PRESS RELEASES ARCHIEVE2

IFFS/AFS 2007 ENDS ON HIGH NOTE WITH

USD 240 MILLION IN SPOT ORDERS

Event Will Expand To Seven Halls in 2008

IFFS/AFS 2007 achieved an attendance of 17,322 trade visitors from 117 countries at the recent five-day International Furniture Fair Singapore 2007 and 24^th ASEAN Furniture Show which ended on 5 March. Once again, the best and varied mix of Asian furniture designs coupled with the participation of high-quality international exhibitors contributed to the success of the event which achieved an estimated USD 240 million of spot orders.

Amongst the visitors, there were 66 buying delegations from 17 countries. An additional USD 2.1 billion of follow-on sales are expected as a result of the opportunities secured at the fair. IFFS/AFS 2007 also generated approximately USD 38 million in economic spin-offs for Singapore’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) and tourism sectors.

In terms of the scale of the fair, IFFS/AFS 2007 was the largest in its 24-year history, providing a useful platform for the forging of an unprecedented number of potential global trade partnerships. It hosted a record 510 exhibitors from 28 countries of which, many had increased their exhibition space. This resulted in the show being 10.7 percent bigger than 2006 with 60,000 square metres in gross space (or 39,300 square metres in net space) spread across all six halls at the Singapore Expo.  

With more than 35,000 pieces of designer furniture and furnishing products on display, IFFS/AFS 2007 offered unparalleled variety and quality buying opportunities. These included the largest collection of Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Taiwanese and Vietnamese furniture products, exhibited outside of the respective countries.

In addition, IFFS/AFS 2007 provided a breath of fresh air when it came to match-making between designers and manufacturers with a total of 92 first-to-market furniture prototypes by young designers from the region who took part in various design initiatives including the annual Furniture Design Award, FL!P Challenge and the inaugural PLATFORM.

Mr Craig Swift, Client Services Manager of Sacred Earth, one of the 41 exhibitors from Vietnam at IFFS/AFS 2007, said: “We have exhibited at IFFS/AFS for three consecutive years and have always had successful shows. 2007 was by far the most productive for us with quality buyers from a large spread of regions and markets. We have already signed up for 2008, where we are confident of building on the success from the previous shows.”

Mr Steven Chew, Chief Operating Officer of Sitra Holdings (International) Limited, Singapore, added: “We are pleased to see that IFFS/AFS has grown from strength to strength since its inception. We see tremendous value in participating in IFFS/AFS because of the exhibition’s ability to attract top international buyers and other industry professionals from all over the world. We were able to grow our sales directly and indirectly through the show and this show has become a must-have in our annual marketing calendar.”

Impressed with the quality and variety of the show, Mr Al-Karim Chatur, a VIP Buyer from Eztia Furnishings, Canada, said: “Our participation at IFFS/AFS 2007 was a huge success. We have always found the Singapore show to be our treasure trove. And as the saying goes, ‘the early bird catches the worm’, IFFS/AFS has proven to be our gold mine and by placing it as the first show to visit in the ASEAN furniture trade show circuit, we have always been able to achieve what we want.”   

Echoing similar sentiments, another VIP Buyer, Mr Nicholas Pastos from Narde Ltd, Cyprus, said: “Once again, IFFS/AFS was very well organised and my colleagues and I were able to find a myriad of good designs and high quality furniture at the exhibition.”

Mr Tony Pang, Chairman, IFFS/AFS Show Advisory Panel, said: “We are heartened that IFFS/AFS has once again proved valuable to the global furniture trade players. The efficiencies of Singapore such as our business-oriented facilities and services, effective transport and logistics system as well as safe and cosmopolitan environment have continued to help boost our leadership position as a trendsetter in furniture designs as well as in reaffirming and catalysing businesses in the region. I’m certain expectations for next year’s fair will be raised and I am confident we will gear up to meet the challenges ahead.”

