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Published on February 27, 2008

It arranges trade exhibitions that provide opportunities for small local entrepreneurs to meet major manufacturers from within Thailand

and those from other countries that may eventually become business allies.

CMP also focuses on giving local entrepreneurs essential business knowledge that will boost their competitiveness in dealing with international companies.

General manager Somchai Chansate said CMP's activities not only helped develop and strengthen Thai heavy industries, but also sustained the business of organising trade exhibitions.

International companies will think of Thailand as having major heavy industries and keep attending trade exhibitions here, while the Kingdom will have a larger number of strong companies in those industries, he said.

"Asia has new emerging economies, such as Vietnam, which global business is looking closely at. Therefore, Thai entrepreneurs and industry as well as trade-exhibition organisers must be quick about telling the world what Thailand has and showing this country's competitiveness," he said.

Meanwhile, to help local companies gain greater business knowledge, CMP Media is trying to bring experts in specific fields and executives from major multinational companies to showcase their products and technologies and speak at certain trade exhibitions.

Somchai said the global economic downturn was not affecting the trade-exhibition business as a whole, because heavy industries like jewellery and automobiles still enjoyed a bright future.

The value of trade exhibitions in Thailand is about Bt45.4 billion, he said.

CMP arranges trade exhibitions related to industry machinery, the environment, food ingredients, alternative energy and defence equipment.

CMP recorded revenue of Bt200 million last year, up 25 per cent from 2006. It expects similar growth this year.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation