First ever Sial Asean food exhibition to be held in Manilla, Philippines

Comexposium and subsidiary Sial have partnered with Mafbex to create a major food exhibition for Asean (Association of the South East Asian Nations). At the first exhibition, taking place in Manila from 11 to 13 June 2014, Sial Asean expects 800 exhibitors – 50% of whom are international – and 15,000 professional visitors.

The Comexposium group is launching a new international Sial exhibition. Asean is a political, economic and cultural organization founded by five countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) in 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, to foster growth, development and stability in the region. It brings together 10 South East Asian countries (including Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Burma and Cambodia). A free trade area since 1993, with an average growth of 5.8% per year, Asean ranks no. 3 as a trading partner for the European Union, after the United States of America and China.

It is in this high-growth geographic region and in the Philippines, in particular, that the Comexposium group decided with its partners to create Sial Asean in Manila. Immersed in a western culture (Spain and the USA), the Philippines and Manila have substantial assets: the strong growth of ASEAN, i.e. +6.6% per year, 100 million inhabitants, no. 3 ASEAN food market and optimum conditions to welcome foreign travellers.

Asean is expanding fast thanks to the emergence of a middle class that is adopting western lifestyles and brands. The standard of living of some 618 million consumers is rocketing: Asean GDP per capita tripled between 1994 and 2011. Food, an essential component of the household budget (35% in Thailand, +40% in Indonesia and the Philippines, and 50% in Vietnam), represents a major share of GDP in the area (e.g. 13.5% in the Philippines).

For more information please visit the exhibition website, which is expected to come online shortly : www.sialasean.com