Grand opening of “STYLE APRIL 2018”

Press Release

 

Grand opening of “STYLE APRIL 2018” showcases potential of Thai entrepreneurs on 47,000 sqm, serving as a platform to drive SMEs

and new entrepreneurs to the world markets

 

Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) has officially launched “STYLE APRIL 2018”, reaffirming the success of the mega lifestyle fair that is trendiest and most extensive in the region. It is surely the largest because it combines 3 events together including BIFF & BIL, BIG & BIH and TIFF. This is the second year that 3 major fairs are held as one and this year, the event is held under the concept “Crenovative Origin” following the Thai government’s Creative Economy. The highlights include Creative and Design Zone which features creative and innovative products as well as the activities that give inspiration and motivation for “new face” entrepreneurs. These, are enhanced with The New Faces project that strongly supports new entrepreneurs to brave the international market. This year, the mega fair is held for the second time and even bigger on 47,000 square meters at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (Bitec) Bangna from 19-23 April, 2018.

 

Minister of Commerce Mr. Sonthirat Sonthichirawong said that the ministry has paid extra attentions on adding values to products with innovations and creativities that goes along with the government’s “Creative Thailand” policy and the “Creative Economy” model. “Organizing STYLE under Crenovative Origin which combines Creative, Innovation and Orginal in one really matches the ministry’s main policy. It’s a key strategy that is proven successful as it offers a great variety of products that meet demands of consumers in the lifestyle sector. It also helps motivate Thai producers in coming up with interesting creativities and ideas which pave the way for them to expand into international markets.”

 

Ms. Chantira Jimreivat Vivatrat, Director-General of DITP, said that STYLE APRIL 2018 has been organized to continue the success of its first edition held last October. The combination of three major events Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair: BIFF&BIL, Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair: BIG+BIH and Thailand International Furniture Fair: TIFF into “STYLE” drew 52,000 visitors to the mega fair. It recorded a trading value of 3.5 billion baht with 2,000 booths at the event.

 

“For this second year of STYLE, DITP has gathered a great variety of products under one roof which are divided into three main categories. First, the Fashion group include apparels, accessories, shoes, bags, leather goods, sport equipment, travel-related and recreational products. The Gift and Houseware Group include gifts, home decorative items, household products, office stationary, toys and health-related goods. The third group is Furniture group. The fair also showcases specific groups of products such as elderly, mother and kid, pet and OTOP. The latest additions also include Functional Textile, Thai Characters and Wellness & Medical Service. The mega fair is held on even bigger space this year with 47,000 sqm. In total at the Bitec Bangna, said Chantira.

 

STYLE APRIL 2018 offers chances for both Thai and foreign entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services. There will be 1,700 booths with 600 participating companies including SMEs and those in the so-called “The New Faces” which exhibit highly creative products and interesting innovations. The exhibitors will certainly attract more than 60,000 visitors – among them buying agents, sourcing buyers, fashion designers, designers, decorators, property developers, hospitality project owners and    E-commerce entrepreneurs both in Thailand and abroad. The major international visitors are from Taiwan, China, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, Germany, Australia, India and ASEAN countries.

The mega fair will also provide a platform for business talks so that entrepreneurs can expand their network. In addition, there will be fashion shows, workshops and exhibitions. The highlight will be the “Creative and Design Zone” which features various activities. “The Creative Lab” is one of the major activities in the zone, and specially held to support Thai entrepreneurs especially SMEs and Start-Ups, enabling them to develop products and services to meet the international markets’ demands. It also provides a platform for “creative makers” to exchange their views, skills, knowledge and creativities so that the participating entrepreneurs will be inspired to come up with value added products and services.

The “Innovation & Design Showcase” is another major activity in the “Creative and Design Zone” as it displays a variety of lifestyle products with innovation and good designs by Start-ups. At the “Design Society” booth, Thai designers can seek advices to develop and add values to their products and services to meet international standard and demands. Participants can also enjoy browsing high quality products with unique and trendy designs from local entrepreneurs of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphoon and Bungkan provinces. At “The Pattern Creator”, participants can learn the prototype of patterns that can lead them to international markets. There are also health-related services such as healthy massages and physical therapy at the Thailand Wellness Service Pavilion which is held by Department of Business Development. Meanwhile, Department of Foreign Trade showcases the innovative products from rice and local economic crops.

 

Apart from that, there are many other exhibitions at STYLE APRIL 2018 including Functional Textile, Character Licensing Pavilion that showcases potential of Thailand’s digital content aiming to turn them into character licensors, 60+ exhibition or the elderly product group, Pets which is held in the “Pet Parade” style, Mom & Kids and OTOP Pavilion displaying products that have been developed for the export markets. 

 

STYLE APRIL 2018, the mega lifestyle product fair that is the largest and trendiest in the region, is held on 19-23 April, 2018 (trade days on19-21 April from 10am-6pm and public days on 22-23 April from 10am-9pm) at the Bitec Bangna, Bangkok. More information can be found at www.stylebangkokfair.com or DITP direct line at 1169.

 

 

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