Indeed, the size and scope of the fair will be expanded when the IFFS/AFS returns from 1 to 5 March next year. IFFS/AFS 2008 will occupy seven halls at the Singapore Expo, allowing an additional 10,000 square metres of floor space for exhibition. To date, more than 12,000 square metres of exhibition space for the 2008 fair have already been booked by more than 50 companies.

Mr Quek Chin Tuan, Chief Executive Officer of IFFS Pte Ltd, added: “We remain fully committed to growing, improving and value-adding to the fair so as to provide both exhibitors and buyers a more rewarding networking, buying and selling experience. In fact, we have taken into account the feedback which we have received from trade visitors and exhibitors and will be moving the dates for the fair closer to the China shows. IFFS/AFS 2009 will be held from 8 to 12 March. Our objective is to ensure that IFFS/AFS continues to respond to the needs and demands of industry players by minimising travel inconveniences which will allow for more effective scheduling of itineraries.”

up

up

DUBAI WOODSHOW 2007

Dubai Woodshow 2007, the dedicated wood and wood machinery exhibition in the Middle East, will feature an extensive European line-up, headlined by the European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (Eumabois), the foremost international trade association for the European wood industry. Organisers of the Dubai Woodshow, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions, have signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Eumabois to jointly promote Dubai Woodshow.

Eumabois is the federation of 13 European national associations representing the largest manufacturers of machinery and accessories in Europe for the wood industry. The 800 manufacturers cooperating with Eumabois account for an annual production of more than 53.2 billion EUR, which represents close to 60 per cent of global production of wood working machinery and tools.

“The support of Eumabois is representative of our focus and commitment to position Dubai Woodshow as the only platform for opportunities and serious business for wood trade in the region. As the leading player in the European woodworking industry, Eumabois certainly has a lot to offer in terms of modern technologies and innovative products for the growing construction and real estate sector in the UAE and the neighboring GCC states,” said Dawood Al Shezawi, Managing Director, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions. “Today, leading companies across the globe are looking to the Middle East as the new growth market and are seeking to tap the opportunities presented by the construction boom throughout the region. A highly specialized show like Dubai Woodshow will go a long way in helping to take advantage of this global interest in the Middle East market.”

Dubai Woodshow 2007, which is also supported by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and Czech Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers Association (CWMMA), provides an excellent platform for regional and international companies to showcase their latest wood machinery and woodworking products to business prospects and build new strategic relationships with buyers, traders and investors. The show made its debut in April 2006 against a backdrop of heightened demand for wood and woodworking products in the Middle East, mainly due to sharp increase in construction activities across the region.

“Wood imports to the UAE stand at an all-time high and with other regional countries witnessing a similar surge in wood consumption, a comprehensive trade fair like Dubai Woodshow will serve to add further momentum to the strong growth of the wood and wood machinery industry in the Middle East,” said Gianni Ghizzoni, President of Eumabois. “In line with Eumabois' strategy, the decision has been made to avoid too many events being scheduled, which would only take up the time of exhibiting companies. Instead a single trade show will take place where high technological content of the sector is made visible to potential users and trade visitors. Dubai Woodshow 2007 will help us to explore partnerships from the Middle East region and showcase our quality equipment, machinery, tools and products for the region’s woodworking industry.” 

About Dubai Woodshow 2007

Dubai Woodshow 2007 (February 27- March 1, 2007, Dubai World Trade Centre) is the premier trade event for the wood and wood machinery industry in the region. A highly specialized exhibition that assembles companies from the entire spectrum of the wood industry under one roof, Dubai Woodshow 2007 offers exhibitors an excellent networking platform, where they can build strategic relationships with buyers, traders and investors. The event displays a wide range of wood products, including MDF, plywood, hardwood, softwood, veneers, timbers, parquet, laminates, finished wood merchandise and paper products. Dubai Woodshow 2007 is organized by Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, a leading exhibition and conference organizer based in Dubai. An acknowledged expert in all aspects related to the exhibition industry, Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions organizes a number of high-profile events in the region, including the annual International Property Show. For More information, please visit please visit www.dubaiwoodshow.com

up

DOMOTEX ASIA/CHINAFLOOR 2007 WILL SHOW AGAIN NEW RECORDS

Every year since the start of the show in 1999 DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR has been able to attract record numbers of exhibitors and visitors. The upcoming edition from March 28 to 30, 2007 will again be able to show an impressive growth and further establish the leading position in Asia.

