of Commerce, and was awarded the prestigious U.S. Trade Fair certification designation.
IFAI President Warner acknowledged their contribution. "The work done by U.S. Commercial Service offices and Singapore Tourism Board in bringing buyers to the show was outstanding."
U.S. exhibitor Jeff Sponseller, Executive Vice President-Sales, Miller Weldmaster Corp., agreed: "This show has taken a lot of our leads and quotes to that next level. I was impressed with the diversity of the audience we've seen here from all over Asia. Also with the number and quality of the people who came to our booth. These were qualified buyers. It exceeded my expectations."
In addition to his IFAI leadership role, Peter McKernan was an exhibitor. His company, Herculite Products, Inc., is a producer of high-performance laminated and coated fabrics. He summed up the new show saying, "I thought IFAI Expo Asia 2011 was the best first-time show we've ever participated in. Attendance was good, the quality of the symposiums was extraordinary, and there was a buzz about this that was unexpected. I've been to other international shows, but this one really blew me away."
A personal message came from U.S. President Barack Obama to exhibitors and visitors supporting IFAI Expo Asia 2011, emphasizing the importance of cooperation within the international business community. In a letter published in the show directory, he said that by opening new markets and promoting trade, new sales channels are being created for the exhibitors' products and services.
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