Bangkok, Thailand, October 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Thailand Retail, Food & Hospitality Services 2022 (TRAFS) trade fair opened today in Bangkok. Now in its 16th edition, TRAFS serves as the premier platform for personal interaction between suppliers and buyers to unlock new potential and showcase new products and services that meet the growing needs of Thailand's thriving food service and hospitality industry and the ASEAN region.

The four-day trade fair offers numerous unique activities for the further education of professionals, including specialist seminars, workshops (food, coffee and baked goods), live theatre performances by industry experts and individual business introductions.

The trade fair organized by Kavin Intertrade is unique in that it combines three international trade fairs under one roof: "Everything from a single source: solutions for gastronomy, hospitality, retail and franchise".

The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, and attended by the following dignitaries: – Mr. Mohamed Hafiz Md Shariff, Trade Commissioner of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade), – Mr. Max Chang, Director of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), – Dato Mike Loh Ming Choon, President, Founder and CEO of the ASEAN Retail-Chains and Franchise Federation (Malaysia), – Mr. Michele Tomea, Secretary General of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC), – Mr. Ha Jeongwon, Principal Project Manager of the Korea Rice Foodstuffs Association, – Mr. Meechai Amornpathanakul, Chairman of the Barista Association of Thailand, – Mr. Li Feng, Representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, – Mr. Joo Yong Lee, Managing Director of the aT Korea Agro Trade Center Bangkok, – Mr. Thongpoon Duangchompoo, Secretary of the Food and Beverage Management Association (Thailand). Chef Thongliam Pookthong, President of the Chefs Association of Thailand

The first event is the 16th Thailand Retail, Food & Hospitality Services (TRAFS) – Thailand's leading trade fair for equipment and raw materials for restaurants, cafes, catering establishments, and food service businesses. The fair offers hoteliers, restaurant managers, cafe owners, and all stakeholders in the food industry an excellent platform to purchase or source new equipment and raw materials for food and beverages from over 100 Thai and international exhibitors, showcasing more than 7,000 items from around the world.

With the support of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), as well as associations of the hotel and food industries, the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce and leading food schools, the organizer has developed numerous unique activities that visitors can participate in free of charge to help them get the most out of their visit, such as cooking and baking workshops, intensive barista courses and seminars on the food and hotel industries.

"The goal is to improve the qualifications of skilled workers in the industries in order to raise industry standards and create new jobs," said the managing director.

The second trade fair is "ASEAN Retail"—founded in 2016 and internationally oriented. ASEAN Retail is Thailand's only comprehensive platform solution for the retail sector. Positioning itself as the leading event for the retail industry, the fair responds to the dynamic demand of the Thai retail market, which is considered a "shopping paradise" within ASEAN. The four-day exhibition offers numerous innovations and ideas that meet the high demands of the retail industry.

“In the 7th edition, exhibitors from Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and China will present their entire range of retail products – from state-of-the-art technology for the booming e-commerce sector to store equipment such as receipt printers, UV printing, transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting software, AI cloud platforms, touchscreen displays, POS CRM and loyalty programs, e-money services, power outlets, digital technologies for e-commerce businesses and consulting services, etc.,” said Mr. Kavin.

The third event is the 18th Thailand Franchise & Business Opportunities (TFBO) – Thailand's most important international franchise trade fair. It is considered the most effective platform for networking between franchise brand owners and investors from Thailand, ASEAN, and the global market. Investors will encounter nearly 150 well-known franchise brands from Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the USA, India, and other countries. The franchise opportunities cover ten categories, ranging from restaurants, bakeries, delivery services, car care, and cosmetics to retail, laundromats, and vending machines.

“The trade fair offers an excellent opportunity to discover new business and investment opportunities. In addition, the four-day exhibition is packed with exciting activities such as business matching and seminars by industry experts,” said Mr. Kavin.

Kavin Kittiboonya, Managing Director of Kavin Intertrade Co., Ltd., said: “Founded in 1999, the company has experienced unprecedented growth and great success, gaining recognition from industry leaders, government agencies, and local and international associations. We are proud to be part of the trade fair industry, which generates 53 billion baht annually and provides over 43,000 jobs.”

With over two decades of experience, Kavin Intertrade has organized more than 150 trade fairs and has a portfolio of 10 high-quality, industry-specific trade and consumer events.

Based in the heart of Bangkok, the company employs 26 highly qualified and dedicated staff. "Our team takes the utmost care with every single step – from preparation and conception to execution, marketing, and moderation. Our business approach is unique: we combine local roots with global reach. Our goal is to create a dynamic, educational, and inspiring environment, providing a platform for exchange between sellers and buyers," says the managing director.

Other company-owned trade fairs include: – Thailand Coffee Tea & Drinks and Thailand Bakery & Ice Cream (16th edition) The longest-running international B2B2C trade fair for the rapidly growing coffee, tea, bakery and confectionery industries in Thailand and ASEAN.

The Khon Kaen Coffee Bakery Ice Cream & Franchise (KICE) is the largest event for coffee, bakery, ice cream, and franchise companies in northeastern Nigeria. This B2B2C trade fair offers a diverse three-day program of workshops, seminars, and business networking opportunities.

Pub and Bar Asia – the only trade fair for boutique and independent restaurants, pubs, and bars in Southeast Asia. The fair is the premier platform for hospitality professionals to launch new products, strengthen existing customer relationships, and explore new business opportunities. With a comprehensive database of importers, distributors, and users in Thailand and the ASEAN countries, your success is guaranteed.

– ASEAN Cold Pharma Chain and ASEAN Logistics & Warehouse ASEAN Cold Pharma Chain and ASEAN Logistics & Warehouse is a “complete” platform for four key clusters, namely Cold Chain, Cold Pharma Chain, Logistics and Warehouse, to bring together manufacturers, traders, service providers and direct users in the four clusters.

The show management companies include, among others:

– Bangkok International Gift Fair & Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG + BIH) 2014 & 2015 (Turnkey Contract) Project Owner: Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand (DITP)

The company organized, promoted, and conducted the large annual international trade fair for DITP under a turnkey contract. The fair is considered the most prestigious trade fair for giftware and home accessories and is internationally recognized as one of the most important and aesthetically sophisticated events in Asia.

– TEA Webinar Series 2021: Potentials and Outlook for Thailand's Exhibition Industry (Turnkey Contract) Project Owner: Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) The company organized and conducted three webinar series for the Thailand Exhibition Association (TEA)*, which served as an online platform to connect Thai exhibition organizers and related parties and to share their best practices, experiences and visions with participants.

The topics included international market trends and perspectives, Thailand's opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Thailand's economic recovery.

– World Tea and Coffee Exhibition (Turnkey Project) Project Promoter: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organisation) – TCEB

The World Tea and Coffee Expo: The 2nd International Tea and Coffee Symposium is the largest tea and coffee event in Northern Thailand and is themed "From Local to Global." The trade fair brings together 50 exhibitors from Thailand and abroad. Trade visitors and buyers meet leading manufacturers, distributors, importers, and suppliers along the entire value chain.

The event was divided into four main parts: symposium, trade fair, business development and information tour to promote tea and coffee as incentive routes to develop northern Thailand into a global center for coffee and tea production, trade, investment and tourism.

Thailand is in a strong position to become the exhibition center of ASEAN; with its strategic location in the heart of Southeast Asia and ASEAN, Thailand offers exhibitors a great advantage in accessing broader markets beyond the country.