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Evaluation
on Attending the FHA 2002
ATO/GZ Director attended the Food and Hotel Asia 2002 (FHA 2002)
Show held in Singapore on April 9-12, 2002. The primary purpose
of the attendance was to recruit U.S. exhibitors to participate
in the New Products Promotion in South China scheduled for May
or July 2003. A secondary purpose was to inform U.S. exhibitors
of the market opportunities and challenges in the Pearl River
Delta area.
The FHA 2002 Show was held in the spacious Singapore Expo Center
in conjunction with 11 other events and conferences (including
the World Gourmet Summit, the Hospitality Summit, the Asiafruit
Congress, and the Wine and Spirts Asia). It hosted 2650 exhibitors
and 139 products from 67 countries, among which were Australia,
the United States, South Africa, and France. On the first day
of the show, it attracted 10,000 visitors.
The ATO Director visited every U.S. exhibitor of consumer-ready
products, spoke to most of the U.S. exhibitors on market opportunities
and challenges in South China, and handed to them the brochure
on ATO/GZ and the factsheet on the New Products Promotion.
Outcome
Several U.S. exhibitors were interested in participating in
the New Products Promotion. A few of them were also interested
in attending the Food and Hotel South China Show scheduled for
June 26-28, 2002, in Guangzhou
Evaluation
The ATO Director
- attended the Show to recruit U.S. exhibitors for the New
Products Promotion. He recruited a number of U.S. companies;
- gained a better understanding of U.S. competitors in the
Asian market and the trend of competition for the China market.
The major U.S. competitors at the FHA2002 Show were Australia
(106 exhibitors), France (47), South Africa (41), Italy (38),
Germany (35), Spain (35), Singapore (32), Taiwan (30), Korea
(30), Japan (29), and Thailand (26). The serious competitors
for the South China market are the Australian, South Afrian,
and traders from Southeast Asia.
- concluded that FHA might be an alternate show to FMI for
sourcing U.S. products. Taking a Chinese delegation to the
FHA Show would bypass applying for U.S. visa, save travel
cost, and facilitate better communication. However, attending
the FHA Show would expose the Chinese buyers to suppliers
from U.S. competitors in addition to U.S. suppliers.
Followup
ATO/GZ will
- send personal invitation to U.S. exhibitors requesting
their participation in the New Products Promotion.
- send FHA2002 Show information and other promotional materials
to trade contacts in Guangzhou
- send contact information to select cooperators.
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