Singapore woos international wine industry with Government’s waiver(2)
Said Ms Sylvia Phua, chief executive officer of MP International:
揟he Government抯 waiver of duty and tax on exhibiting wines
provides a timely boost to the industry and to regional events held
in Singapore. This is much-needed in view of the current global
recession.
揇espite there being a recession, the wine-drinking trend is here to
stay because people have realised the benefits of drinking wine. The
fact that wine drinking has risen and increasingly become a
lifestyle choice in Asia also means that WFA 2009 will still draw
people from the regional wine trade to come and source for wines at
the show, which has become a one-stop sourcing venue.?
Aggressive international wine marketing programme
WFA2009 organisers are mounting an aggressive marketing campaign in
the major wine-producing countries to draw wineries and exporters to
WFA2009. It will work through a combination of wine bodies and
associations, road shows and agents in major wine-producing
countries to reach out to the international wine industry. Among
other partners, WFA2009 organisers have tied up with agencies such
as Austrade and Sopexa to market the show.
The organisers are also planning road shows in Malaysia, Thailand
and Vietnam to attract trade visitors to WFA2009, a one-stop
shopping venue for the region抯 wine industries.
According to industry research, Asia's wine market is expected to
grow by between 10 to 20 percent per annum over the next five years,
with China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Korea leading the
charge. The consumption value in Asia (excluding Japan) is expected
to double, reaching US$17 billion in 2012 and jumping to US$27
billion in 2017.
Singapore is becoming a highly influential hub for wine in Asia,
which has made WFA 2009 a natural business platform for wine
producers who are forging into the Asia Pacific to deepen their
footprint in the Asian wine industry.
The excellent wine logistics infrastructure and the sophistication
in wine consumption in Singapore are some of the advantages that
these wineries which participate in WFA 2009 can ride on.
New value-adding show offerings for WFA 2009
This year抯 WFA 2009 will feature a number of new initiatives. Among
them will be a
post-WFA roadshow in Shanghai, China. This will provide exhibitors
with an opportunity to make inroads into China, the world抯 9th
largest wine market by volume. The value of imports into China is
expected to reach US$870 million by 2017, up almost five-fold from
US$184 million in 2007.
Another initiative is the introduction of a new segment ?
Delicatessen for Wine ?which showcases an interesting array of food
best paired with wine.
Said Mr Joel Lee, project director of Wine For Asia: 揥FA has been
an effective business platform. For WFA to remain the leading wine
exhibition in the region, there is a need to introduce new offerings
for our exhibitors and visitors to further develop and grow their
businesses. This is an integral part of the sustaining appeal and
value that the WFA shows have consistently offered each year.?
Apart from the new initiatives, WFA has also launched Vinosity
Singapore 2009 which features a collective staging of events held in
conjunction with WFA 2009. It aims to advance the knowledge,
understanding and embracing of wine in Asia, as well as to profile
the vibrancy of the wine scene in Singapore. Among the partner
activities include International Congress of Chinese Cuisine & Wine,
Asia Sommelier Forum, International Wine Importer Course as well as
special wine presentations.
WFA 2009 has the support of the Singapore Exhibition and Convention
Bureau (SECB), Austrade, Sopexa, the German Embassy (Singapore),
Singapore Food Manufacturers?Association and International
Bartenders Association.