By November 2006 the available space has been sold out. 6 halls in Shanghai New International Expo Centre and 4 temporary halls will exceed 90,000 m2 (968,760 sq. ft). With this size DACF will again be the largest flooring show in Asia and second largest in the world, after DOMOTEX Hannover.

Industry sections

The biggest expansion has been noted in wood &laminate flooring and in machinery. Especially in solid wood flooring the Chinese suppliers significantly expanded their booths creating the world’s largest sourcing platform! Also the machinery section with presentations from market leaders like Homag China Golden Field and Michael Weinig will show again the enormous potential in the Chinese market for flooring solution

The carpet section is traditionally the most stable segment within DACF. The Belgium and Dutch pavilion will show a major growth compared to last years and the domestic companies will now also present themselves in a second hall for machine made carpets

Resilient flooring is coming up, especially in China, in Asia. Companies like Gerflor and Tarkett will show their leading position in this type of flooring

Special Events

To draw more specialized visitors 2 unique events will be hold together with DACF:

Design Week Shanghai and Sports Arena. Design Week Shanghai is the leading event for architects, designers and real estate developers in China. Around 1,000 attendees form mainland China come to listen and discuss the works and ideas from world famous architects and designers.

Sports Arena is the event where experts in sports flooring present the latest solutions in sports flooring to sports flooring agents, buyers and delegations from government, active in development of sports in China.

Visitors

With Asia and especially China gaining in importance in the global flooring market the organizers Deutsche Messe AG and VNU Exhibitions Asia are confident in expecting over 35,000 visitors from over 85 countries (2006: 32,400 visitors from 83 countries)

For more information, please visit www.domotexasiachinafloor.com

up

INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY FORUM 2006 – POST SHOW REPORT

On 10-13 October 2006 the extensive program of exhibition events took place in St. Petersburg within the framework of the International Forest Forum. It included such exhibitions as “Forestry of Russia”, “Regions of Russia.  Forestry Complex Investment Potential”, international specialized exhibitions “TEKHNODREV  NORTH-WEST”, “PRIMARY WOODWORKING”, “TRANSLES”, “WOODEN CONSTRUCTION”, (Lenexpo Fairgrounds) and Forum IPPTF (Pribaltiyskaya Hotel).  The exhibition program of the Forum covered all  forestry complex fields: forestry, logging and woodworking industries,  forestry complex transport and logistics, wooden construction,  it also gave an opportunity to participants of the branch community to exchange  experience and to find the ways of cooperation on actual issues, to establish new business contacts.

The opening of the exhibitions took place in a new exhibition pavilion in Lenexpo on the stand of the Federal Forestry Agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia.  The head of the Federal Forestry Agency V.P. Roshupkin emphasized in his welcoming speech: “For the first time representatives of woodworking business and forestry, forest administrations from 50 world countries, Russian and foreign scientific and ecological community will meet at one exhibition site.  Urgent problems of forest sector development, cooperation between authorities and business and also search for concrete steps in the line of their fastest development will be   in the center of discussion”. 

Modern equipment for woodworking and furniture industries was demonstrated in action at the 10^th Anniversary International Specialized Exhibition “TEKHNODREV NW”. In 2006 the exhibition gathered together leading manufacturers and providers of woodworking equipment from the whole world.

