EXHIBITIONS
Fastener Fair: Talking Thailand with Michael Wilton
In September 2012 Mack Brooks Exhibitions will add another country to the growing list of Fastener Fair locations as it opens at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, Thailand. Exhibition director MichaelWilton responds to our questions on the thinking behind the new show.
F+FM:What catalysed Mack Brooks to look at Thailand as a Fastener Fair location? MW: Thailand’s economy has seen a constant and substantial
growth for over 20 years, in terms of both GDP and the value of imports and exports. It is geographically located in a fast growth corridor, which is expanding even faster now due to huge investments in infrastructure. A result of this has been significant inward investment in certain manufacturing industries from other Asian countries. So Thailand has become the geography of choice for engineering industries across the ASEAN region. It is the second largest economy in South East Asia, after Indonesia, and the fastest growing economy in the region. Manufacturing in Thailand accounts for almost 35% of GDP.
Particular growth sectors include the automotive, electronics, transport and construction industries. Automotive manufacturers in particular, such as Toyota and Ford and others, have committed to significant automotive production for the region, which has undergone massive expansion over the last ten years. All of these markets in turn require fasteners, and there is therefore a huge demand for cost-effective fastening and fixing
solutions. In the absence of a fair focusing of fastening solutions and trade in this region, the time seems right to bring the Fastener Fair model to this marketplace.
F+FM:What is your assessment of the prospects for the Thai economy 2012-2013? MW: The trend shows that the Thai economy has been growing
year on year for some time and all the economic indicators are showing there is more to come. Last year, Thailand showed a growth in GDP of 7.8%. The Thai people are inventive, industrious and optimistic and
this is reflected in their manufacturing and industry sectors and their growth plans. Infrastructure is receiving considerable investment in an attempt to keep pace with demand. In particular, Thailand is committed to be a top ten automotive producer by 2015 and it is already the largest producer of hard disk drives. Furthermore, a more stable government means a better environment for business, and suggests that the prospects through to 2015 are very bright.
52 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 73 January 2012
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