THAILAND - A collaborative effort which combines the resources of the Thai Printing Association, Thai Packaging Association and the world leading exhibition promoter Messe Dusseldorf aims to make Pack Print International Asia’s first truly international industry exhibition.

According to Gernot Ringling, Managing Director, Messe Dusseldorf Asia, ‘Asia continues to represent the largest consumer base which drives the region’s print and packaging sector

Asia continues to represent the largest consumer base which drives the region’s print and packaging sector

The exhibition is a collaborative effort which combines the resources of the Thai Printing Association, Thai Packaging Association and the world leading exhibition promoter Messe Dusseldorf, organisers of the global printing exhibition DRUPA, and Europe’s largest packaging show InterPack both held at the massive Dusseldorf Messe.

This is the first Pack Print International trade exhibition to be held at Bangkok’s showcase exhibition ground BITEC. Occupying more than 15,000 sqm of exhibition space, the trade show has drawn more than 280 exhibitors from 25 countries and is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors form more than 50 countries including a large delegation from the VietNam Packaging Association.

Adding value to the exhibition is the Thai Business Matching Pavilion coordinated by the Federation of Thai Industries, Office of Small Medium Enterprise Promotion and the Thai Printing Association, a project which is being driven by the Thai Government to boost Thailand as a printing hub and become the regional market leader.

Asia’s booming packaging sector

The Global Packaging market is currently estimated to have an annual production value in excess of US$459 billion, while the Asian Packaging industry accounts for the lion’s share of this at US$143 billion this represents more than 30% market share by production volume, according to recent market research by PackWebasia.com.

Annual packaging growth rates for the Asian region range from between 12-14%, with China leading the market with 14% growth, Thailand follows at 12.5% with India averaging 10% packaging growth year-on-year.

In stark contrast the North American packaging market accounts for 26% of the global total of US$459 billion, Western Europe follows with 25% share.

Eastern Europe, despite the steady relocation to the East by Western European package printers and converters, accounts for only 12% of the total package production by both volume and value. Central and South America posted 4% while African package production was valued at just under 3% of the global total.

A long time coming

“The concept of a Print and Packaging trade exhibition catering for the growing market demand in South East Asia has been a long overdue” said PackWebasia.com Publisher Stuart Hoggard, “I have been covering so called ‘International’ print and packaging exhibitions since 1995, promoted by various different exhibition organisers, however and each have sadly missed the mark, degenerating into purely local events.

“While some of the blame can be laid at the door of the organisers, the reality is that South East Asia is a collection of 10 very independent countries, each with their own agenda. However, in the global marketplace can the region afford such fragmentation?

“The market is here in Asia, the demographics are all on the rise and the demand is evident as Asian printers and converters install ever increasingly more sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment from budgets which would leave many Western manufacturers green with envy.

“Whether the global expertise of Messe Dusseldorf can elevate Pack Print International from being purely a Thai show, to become a truly International event which happens to be held in Asia remains to be seen. But from first impressions of day one, of Pack Print International, Gernot Ringling and the Messe Dusseldorf Asia team have taken the first step towards the goal.”