Malaysia Pavilion A Hit at IMEX Trade Show

By Manik Mehta FRANKFURT, May 24 (Bernama) -- The ongoing IMEX trade show here is attracting a steady stream of trade visitors to the impressively-designed Malaysia pavilion. Peter Brokenshire, General Manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), said Malaysia’s participation was very well balanced with cultural show offered by a dance troupe, a live demonstration of batik painting by a Malaysian painter, and a bazaar enticing the guests to bargain in the open market created at the pavilion with "monopoly money" handed by the Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). "It allows the guests to get a feel of how people buy and sell at such bazaars in Malaysia," one MyCEB representative explained to Bernama. The bazaar at IMEX proved to be very popular, with a large turnout of buyers eagerly buying up the handicrafts and other Malaysian products "on sale". The money that had been handed over to the visitors quickly vanished from their hands in exchange for the products. Brokenshire, one of the top executives of Malaysia’s leading convention venues met at the exhibition ground dedicated to the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE) sector, described Malaysia as a buoyant destination with its excellent infrastructure. "Malaysia is seen as a neutral country where it is easier to do business," said the KLCC executive who is very bullish about the future of MICE business in Malaysia. "In the United States, where we have done many road shows, we found that the US-based associations are actively seeking us out for the first time. "US-based associations see the need to engage with Asia, and Malaysia is considered to be an important player in the region. "Its rich and vibrant cultural diversity, with the Chinese, Indian, Malay and others playing a vital role, offer Malaysia a unique position. Added to this is the fact that Malaysia is a moderate Muslim country that also attracts a large turnout from the Middle East," he said. Nevertheless, one could not ignore the fact that this year’s IMEX show was taking place under the gloom of a continuing economic downturn not only in the US but also in most of Europe which has been hit by the euro debt crisis, with Europe’s southern plank, foremost of all Greece, shaken by the prospect of not being bailed out from its continuing financial malaise and possibly leaving the eurozone. "Malaysia has not been affected by the eurocrisis or the downturn in the US. As a matter of fact, we have had back-to-back schedule at the IMEX. We at the KLCC had 15 per cent growth in 2011 which was our best year ever. "We had some very good enquiries. But one very good enquiry has been a prospective three-year consecutive business involving over 1,500 guests. This is an information technology related event organised by a US-based association. "The mood here is very upbeat as far as Malaysia is concerned," Brokenshire averred. -- BERNAMA