During the last few months of 2011, Thailand was badly ravaged by mother nature, it was the country’s worst flooding in half a century affecting more than a third of the country’s provinces and took the lives of almost 450 people nationwide. We, at Siam Connection wanted to do something for the people of Thailand, therefore during the months of November and December, we ran a campaign by selling T-shirts with the title “Pray for Thailand” and we are pleased to announced that we have successful collected more than RM10,000 and it was transfered to ‘Thai Red Cross Society’, late December 2011.

We would like to say a BIG thank you to all our friends, business partners and associates, and even friends of Thailand that we do not know, for supporting our Pray for Thailand T-shirt campaign and showing their love for Thailand. The Thai Red Cross Society in Bangkok has also conveyed their gratitude and thanks to the people of Malaysia for their support. THANK YOU!

From the Management of Siam Connection Sdn Bhd

In light of the worst flooding in decades, in Thailand’s central region, Siam Connection is running a campaign selling T-shirts with the design, “Pray for Thailand” [as per attached] for RM30.00 per T-shirt. Proceeds will be channeled to The Thai Red Cross Society in Thailand. If anyone is interested to order this T-shirt, please feel free to write to info@siam-connection.com with the subject “Pray for Thailand T-Shirt – Charity Campaign” to obtain an order form. [Remarks: T-shirt sizes subject to availability]

Note: This campaign will last until all T-shirts are sold or by 15th December 2011

Indonesia – South East Asia Largest Economy

With a total population in excess of 250 million peoples, Indonesia provides a large potential market for beauty care products.The cosmetics and toiletries markets in Indonesia are showing great potential for growth, attracting interest from a growing number of international cosmetics manufacturers.

In Indonesia the cosmetics and toiletries market is predicted to grow by over 34% between 2006 and 2011. The growth in the cosmetic and toiletry markets in Indonesia is growing fast in terms of GDP (up by 62% and 173% respectively between 2001 and 2005). Indonesia has the makings of important consumer markets due to rapid urbanisation, emerging middle classes and low cosmetics usage, making them the perfect target markets for multinational companies.

The growth potential is also affected by the increasing number and demands from the service industry such as beauty clinics, salons and spas, which offer treatment programs. More and more people start seeking for professional help on facial and skin treatment, stimulating the growth in sales for skin care products. New upscale beauty salons and skin care clinics are opened in shopping centers. The number of professional hair care salons selling specialty products has also increased.

For the past 6 years, Cosmobeaute Indonesia has been the annual meeting place and networking area for importers, distributors, salon, spa owners and beauty professionals to source their latest products, attend seminars and presentations and view current trends. Well accepted by the beauty industry players as the only beauty trade exhibition in Indonesia, Cosmobeaute Indonesia is growing along with the country’s economy growth which set to surpass its neighboring countries.

For more information, please visit www.cosmobeauteasia.com

The Department of Export Promotion, Thailand (DEP) will once again be the proud host of the Thailand Trade Show 2011 (TTS 2011) that returns for its 4th Year from 5th to 7th August 2011. Held at Hall 1 of the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, with almost 1,700 sqm of exhibition space, TTS 2011 will be featuring a wider variety of products and services, making it a one-stop platform for consumers who are fond of all things Thai, as well as entrepreneurs seeking for mutually beneficial trade and business opportunities.

This annual exhibition is organized by the Office of Commercial Affairs, Kuala Lumpur under the Department of Export Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand, together with immense support from other Thai government agencies in Kuala Lumpur namely the Royal Thai Embassy, the Office of Labour Affairs, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Airways. It envisions in showcasing the best of Thailand in the local market.

This year, the TTS 2011 is expected to attract over 60 exhibitors from all over Thailand, boasting diverse range of products & services from various industries, such as food & beverage, textile, apparels & accessories, cosmetics, health care, pharmaceutical, gifts & decoratives, plastic & household consumer products, printing and tourism.

“This trade show is principally aimed to benefit Malaysian entrepreneurs and industrialists who are eager to explore business opportunities and collaboration with their Thai counterparts,” explains Mrs. Nannatee Wiboonchutikula, the organizer and director of Thai Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur. It will be a platform to view, sample & understand the products / services, gain knowledge of its benefits, establish contacts with manufacturers/retailers, discuss ideas/prospects and develop business relations. To achieve this end, TTS 2011 offers business matching sessions throughout the duration of 3 days, at the show.

For more information on business matching, kindly contact Tel: 03-79605055 or via email: thaibusinessmatching@gmail.com.

“Visitors are also in for a treat” quips Mrs. Nannatee Wiboonchutikula, with a warm hospitality of a true Thai. Among the highlights of the exhibition that would entice visitors includes exotic mouth watering foods, traditional handicrafts, exquisite handmade jewelry & accessories, unique premium gifts, trendy interior decorations, pampering spa & massage services and luxurious, breath-taking holiday destinations, just to name a few.