 The European branch organizations VDMA (Germany), AFEMMA (Spain), SVDSZ (Czech Republic) took part in the exhibition work.  The section, dedicated to the equipment for biofuel production became an innovation of the exhibition of 2006.   Today many woodworking enterprises of Russia seriously consider an opportunity of pellet production workshops opening. Companies Pellets Partner Group, Grantekh, Krona Holding, Ekodrevprom, Ekodrev-Tver, Ekoenergy presented their completed set equipment for wooden pellets production. Within the framework of the International Forest Forum the international conference “Development trends of bioenergy in Russia” was held where the problems of resource provision of enterprises, of export, transport and logistics at the biofiel production market were discussed.

The commission of the Russian Council of Exhibitions and Fairs evaluated the organization and holding of “Tekhnodrev NW” .  The audit confirmed the status of  the exhibition “Tekhnodrev NW” as the exhibition event of  high quality, corresponding with  the earlier awarded sign of RCEF.

The 2^nd International Specialized Exhibition “Primary Woodworking” supplemented the exposition “Tekhnodrev NW”. The prospects of the development of this market segment aroused experts’ and investors’ interest.  The exhibition is the unique specialized project in Russia on this topic, where the sawing equipment, equipment for lumbering, log cylindering, board, plywood and veneer production was presented to experts. 

                 The jury consisted of St.Petersburg State Forestry Academy’s teaching staff, leading experts in the sphere of equipment and tools for furniture and woodworking industries. The jury was headed by V.I. Onegin, Doctor of Engineering Science, Rector of St. Petersburg State Forestry Academy, member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.The award ceremony was held on 12 October 2006.

The “Golden Cutter 2006” award laureates  were: in the nomination  «Achievements in the domain of machinery and technologies of sawing production»: Neva Plus PCF, KARA MTD, VIGAL, JARTEK OY,TEKMAWOOD OY, in the nomination  « Achievements in the domain of woodworking machinery and woodworking technologies »: WEINIG - SPB, MINITEX LES, DYUKON, TEKHNOPARK LTA, in the nomination  « Achievements in the domain of machinery and technologies for furniture production »: FAETON, TIGROUP,  SVDSZ, SVIK SPB, in the nomination  « Achievements in the domain of wood-cutting tools »: GORKOVSKY  METALLURGICAL WORKS, IBERUS –MUROM, TOOLTECHNIQUE SYSTEMS, MDM TOOLS,  in the nomination  « Special contribution of a domestic producer to the development of woodworking industry in Russia »: NORTH COMMUNARD, NOVOZYBKOVSKY MACHINE TOOL PLANT, URALDREV-INTO NPF, KOVROVSKIYE KOTLY,  in the nomination  « Success in the development and appliance of ecologically-friendly technologies »: ASTEK, VAFOR UNITARY ENTERPRISE, SPETSMONTAZH TVER, GRANTEKH. 

At the 3rd International Specialized Exhibition “TRANSLES” visitors got acquainted with modern equipment for timber cargo transportation and storage, handling operations and  forest roads construction  and use. There were presented sections dedicated to transport and storage logistics in the forestry complex, software and technological schemes for timber cargos.  Such companies as EUROSIB SPB- TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, LONMADI SAINT-PETERSBURG, RAVENOL, TEKHNOLEASING, FOREST-SERVICE, LIEBHERR-RUSSLAND, VOLVO-VOSTOK, URALAZ MOTOR WORKS,  SOYUZSLAVPROM, RUSATLAS, ATLANT, MAYKOPSKY MOTOR WORKS, LAINAPEITE, ROXOR INDUSTRY, FINTRANS, V-KRAN etc.  participated  in this exhibition.   The “Logging. Transport. Logistics” International Conference was held on 12 October.  The main questions which were raised at the conference were:  effective organization of logging works, equipment and forest transport market formation, characteristics of timber cargo logistics in Russia. The conference took place with the support of the Association “ROSLESMASH”. 

Wooden houses, technologies for wooden house construction, architectural engineering, finishing and protection devices for  wooden houses, landscape design and architecture, constructions and materials for internal and external use – all these issues were presented at the 3^rd International Specialized  Exhibition “Wooden Construction”. The Finnish concern Honka which was the general sponsor of the exhibition this year offered its consumers the entire spectrum of services connected with wooden house construction beginning with individual designing and ending in warranty service of constructed objects.  The 9^th International Conference of the Association of Wooden Housing « Russian forest resources — affordable and comfortable housing » was held within the framework of the International Forest Forum. Leading wooden construction experts from Russia, Italy, Finland and the USA took part in it.  Traditionally within the framework of the exhibition there was a ceremonial awarding of prize-winners of the contest: “Best wooden house project”. Contest participants- architect's bureaus and construction companies – presented their works in following nominations:   « Best village », « Detached house », « Apartment house », «Country mansion house ». The laureates of the contest were: HOUSE- CONCEPT SODRUZHESTVO, TEKHNOPARK LTA, CONCERN DIETRICH DESIGN, REGIONSTROY.

           3 new exhibition projects “FORESTRY OF RUSSIA”, “REGIONS OF RUSSIA. FORESTRY COMPLEX INVESTMENT POTENTIAL” and IPPTF  - International Technical Conference  “New available technology and improvements for pulp, paper and tissue industry” and  Exhibition of technologies and equipment for pulp and paper industry- were included into the  exhibition program of the Forum for the first time this year.

            The holding of the exhibition “FORESTRY OF RUSSIA” was offered by the Federal Forestry Agency of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation. The exhibition presented high technologies used in Russia for forest protection, forest use and forest management, reforestation and control over forest resources.  Among exhibition exponents there were state structural subdivisions of branch ministries and departments, state and commercial enterprises and organizations. 

 Collective delegations practically from all “forest” regions of Russia and CIS countries annually take part in the work of the Forum. The Subjects of the Russian Federation consider the Forum as the main branch event for presenting their regional programs of forestry complex enterprises development. The new exhibition project “REGIONS OF RUSSIA. FORESTRY COMPLEX INVESTMENT POTENTIAL” united them. Its purpose is presenting projects of regional programs on development of forest, woodworking, furniture and pulp and paper industries in order to attract investments.  In 2006 representatives from 42 regions of Russia participated in the exhibition. Broadened expositions were presented at the exhibition by Leningrad, Bryansk and Vologda regions.  

IPPTF  -International Pulp, Paper and Tissue Forum, which was held   within the framework of the International Forest Forum  in the Pribaltiyskaya Hotel , was dedicated  to  pulp and paper industry.  The program of IPPTF consisted of the international technical conference on new available technology and improvements for pulp, paper and tissue industry and the international exhibition.    The co - organizer of IPPTF  Adforum AB (Sweden) is the organizer of important events in the domain of pulp and paper industry  in the world. The general sponsor of the project is  CHESTERTON INTERNATIONAL INC..  The conference was held at active support and participation of RAO BUMPROM. According to results of the IPPTF holding the task of the  complex specialized event organization, including a conference and an exhibition  with the purpose to  promote high technologies, modernization of domestic pulp and paper industry and stimulation of investment processes at this branch market was realized. The conference showed that Russia is interested in the development of pulp and  paper industry, it was also confirmed by reports of the Russian and foreign experts. Among the participants of  IPPTF 2006 there were: Solombalsky Pulp And Paper Mill, Friateg Ag, Kamensk Paperboard Mill, Bellesbumprom, Komsis, Uralbumproject, Altaykrovlya, Kama Pulp And Paper Mill,  Papcel Used Machinery, Stavropolkatron, St. Petersburg Paper Mill - Affiliate Of Goznak Federal Unitary State Enterprise, Kwi North American Corporation, Naberezhnochelninsky Paperboard Mill, Kartontol Plant, Pef Spyuz, Omsky Paper Plant,  Trade House Fakel,  Cascade N.V., Cellwood Machinery, King Hardware Trading Co, Kievsky Paperboard Mill etc.

