Click here for the photo report of the 2017 Horti Asia
Cross pollination with VIV
This year for the first time, the Horti Asia was jointly organized with the AgriTechnica Asia and VIV livestock exhibitions. Especially the latter one, which is one of the largest livestock and animal husbandry events in Asia, provided many cross pollination and extra traffic towards the Horti Asia. Exhibitors said to be very pleased with this, as they noticed that there is a big overlap in the nature of visitors of the two shows."Greenhouse growing and livestock industries face several similar challenges for which much of the same technology is used", said one of the exhibitors. "We noticed many investors from livestock industries are also interested in stepping into horticulture as an additional business. Many of them want to take advantage of the opportunities in multiple agrofood industries, and by investing in horticulture, they do not bet on just one horse. Organizing the Horti Asia concurrent with the VIV was therefore a very good improvement for the show."
Also the incoming international trade delegations from the Hosted Buyer Program turned out to be a welcomed addition. "Several large groups with serious players from Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam attended the event, as well as representatives from other food producing multinationals from North America and the Middle East, giving the event a more international character."
Building a market takes time
But there are more reasons that Horti Asia turned out to be a better show; looking back at the first edition, a lot of development took place in Southeast Asian horticulture. Suppliers got to know the market, established the first relations with customers and distributors and after five years a market has been created. Much of the first time exhibitors gained their presence in the market, even in underdeveloped markets such as Thailand, where a number of greenhouses have been established as a result of a first contact that was laid at Horti Asia.
Vietnam
And then there is Vietnam. The ongoing investments in this country in particular was the talk of the town in Bangkok. Greenhouse builders and suppliers speak of many private investments from Vietnamese companies who like to take advantage of the opportunities for safe and locally produced fruit and vegetables. This is a fast growing and promising market. Some of them in vertical farms and plant factories, but most in greenhouses and other protective structures. As Vietnamese farmers and investors by nature like to go out and travel, many of them have come to Bangkok to get acquainted with new technologies and supplies.
Click here for the photo report of the 2017 Horti Asia
Horti Asia 2018?
After three busy successful days, many of the exhibitors told us they were very pleased with their participation in the event. Most of them only had one side note on the next edition of the event as it is not really clear what the organizer plans for next year. It was announced that in 2018, the Horti Asia will not be organized concurrent with VIV, and that the show will take place in August. Many of the exhibitors told us that they were not very pleased with this and would like to see that the organizer continues with the current format of organizing the Horti Asia together with the VIV and AgriTechnica in March.
In the coming weeks we will publish several articles to highlight the opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asian horticulture. For now please have a look at our photo recap of the 5th Horti Asia.
Click here for the photo report of the 2017 Horti Asia
In the coming weeks we will publish several articles to highlight the opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asian horticulture. For now please have a look at our photo recap of the 5th Horti Asia.
Click here for the photo report of the 2017 Horti Asia