Bangkok Airport may miss 2005 opening deadline

By Mark Bode BANGKOk Bangkok's long-delayed new international airport is in danger of not meeting its scheduled launch date. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is threatening to ban contractors from future Government contracts if they fail to meet the September 2005 opening date. Italian-Thai Development and it partners, Japan's Takenaka and Obayashi corporation, are now under more pressure to make sure the US$3.7 billion Suvarnabhumi airport opens on time. Located 25km east of Bangkok at Nong Ngu Hao, the airport has been promoted as Southeast Asia's largest. The Thai Government has repeatedly expressed a desire to turn Thailand into the region's number one aviation hub on the back of the development of Suvarnabhumi. In the first phase, Suvarnabhumi is expected to be capable of handling up to 45 million passengers a year. The current Don Muang international airport can only handle 30 million passengers a year. EXHIBITION IECM gains credibility from trade By Patricia Wee SINGAPORE Inaugural travel trade exhibition (IECM2004@Singapore)is readying for its September 22 to 24 run at Singapore Expo. The show is distinguishing itself from Bangkok's IT&CMA 2004, now in its 12th year, with a focus on greater involvement from government agencies and convention and exhibition associations. Lloyd Tan, IECM publicity committee vice- chair said: "IECM2004@Singapore is an integrated event. Its uniqueness lies in the profile of the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS), the association for convention, exhibition and its service providers." An expo select (ES) pavilion houses government agency booths. The AIF pavilion features an exhibition that has won Approved International Fair status and offers corporate buyers an insight into a 'pick-of-the-best'of exhibitions.