up

VIETNAMWOOD 2006 CONCLUDED SUCCESSFULLY WITH HIGH DEGREE OF PROFESSIONALISM

The 6th Vietnam International Woodworking Industry Fair 2006 was jointly organized by Ministry of Trade - Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising National Company, Paper Communication Exhibition Services and Yokers Trade & Marketing Service Co., Ltd. VIETNAMWOOD reaches first milestone with a list of impressive endorsements from prestigious woodworking and furniture related industries. It is supported by EUMABOIS (European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers - a federation grouping 12 national associations representing the major European manufacturers of machines and accessories for woodworking), VDMA (German woodworking machinery manufacturers), ACIMALL (Italian woodworking machinery and tools manufacturers association),AFEMMA (Spanish woodworking machinery, tools ,equipment and products manufacturers association),TWMA (Taiwan woodworking machinery association and WMMA (Woodworking machinery manufacturers of America) are accounted, and assisted from Vietnam government officials and local industry associations. It was held from October 19-22, 2006 at a new venue, Phu My Hung International Exhibition centre (PIEC).

To continue the success and earning public praise, the scale of the fair was expanded farther this year, and it is expected to be more than 155 exhibitors and 14,000 trade visitors from Vietnam, its neighboring countries and Asia. There were numerous well known world-class leading brands which came from more than 17 countries including Chine, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United States, Vietnam and etc., participating and displaying a total number of 430 booths. The theme focused on various woodworking machines, cutters, furniture accessories, and semi-finished products.

VIETNAMWOOD is the only one professional exhibition held in Vietnam, it is making its presence felt in Vietnam through a high degree of professionalism and quality of exhibitors. There were also many visitations from industry specialists, and foreign industrial delegates from countries such as Italy, Germany, Spain, United States, China, Taiwan and India.

Vietnam is currently on its way to become a leading furniture manufacturing country in Asia. Due to the lack of modern manufacturing technology and skills, the Vietnam international woodworking industry fairs are developed to address this need and anticipation of Vietnam’s furniture industries, bringing benefits to the local woodworking manufacturers through improvement in technology, skills and opportunities to replace outdated machines.

up

MR ANDREW NG APPOINTED NEW PRESIDENT OF SINGAPORE FURNITURE INDUSTRIES COUNCIL

Prominent Local Furniture Players Elected In The New Committee

“I am indeed honoured to be part of this dynamic team. The new executive committee will not only continue to diligently pursue SFIC’s goals and objectives, but will also carry on the good work implemented by the out-going committee. With newer technologies coming on-stream by the day and a highly competitive global landscape, it is imperative that we adopt clearly defined strategies and a creative approach to ensure continuous growth for our industry. My committee will continue to play a significant role in promoting the interests of our members and the Singapore furniture industry to ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in the global furniture marketplace.” said Mr Andrew Ng.

Mr Ng will lead the executive committee members of the SFIC in shaping the future of the Singapore furniture industry. The newly elected committee of the 2006/2008 term are as follows:

About Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC)

Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) was established in 1981 as the official representative body of Singapore's furniture industry. It currently represents 95% of furniture manufacturers in Singapore, 65% of whom have subsidiary manufacturing plants in the region; including Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Vietnam and Thailand. Its primary roles include promoting the interests of its members and the Singapore furniture industry, facilitating members' exposure to the world market, creating more entrepreneurs through human resource development, developing local talents, creating more leading-edge and award-winning designs by organizing competitions such as the annual Furniture Design Award, forging strategic partnerships with government- and trade-related agencies, harnessing technology and knowledge for growth through the use of information technology.

up

FMC/ZOW 2006: POST SHOW REPORT

FACTS & FIGURES

2006 China Furniture Manufacturing & Supply Seminar

Organizer ：www.chinawood.org ＆ International Wood Industry

China National Furniture Association

Shanghai CMP Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co. Ltd