Apart from the exhibits, there will be several contests, games, activities and stage shows that will be organized throughout the day to entertain the visitors, all the while promoting Thai culture & traditions. This includes Thai cultural dance shows, artistic umbrella painting, creative fruit carving, traditional Thai dessert making as well as Thai cuisine cooking demo by Thai restaurants in Malaysia.

In addition to that, all visitors will also stand a chance to win a round trip economy ticket to Bangkok, Thailand by Thai Airways via a lucky draw/ contests, compliments of the Thailand’s Department of Export Promotion (DEP) (*terms & conditions apply). To participate in the draw, visitors are requested to complete a simple survey that will be conducted by the organizer.

About The Organizer

Thailand’s Department of Export Promotion (DEP) is the main agency that is responsible for promoting Thailand’s export products and services to the world market. DEP’s major role is to foster the development of the competitive capabilities of Thai companies and businesses by organizing activities and events that create opportunities to increase exports.

By organizing activities such as this Trade Show in Malaysia, DEP is continuously helping Thai businesses reach their target groups while promoting Malaysian importers / distributors of Thai products / services to the local consumers.

DEP has recently launched an on-line export promotion campaign with the aim of increasing the number of exporters trading using business-to-business (B2B) electronic technology. With this, the department hopes to raise the export transaction via the internet to 50% of the country’s total export value, within the next 5 years.

For more info on the on-line trade system and to browse / choose over 10,000 products that are available around the clock, kindly log-on to www.thaitrade.com.

Salon and spa businesses have been growing annually at a very fast pace due to growth in the higher middle income group and increase in disposable income. Not only are women conscious of their appearance but men are also beginning to seek facial and nail treatment.

Tourists in Malaysia have also sought spa and wellness treatment here as the services are better and the prices are affordable as well. All these trends have paved a better way for the salon and spa businesses. As such, many owners, beauticians, therapists and professionals wants to better themselves by attaining more knowledge of the profession as well as keeping up to the ever-changing trend.

Cosmobeauté Asia 2011 is an annual event, that provides information to this Billion Ringgit industy, will be entering its 7th annual edition in Malaysia. Cosmobeauté Asia is an important beauty trade fair for beauticians, salons, spa owners, make up artist, nails technicians, importers and those involved in the beauty industry to view the latest beauty products, equipments, services and solutions. They can also view current trends, demonstration, shows, and participate in many exciting talks. It attracts more than 13,000 visitors annually, making it the ANNUAL BEAUTY MEETING PLACE!

Cosmobeauté Asia 2011 will be held at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur from the 11 – 14 July 2011.

Cosmobeauté Asia is part of the Cosmobeauté series beauty trade fair that is organized annually in two other countries, Cosmobeauté Vietnam in April and Cosmobeauté
Indonesia in October.

For more information visit www.cosmobeauteasia.com

WELCOME TO A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR MARKETPLACE!

Each year, MIFB plays a pivotal role in bringing together F&B industry players and professionals from around the world to interact, transact and explore unlimited business opportunities from a multi-billion dollar global marketplace. Its proven track record, popularity with trade visitors and success for exhibitors have earned itself accolades of being one of the most anticipated events of its kind in the region.

Following the successful achievements of the last eleven years, with thousands of successful business matches and partnerships to its credit, MIFB 2011 is set to once again serve up a rich variety of F&B products and services; creating a vibrant mix of opportunities for industry players to speak directly to their focused target market – be it from the front service end, production line or the creative kitchen.

MIFB 2011 is the ultimate platform to discover new trends, innovative device, specialty products and much more.

An Innovative Vibrant Mix of Opportunities
Set against a rich historical background and being a multi-racial and multi-cultural country, Malaysia is also a food haven with an extensive array of mouth-watering local and international cuisines. With Malaysia’s strategic location in the Asean region that provides the gateway to 550 million population in the region and its positioning as the international halal food hub, it provides a window of opportunities for local and international F&B business fraternity into exploring new trades and investment opportunities globally.

• Broad-based F & B Industry that are Uniquely Malaysian
The Malaysian F & B industry is very broad based which contributes to the production diversity found in the industry. With its traditional agricultural base and rich natural resources, it encompasses a diverse range of high quality products that are uniquely Malaysian, including canned and frozen food, seafood, herbs and spices, cocoa products dairy products, sugar and confectionary products that are among the food items identified with export potentials and most sought after by international buyers.

• Transforming Agriculture as a High Economic Growth
Earmarked as one of the 12 key economic growths under the National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) in the 10th Malaysia Plan, agriculture will be optimized through high technology transformation while ensuring sustainable measures are taken to protect and improve the natural environment. The development of commercial agriculture through sustainability principles calls for innovative production for high yield and income while ensuring minimal effects on soil fertility, water and air quality, and biodiversity. To encourage best agricultural practices and upgrade agriculture infrastructure, the Government will allocate RM6 billion for the agriculture sector.

