Bangkok Exhibitions reported that 460 companies participated in the largest ever ProPak Asia show, which also drew a record attendance of 18,861 visitors from 47 countries, a 15 per cent increase over the 2003 show.
Development in the region in recent months has been fuelled by Thailand. The strong performance of the country's agricultural exports in 2003, which increased by 23 per cent, has been a major contributor to the pick up in investment, combined with Thailand's 6.5 per cent economic growth in the first quarter of 2004. Government initiatives to improve the competitiveness of locally made produce were highlighted by the visit to the show by the Permanent Secretary at The Prime Minister's Office, Yongyuth Sarasombath.
ProPak Asia covers all aspects of the processing and packaging industries and attracted strong attendance from both Thailand's and the region's seafood, pharmaceutical, healthcare and cosmetics industries.
The organisers said that more than 80 per cent of exhibitors had already rebooked their space for the 2005 show, following this year's show.
Aziz Abdellah, Area Manager of Volpak (Spain), said that he had had "good enquiries from Thailand but also from Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Australia and Mauritius."
ProPak Asia 2004 also incorporated conferences organised by FoSTAT (Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand),The Department of Fisheries, The Industrial Pharmacist Group and UK Trade & Investment.
The next show will be held from 22-25 June 2005 in BITEC Exhibition Centre. The Organisers have also announced the launch of a first ProPak Vietnam show in Ho Chi Minh City, which will be held from 8-10 December 2005, following the success of their first ProPak show in Vietnam in Hanoi in October 2003.