Global leading brands gather at Thai agricultural fair

A booth manned by Vietnam’s Bui Van Ngo Industrial & Agricultural Machinery Co Ltd at the SIMA ASEAN Thailand 2017 - PHOTO: VU DUC

NONTHABURI – More than 300 brands from all over the world took part in the SIMA ASEAN Thailand 2017, which is ASEAN’s largest all-in-one platform for agribusiness focusing on the machinery innovations to reach the Agriculture 4.0 era.

The fair, which closed Saturday, was jointly organized by IMPACT Exhibition Management Co Ltd, COMEXPOSIUM and Union des Industriels de I’Agroeqyuipment from France, Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Kasetsart University.

“We are aware of its significance in driving Thailand to the Agriculture 4.0 era,” said Dr. Suwit Chaikiattiyos, general director of the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

“We hope that this event will be the platform to exchange ideas and the latest technology that lead to the rapid industry development, an increase of leverage negotiation for farmers, and a higher capability of the Thai agribusiness industry in the highly competitive international market,” he said.

In addition, the event helped promote and strengthen Thailand’s agriculture by giving Thai exhibitors the opportunity to showcase their potential, as well as learn more about practical agricultural innovations and technology from international exhibitors. It also aimed to educate Thai farmers how to increase their productivity and raise the bar for agricultural produce to meet international standards.

Loy Joon How, general manager of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co Ltd, said SIMA ASEAN Thailand 2017 was a brilliant opportunity for Thailand to become the main agribusiness hub in the region. More than 300 brands from all over the world are exhibiting their products and services at the event.

This year’s highlight was the demonstration area located by IMPACT lakeside, where agricultural machinery is on display. Experts were present to share their knowledge and there will also be a drone pavilion and workshops that are geared towards the Agriculture 4.0 era.

Jean-Hugues Barsot, key account manager of SIMA – SITEVI at COMEXPOSIUM, said SIMA was an international agricultural exhibition where innovations, latest technology and machinery for the agricultural sector are featured. It also served as a meeting point for traders, buyers, importers, operators, farmers, experts and professionals in agribusiness.

At the SIMA Paris event this year, there were 232,000 visitors from across the world, and over 1,700 exhibitors from 42 countries and territories, building a stronger brand for SIMA.

“We organize events in Europe, South Africa and Asia. With this third edition, SIMA ASEAN can now be considered as a deeply-rooted exhibition. This show confirms its status as the leading agricultural trade show in Southeast Asia,” Barsot said.

The third edition of SIMA ASEAN Thailand 2017 was expected to attract 15% more visitors than the previous year and generate more than one billion bath in revenues. The second edition last year attracted more than 13,000 trade visitors from 40 countries and territories such as Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and Vietnam.