• Promoting and Intensifying Halal Food Industry
The potential market for halal food is estimated to be about USD 350 billion to USD 410 billion per year based on the world Muslim population of over 1.5 billion. Malaysia is recognized as an International Halal Food Hub with its strategic route as the premier halal food supply based and global certification center that makes it the ideal springboard to the global food market.

For further information, please click on www.mifb.com.my

TRANSFORMING THE ECONOMY WITH GREEN TECHNOLOGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Setting the right pace for economic regeneration while addressing environmental issues, the Malaysian Government has successfully identified green technology as the emerging driver for sustainable economic growth. Coupled with the pledge by the Prime Minister of Malaysia to reduce the country’s CO² emission of up to 40% by the year 2020 during the UNFCC COP Meeting at Copenhagen, Malaysian industries have risen to embrace this challenge in a favorable policy environment and develop Malaysia into the green economy hub in the ASEAN region.

Following the successful initiation of the International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2010) as the region’s largest green exhibition and conference in 2010, IGEM is set to rack up another notch in its standing as a hotbed in creating a vibrant mix of opportunities to help spur industries and institutions to adopt green technology and boost eco-technological innovators in the field of eco-design, eco-materials, eco-products and low carbon Green Technologies.

Set as an annual event, IGEM is strategically positioned to take the Green lead in the region by converging like-minded industry players and professionals from various sectors, public and private, big and small, local and foreign, new as well as established, to explore and seize the many opportunities from the exciting and emerging green market in the country and the region.

Moving towards commercialization of Green Technology that can diffuse through the market and become universally adopted, IGEM 2011 incorporating IGEM – Renewable Energy will continue to make thematic focuses on sustainable energy, renewable energy and green energy for adoption and start-ups, while providing an essential platform to launch, feature and showcase innovative eco-products, green technologies and services. It is a prestigious venue where green product buyers and sellers interact, transact and forge new partnerships and cross border collaboration.

Objective:

•To Create Awareness amongst consumers and industry players on the importance of Green Technology and Eco-Products for sustainable consumption and production.

•To Promote green purchasing and develop environmentally friendly products & services, green technology and green supply chain for addressing a wide range of environmental issues; including the reduction of CO² emissions.

•To Showcase innovative & creative green technology & services, eco-products and initiatives.

•To Encourage spin-off industries in green technology, eco-design & eco-materials for achieving international competitiveness & green growth.

•To Foster the development of eco-prenuership and green economy.

•To Promote Malaysia as a regional green economy hub for eco-products and green technology and services.

For further information on IGEM 2011, please click on www.igem.com.my

The BIGGEST Beauty Trave Event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Cosmobeaute Vietnam celebrated a great success following its 3rd Vietnam International Exhibition & Conference on Cosmetics, Beauty, Hair & Spa from 22-24 April 2010. The show achieved 7,238 visitors and 122 companies and 206 brands from 10 countries showcasing their latest beauty products, equipment and services.

Exhibitors at Cosmobeaute Vietnam overwhelming agreed that the beauty industry in this region is set to grow even further. Pelased with the turnout, most of the exhibitors has re-booked and increase their presence in Cosmobeaute Vietnam 2011.

This year will be the first time that Cosmobeaute Vietnam 2011 will be hosting the International Spa Wellness Exhibition & Conference (ISWEC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. ISWEC is a professional and premier spa organization to enhance the Spa operators potential, and represent the voice of the Regional Spa & Wellness community. Our community includes Spa businesses, related businesses, as well as all the professionals that provide a healing and soothing environment for our customers.

With it’s previous success in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2008, the next ISWEC to be held in Vietnam’s Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (HCMC) in April 2011 will serve the growing spa business. Key Spa Experts from over the world will be there to deliver global & wellness trends, competitive advantages, staff development, authentic spa treatments profit and return on investment, marketing and product selection.

To learn more of Cosmobeaute Vietnam (www.ecmi.com.my) and ISWEC (www.iswec.com), check out their website respectively

Smart Kids – In celebration of kids and parents

Smart Kids is Malaysia’s premier kids’ education fair. Launched in 2001, it has become the country’s longest running kids’ fair, with its popularity increasing exponentially due to the efforts of the Smart Kids team in reading market trends and presenting its visitors with capsule events, activities and promotions targeted to the needs of today’s consumer.

A fair both for parents and children, Smart Kids gives parents the opportunity to research, speak to and interact with the purveyors of children’s education systems and providers of childcare and development facilities in order to assess the best possible fit for their child’s education and care needs. Kids benefit from visits to Smart Kids due to the numerous educational activities which have been carefully designed to nurture the various aspects of childhood growth, from discovery activities, physically challenging games, and performance/art-based programmes.

Come join Smart Kids 2011 this April for a FUNtastic and EDUcational experience, happening 15 – 17 April 2011. For more information, check out: www.smartkids.com.my

We at Siam Connection would like to take this opportunity to wish our friends, partners and associates a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011.

May the New Year bring greater prosperity for all of you and we look forward to working with you to take advantage of the opportunities and accept the challenges ahead.