Metalex 2011, ASEAN’s largest international machine tools and metalworking machinery trade exhibition, was officially opened from December 21-24, 2011 as the venue to improve investment climate and investor confidence with more than 4,000 items of latest technologies representing 2,700 brands from 50 countries at BITEC exhibition center in Bangkok, Thailand.
Metalex 2011 was estimated to attract around 65,000 visitors and more than 6 billion baht in business transactions, according to Mr. Chainarong Limpkittisin, Managing Director of Reed Tradex Company, the exhibition’s organizer.
The Ministry of Industry, together with the Alliance for Supporting Industries Association – Asia and Reed Tradex have organized Manufacturing Revival – Fast Track to Normal Production Program using Metalex 2011 platform to initiate urgent rehabilitation of Thai manufacturing industries to create investment opportunities and renew confidence of foreign investors in Thailand. Foreign pavilions actively supported this effort with the participation of 12 countries and territories, including Singapore, Japan, China, UK, India, Germany, Italy, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and others.
Mr. Kittirat Na Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Chairman of Opening Ceremony said while the great flood crisis has affected every sector of the country including manufacturing sector, the private sector and public sector has joined forces to help repair the damage. He welcomed the initiative of the Ministry of Industry and the private sector led by the Alliance for Supporting Industries – Asia, Reed Tradex, and 40 allied associations and exhibitors of Metalex 2011 in organizing Manufacturing Revival – Fast Track to Normal Production Program at Metalex 2011 to offer advice and create opportunities for exchange of ideas to encourage restoration of factories and manufacturers and subcontractors in Thailand.
According to Dr. Wannarat Channukul, Minister of Industry, measures to organize Manufacturing Revival – Fast Track to Normal Production Program will be conducted based on the style of One Stop Service to offer knowledge and restoration and maintenance services, insurance premiums and finding alternative parts manufacturers during this period. These measures will quickly restore Thai industrial manufacturing capability with opportunities for new investments and building foreign investors’ confidence.
Mr. Chainarong said that it is very challenging this year when organizing Metalex 2011 as the flood crisis severely impacted Thailand’s manufacturing sector. The show has to respond to the need for urgent restoration of the Thai industrial sector and rebuilding investors’ confidence to bring back normalcy to Thailand’s manufacturing sector as soon as possible.
“Metalex has become a well-renowned metalworking expo among manufacturing industrialists all over world and has always been known as the launch pad of new machinery and technologies, with an average growth rate of 20-30% per annum,” remarked Mr. Akapol Sorasuchart, President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
Metalex 2011 is the first regional level technology exhibition organized in ASEAN after Thailand’s great flood crisis. International visitors have good chances to see the latest innovative technology exhibited for the first time in Thailand such as laser welder with the ability to weld with smaller than 2mm seams, the sheet metal cutter from Germany with the ability to cut sheet metal thinner than 1mm, and the machinery from Japan which has combined the abilities of lathe and milling machine in a single equipment. There was the Metalex Nano Forum which was a high level technological conference for the first time in ASEAN for the manufacturing of high level medical products and aeronautics products etc., and the Business Matching Program where the buyers meet subcontractors in ASEAN region.
The show’s special highlight is the world famous robot Titan brought from the United Kingdom to show for the first time in Thailand at Metalex 2011. Before the exhibition, Titan was led to the Government House to invite H.E. Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister to visit “Manufacturing Revival – Fast Track to Normal Production” program and Metalex.
Nam Pham
Vietnamese
