Business report regarding THAIFEX2024 in Bangkok

Business report regarding THAIFEX2024 in Bangkok

1.Outline of the exhibition
Name of Exhibition: THAIFEX 2024
Date：from 28th (TUE) in May to 1st (SAT)in June in 2024
Intended B to B business from 28th to 31st in May
Intended B to C 1st in June
Time: from 10:00 to 18:00
Venue: IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center
Organizer：Koelnmesse Co. Ltd

*The number of on-site exhibitors from JAPAN TACOM: 8 companies

In front of IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center

２. General
Most important thing for participation of THAIFEX is to secure means of transportation for round trip. The venue is located approximately 20km at northern part of Bangkok city. There are not means of transportation neither public bus nor subway service, except for using taxis or other vehicles. In other words, it is not too much to say that the venue is an isolated island on land. Patricianly, it is not possible to catch neither taxies nor other vehicles at the end of the exhibition to be back to Bangkok city.
In fact, we had an experience that we could not be back to Bangkok city by 22:00. When THAIFEX was started at before around decade, many people could not have imagined that THAIFEX would become thriving exhibition because of inconvenience of means of transportation. We, therefore, considered and acted
appropriately that means of transportation by bus might be better choice based on traffic congestions on that day.
This participation is the subsidy project by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in order to cultivate sales channel of made in Japan　confectionaries.
The following is to report for the exhibition.

3.Preparation for the exhibition

(1) Poster of every participant
We delivered their posters all together by air shipment.
(2) Sample shipment
Every participant had delivered certain quantity of their new products which
buyers must be interested in their products so that every participant prepared
them for the exhibition.

4.Situation explanation at the exhibition
(1) Preparation of booth setting on 27th in May
It was tough condition for booth setting that air conditioner activated at
15:00 and luggage entry door remained open. We had to fight against very
hot temperature in the exhibition hole as usual. But we could smoothly
complete all preparation for booth setting such as poster display and area
allocation for every participant within three hours.

(2) Completed booth setting

 

 

In order to avoid samples theft, samples were kept under reception desk.
After cleaning up against dust, all of preparation were completed, including layout of furnishings.

TACOM catalog and shopper as well were quite popular so that we allocated the
number of them per day and made distribution during the exhibition.

(3) During the exhibition from 28th in May to 1st in June
(a)Promotion of made in Japan confectionaries to visitors

(b)Business meeting with buyers from each country

 

(c)business meeting with major trading companies

We had business meeting with buyers from trading companies those who made
an appointment with us in advance.

*Booths of each country
We could well understand situation of each country through participating in various exhibitions. South Koea was quite aggressive for cultivation of overseas sales channel that their booths were set in wide space this year. On the other hand, it was impressive that Chinese booths were less aggressive and smaller than ever before.

５ Regarding commercial distribution
Second store of DON DON DONKI located in Market building was closed. Their location was less flow of people so that they could not catch many guests. It means that DON DON DONKI might not be so popular and still immature in Thailand.
However, the number of stores is increasing steadily that the 7th store DON DON DONKI Thaniya Plaza has been opened on 1st and second floor in Silom commercial area. The location is quite good that guests can go to the store from nearest station directly.

6 Issue of concerns for exhibitor
(1) COVID-19 Countermeasures
It is similar to Japan that the number of patients of COVID-19 in Thailand was increasing but quarantine policy against COVID-19 was over. The countermeasure of COVID-19 and normal flu is same category. The ratio of with mask people and without mask people is almost half and half.

(2) Traffic congestion
We had an experience in the past that traffic congestion of morning and evening was quite heavy so that vehicles could not move at all for one to two hours.
So, we made a transportation plan this time very carefully. Even so, traffic congestion was same in comparison with past and became our big obstacle for moving.

7 Observation
THAIFEX has been growing as one of hub exhibitions in East Asia. Buyers from trading companies and others from each country participated in large scale exhibition, THAIFEX. The exhibition was great success that lots of guests came from overseas for participation from morning to evening continuingly during the event. Lots of guest dropped at our booths this year as well. We had business meeting with existing buyers and sales person from trading companies those who made an appointment in advance. Then we had business meeting actively with them.
We believe that mission of the exhibition successfully completed without any big trouble. Every TACOM member achieved their own given mission.