Suntec gets chemistry right

Despite the aftermath of the September 11 events, Asia's leading trade exhibition on chemical and process engineering, controls, automation, testing, measurement, instrumentation, analytical and laboratory technology surprised buyers and sellers with better than expected results. CIA2001 (incorporating ChemAsia, InstrumentAsia and AnaLabAsia) returned to Suntec Singapore from October 30 to November 2 last year. The show was held concurrently with EnvironmexAsia/WatermexAsia2001 (E&W). CIA2001 and E&W took up 8,000sqm and 2,500sqm of gross exhibition space consecutively at Suntec Singapore's level four. Post-exhibition audits from PriceWaterhouseCoopers reveal CIA2001 drew 8,282 visitors while E&W attracted 6,653 visitors The majority of visitors were from Singapore for both shows (around 76%). The rest of the buyers included those from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea. On the exhibitor front, there were 870 participating countries, of which 82% were foreign for CIA2001, while E&W drew 142 participating companies, of which 79% were from overseas. Group pavilions from Germany, South Korea, UK and the US were set up for CIA2001 Singapore Exhibition Services (SES), the organiser of the events, saw a slight drop in visitorship and exhibition size this time around. Citing September 11 as one of the main reasons, executive director (communications and engineering events) Mr Shaun Goh adds: "Like in many industries, a lot of exhibitors are going through acquisitions so therefore, there are not as many companies as there used to be. "Overall, the show was a little smaller by 5%-7% in terms of size. Because of the 911 incident, people were apprehensive and when the turnout was good and business was transacted, many of the exhibitors were pleasantly surprised that it was business as usual. We can say that it exceeded most of their expectations." Chemicals and engineering embrace Singapore's second and third largest clusters of the manufacturing umbrella, so it did not come as a surprise to find the exhibition a major draw for Singaporean buyers. Government initiatives to develop the country as a life sciences, petrochemical and electronics hub were promoted at AnaLabAsia2001. Meanwhile, with environmental experts predicting that by 2020, more than half of Asia's population will live in cities with the urban population trebling to over a billion, this will strain already inadequate infrastructure for water supply, housing and sanitation. Asia will be the largest potential source for environmentally related business in the world. Hence, E&W was also the focal point for academics and industry experts who attended the IWA Asia Environmental Technology 2001 Conference from October 30 to November 2. This event, which drew 143 international delegates, was SES' first collaboration with the International Water Association (IWA). Conference topics featured four keynote presentations, including one by Stanford University professor Mr James Leckie on New and Emerging Processes for Water and Wastewater Treatment. Conference participants visited Singapore's Bedok Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Tuas Incinerator for site inspections and to witness the technology and systems behind these installations. There was also a social programme for participants. Ken-Air Destination Management handled tours to Sentosa Underwater World, Jurong Bird Park, Clarke Quay, a Chinese temple and the island's Civic District to take a peek at its colonial past. Exhibition visitors to E&W were given a free tour of the NEWater Factory. The factory's aim is to recover good quality water from secondary-treated sewage for industrial use. CIA2001 had three workshops but it drew a smaller group of 62 attendees from October 31 to November 1. Topics included an introduction to safety standards, wireless automation, and operational excellence through e-manufacturing. Speakers came from the instrumentation and process control industry. The exhibition included a networking cocktail night after day one at the concourse area of Suntec Singapore's level three. This was attended by exhibitors and IWA conference delegates. Besides a large turnout, people were eager to interact with many still milling around at the close of the session.The next show will be from December 2 to 5, 2003 at the same venue. SES is selling stand packages from US$316 per square metre to S$616 per square metre. "The prospects remain upbeat and we have to seek new business opportunities and people have to be more aggressive in the marketing," Mr Goh adds. "At that time, we expect to see bigger players in this sector, especially those in the water-management technology side which is the fastest growing sector in this industry. In short, we are confident that the show has the potential for a good growth when it returns in 2003."