The tenth edition of Asia’s largest livestock expo has broken various records. The event featured over 700 exhibitors from 48 countries– a 20 per cent rise against previous years figures.
VIV Asia 2011, the international trade show for animal production and processing, proved to be a resounding success. The show was well received among visitors as well as the wide array of international exhibitors. Nearly 29,000 visitors from various parts of the globe flocked to the BITEC fairgrounds for the region’s largest livestock product expo.
Out of the total number of visitors, about 16,000 (56 per cent) came from abroad and the rest were from Thailand. The total figure is a massive increase of 40 per cent on the previous edition in 2009 (20,831). The number of exhibitors had gone up to around 700, of which 246 were at VIV Asia for the first time. Most of the newcomers operate in the feed milling equipment, feed ingredients and animal health sectors.
Maximum number of visitors came from India, followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. The event also witnessed a surge in the number of visitors from China and other South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. However, turn out of visitors from South Korea and Japan was comparatively less.
Feedback on VIV Asia was extremely positive: on a scale of one to 10, exhibitors rated the event with an 8.0 and visitors rated it as high as 8.4.
From Feed to Meat…
The biennial event, which plays a significant role in the continuing growth of intensive livestock farming in Asia’s emerging markets, offered plenty of opportunities for the supplier industry. Exhibits ranging from crop and feed technology to animal production and processing technology covered the entire food chain under the show’s concept of “From Feed to Meat”. When VIV Asia was first launched in 1991, one of its objectives was to introduce advanced animal production and processing technology to Asia. In its 10th edition, 20 years later, technology remained the key focus.
VIV Asia 2011 featured three brand new special themes: Feedtech-Croptech Asia, LAB@VIVAsia and ChinaVisions. There was also an extensive conference programme with in-depth coverage of all the sectors of the exhibition, with a special focus on Bioenergy. For three days, Feedtech-Croptech Asia truly was the centre of the Asia-Pacific milling industries. LAB@VIV Asia effectively targeted the feed and food laboratory business. ChinaVisions was the international summit for the Chinese animal production and processing industries.
Imminent speakers and industry experts presented a comprehensive analysis of current market conditions in Asia and elsewhere in the world, and also predicted long-term developments. Along with the show, several side symposiums were held and sponsored seminars also took place on various topics.
Mr. Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Director International Exhibitions at VNU Exhibitions Europe, outlined the perspectives for the future of VIV Asia. “Whereas the traditional western economies are stagnating or showing little growth after the financial crisis, the greater Asian region as a whole is growing at a tremendous pace. Economic growth and population growth are great drivers for the animal husbandry industry, it is perfectly logical this trade show is growing so fast.”
Ruwan Berculo, Project Manager Asia-Pacific at VNU Exhibitions Europe, said, “Backed by tremendous market support, the 2011 edition was the best VIV Asia ever. At the same time, there are clearly some points for improvement. ChinaVisions, for example, was quite disappointing. We worked very hard for it but the concept did not work. We learned our lessons and will do much better next time. Our industry can always rely on us to introduce new activities, to add more value. That’s the VIV spirit, to continuously serve our markets better.”
Growing hand in hand
Among the regions of the world, Asia has the fastest developing livestock sector. Asia is by far the biggest region in the world in terms of human and livestock populations. Asia’s human population is currently growing at 1.7 per cent per annum, with the highest growth rate of 2.1 per cent in South Asia. Growing human populations, rising incomes and progressive urbanization are fuelling the demand growth for all livestock products in the region.
One of the most noticeable developments to have occurred in the agricultural sectors of countries in the Asia over the last couple of decades has been the rapid growth in many parts of the livestock sector. This growth has come about because of a combination of factors on the supply side as well as the demand side. New capital-intensive technologies have made possible the production of poultry and pig meat in industrial style production facilities across Asia in countries where land is limited. This has greatly increased the supply of pork and poultry meat for domestic consumption or for sale on export markets.
At the inaugural ceremony of the event, Rirksmai Sukhum, President of N.C.C Exhibition Organizer Co. Ltd., said in his welcoming speech, “One of the most noticeable developments of the Asian livestock industries over the past two decades has been the rapid industrialization of livestock production. I believe that VIV Asia has grown in a similar fashion. From a humble beginning, VIV Asia 2011 has become the largest technology platform for the Asia-Pacific livestock industries.
Gerard Leeuwenburgh, Director International Exhibitions at VNU Exhibitions Europe, the organizer of VIV events worldwide, who also spoke on the occasion said, “The fact that number of exhibitors has increased more than 20 per cent this edition indicates that all eyes are now set on Asia as the region of growth. Asia will soon emerge as the main production base for global livestock products.”
VIV Asia 2013
The outlook for VIV Asia 2013 is sunny. A third of the exhibitors at this year's event have already put their names down for the next edition. VIV Asia 2013 is scheduled for 13-15 March at BITEC, Thailand.
