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SINGAPORE, 7 April 2009 –
The International Furniture Fair Singapore 2009 and
26th ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS 2009) saw a healthy
attendance of 15,606 trade visitors from 118 countries,
solid testimony of the strength and liveliness of
the furniture trade industry in Singapore and the
region despite the economic downturn.
At the four-day event held from
9 to 12 March, a total of 104 overseas buying delegations
from 38 different countries visited the fair. Boasting
prominent players from Australia, Germany, Hong Kong,
India, South Africa, Spain, the UAE, UK and USA, IFFS/AFS
2009 has emerged as the preferred sourcing destination
for top buyers even as the industry rationalises globally.
As an all-round effective springboard
to the Asian and international markets for global
trade players, IFFS/AFS 2009 achieved an estimated
total of US$ 245 million in spot orders. As a result
of the business opportunities secured during the fair,
an additional estimated US$2.2 billion in follow-on
sales is also expected for the year ahead.
IFFS/AFS 2009 has also garnered
an estimated US$ 41 million in economic spin-offs
for Singapore’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions
and Exhibitions (MICE) and tourism sectors.
Covering six halls and a gross
area of 60,000 square metres at the Singapore Expo,
IFFS/AFS 2009 showcased a fascinating array of quality,
well-designed furniture from 471 Asian and international
exhibitors from 33 countries. New exhibitors hailing
from 26 different countries made up close to 30 per
cent of total exhibitors, providing much freshness
as well as greater avenues for potential new business
ventures and tie-ups.
With more than 60,000 pieces of furniture and furnishing
products featured, IFFS/AFS 2009 offered unparalleled
variety and quality buying opportunities. The fair
also gathers the largest collection of products from
China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam exhibitors,
exhibited outside these respective countries, making
it truly Asia’s one-stop sourcing haven.
Design took centre stage at IFFS/AFS
2009, which saw the highly successful return of the
expanded PLATFORM showcase and the display of the
top entries in the Furniture Design Award 2009 and
5th FL!P Challenge. The Furniture Design Forum 2009,
held in conjunction with the Fair on 11 March also
met with great success. Featuring keynote speaker,
international celebrity designer Mr Karim Rashid,
the venue was filled to the brim with 439 participants
comprising furniture industry players, designers,
architects, design students, trade agencies and the
media.
Buyers were also able to view
first-to-market collections launched at the fair,
including the new PINKER series developed by Mr Karim
Rashid in collaboration with Office Planner Pte Ltd
and the Level collection by renowned designer Mr John
Kelly for Koda Ltd.
Mr Tony Pang, Chairman of the
IFFS/AFS 2009 Show Advisory Panel, said: “While
the general market sentiment is largely cautious,
the results of IFFS/AFS 2009 have exceeded our expectations.
We are heartened to have received very positive feedback
from international buyers and exhibitors, both on-ground
and post event. The numbers and positive response
proved that global furniture trade players have indeed
remained fully confident in the value and effectiveness
of the fair. While the world economy is bracing for
challenging times ahead, we remain completely committed
to further
improving the quality of IFFS/AFS to provide greater
value-add and will offer even better incentives for
participants and visitors in IFFS/AFS 2010.”
A list of quotes from buyers and
exhibitors at IFFS/AFS 2009 has been appended for
your use. For more updates on IFFS/AFS 2010, please
visit www.iffs.com.sg
About International Furniture
Fair Singapore Pte Ltd (IFFS Pte Ltd)
International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd (IFFS
Pte Ltd) is partly owned by the Singapore Furniture
Industries Council (SFIC) and MP International Pte
Ltd. IFFS Pte Ltd’s primary objectives are to
organise and manage furniture and furniture-related
fairs, exhibitions, shows, conferences and other events
worldwide. This includes the annual International
Furniture Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS),
a keynote event on the furniture trade exhibition
calendar that is widely regarded as the “Best
in Asia” by the industry. The company has a
six-member Board of Directors, comprising the Chairman,
Mr Andrew Ng who is also President of SFIC, Mr Jerry
Tan and Mr Kenny Koh, SFIC Vice Presidents, SFIC Presidential
Advisor, Mr James Koh, Chairman of MP International
Pte Ltd, Mr James Chia and Ms Sylvia Phua, CEO of
MP International Pte Ltd.
About International Furniture
Fair Singapore/ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS)
The International Furniture Fair Singapore, held in
conjunction with the ASEAN Furniture Show (IFFS/AFS)
began in 1981 and has since grown to be regarded by
industry experts as Asia's most prestigious furniture
trade show. IFFS/AFS provides an effective marketing
platform for regional companies to venture into global
markets. As a testimony to the quality of the show,
IFFS/AFS is the first Asian-based international furniture
fair to be accepted as a member of the elite Union
des Foires Internationales, a Paris-based international
authority on trade fairs. In addition, it is the only
furniture trade event in Singapore to be awarded the
'Approved International Fair' status by the Singapore
Tourism Board. The Singapore Exhibition and Convention
Bureau also recognises the fair as a major event on
Singapore's international exhibition calendar.
Issued by : Foreword
Communications Pte Ltd
On behalf of :
International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd
For media enquiries, please contact:
Juliana Teo (Account Director)
/ Sylvia Lim (Consultant) / Alanna Yeo (Senior Associate)
Foreword Communications Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6338 5918
Email: juliana@foreword.com.sg
/ sylvia@foreword.com.sg
/ alanna@foreword.com.sg
Shermaine Ong (Executive
Director) / Juliana Gan (Marketing Communications
Manager)
International Furniture Fair Singapore Pte Ltd
Tel: +65 6569 6988
Email: shermaine@singaporefurniture.com
/ juliana@iffs.com.sg
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