Africa a significant market for Singapore exhibitions firm

21st March 2014 By: Schalk Burger - Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Markets that can provide robust growth for specific indus- tries remain the focus of trade show exhibition company Singapore Exhibition Ventures (Singex) to enable its exhibitors to access lucrative and sustainable business opportunities, says Singex CEO Aloysius Arlando.

Based in Singapore, Singex acquired UK tyre exhibition company ECI in July last year and hosted the TyreExpo Africa 2014, in Sandton, earlier this month.

Singex focuses on organising exhibitions for growth industries and in markets where the growth of various industries is robust and sustainable. Singex conducts significant research on various markets and industries to ensure that exhibitions provide robust and sustainable business opportunities for exhibitors, says Arlando.

Singex provides due diligence research for industries of potential markets to determine whether markets are sustainable and offer good business opportunities, and which industries should be represented at the trade shows and will provide the most value and secure business contracts, he says.

“Our trade shows are focused exclusively on hosting profes- sionals in selected industries that have good growth potential to ensure that exhibitors and attendees have the best opportunities to secure business contracts. “We focus on the quality of interactions – hence, Singex’s strong market research and market intelligence capabilities,” adds Arlando.

Singex is investigating opportunities for a trade show in West Africa, but retains its focus on South-East Asian markets and developing markets.

“Africa is a significant market, but successful business requires a good understanding of the market. “We may test market appetite with a show in West Africa, as the markets hold great promise, but we will carefully investigate and select which growth industries will be represented at such a show to improve the business opportunities for our clients.”

Further, Singex also hosts shows on urban planning and smart cities, machine-to-machine communications, and information and telecommunications technology, besides others, as these industries represent good and sustainable growth opportunities, says Arlando.

“Singex is in the midst of a critical review of markets, industries and internal capabilities, following its acquisition of ECI.

“We regard these trade shows not only as business opportunities but also as platforms for growth. They represent a significant chance for companies to enter new markets and for local industries to gain international exposure,” concludes Arlando.