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The organisers of Aquarama 2009, UBM Asia Trade Fairs Pte. Ltd., could have been forgiven for approaching this year’s event, held at Suntec Singapore on 28-31 May, with justifiable apprehension. With the world economy going from bad to worse for more than a year leading up to the show, there was genuine concern regarding the response of both exhibitors and trade visitors. Would exhibitors pull out? Would people be prepared to travel to Singapore, despite the many attractions presented by Aquarama? Would those that did attend find the expense…and their efforts…worthwhile?
The words of a US exhibitor summed it up rather neatly. Brian Miller, International Sales Manager at Seachem Laboratories, Inc. (Madison, Georgia) had this to say: “This is the place you would not wish NOT to be at”.
Encouraging Statistics
This view was widely echoed by other exhibitors who reported brisk business throughout the four-day event, including the last 11/2 days during which the show was open to the general public. The basic stats, too, made encouraging reading.
The total exhibition floor space taken up was a little over 9,000 square metres, down on 2007, but still very respectable indeed. In total, there were 158 exhibiting companies from 22 countries.
The trade visitor figures, for their part, surpassed 4,300, a figure that was eminently satisfying for UBM, especially since, perhaps, against some expectations, no fewer than 65% of these were overseas visitors. Equally gratifying was the fact that 80 countries were represented among the 65% - a significant rise when compared to the 68 represented two years ago.
In line with the ongoing economic downturn which has affected even affluent countries like Singapore, the organisers expected some 14,200 people to attend during the 11/2 public days. They were therefore very pleasantly surprised when no fewer than 14,520 turned up in the end.
Busy Atmosphere
Figures, though, only tell part of the story. The full story can only be gathered ‘at ground level’, that is, by going round the show, talking to people, sensing the mood on the exhibition floor, assessing the range and quality of the products and services on offer, and so on. It was here that one sensed that there was a genuine ‘good feel’ factor about this year’s Aquarama.
The impression was of a busy show with satisfied buyers and sellers. Numerous exhibitors repeatedly stated that they were very pleased, not just with the number of visitors they were receiving, but their quality as well, a feature that, while being typical of Aquarama, was perhaps even more evident this year. What they were referring to, in business terms, was the high incidence of serious enquirers and buyers, as well as to the number of deals that were sown up. It therefore seemed that, at least, part of the dip in trade visitor numbers was the result of the absence of more casual visitors, the so-called ‘lookers’.
This makes sense, of course. After all, travelling to Singapore isn’t cheap. It is therefore logical that, during a tough period such as the one we are still experiencing globally, only those who have a serious reason for visiting and doing business at the event will be prepared to embark on the round trip.
Visitors were equally complimentary. First-timers were happy to witness Aquarama at first hand and felt that it lived up to its reputation. Old hands were just pleased that there were so many people about and so many new products to see, both in the New Products Showcase (an area set up specifically for such products), as well as on the booths themselves.
Some Trends
Space dictates that we cannot cover these products in any detail here, but we can, nevertheless, provide some broad brush strokes regarding some of the main trends detectable at AQ ’09. For example, for several years now, nano aquaria have been becoming ever-more popular. Numerous exhibitors therefore had such aquaria on display, some for freshwater organisms, others for marines.
The dividing line between what constitutes a nano aquarium and a small ‘normal’ aquarium is gradually becoming somewhat more difficult to distinguish clearly these days. However, be this at it may, what is becoming evident is that the nano aquarium boom has resulted in the development of efficient water treatment and lighting systems for small set-ups and these were very much in evidence. So, too, were organisms, especially mini freshwater shrimps, for small aquaria.
The so-called ‘greener’ approach is also becoming evermore- prominent at events such as Aquarama. Cultured corals, for instance, were more widely exhibited this year than they were a few years ago. So were products such as synthetic live rock.
Accompanying what appears to be a renewed surge in interest within the trade for good-looking aquaria, filters, skimmers, lighting systems and all associated products commanded a great share of the available floor space. Chillers, too – the ‘in-products’ for tropical marine aquaria – were also there, including what was being claimed as a world first: a wall-mounted (picture) chilled marine setup.
Then there are the inevitable novelty products which attract attention because of their surprise element. On this front, a particularly strong crowd puller was a ‘magic water treatment’ which allows freshwater and marine fish to be kept in the same tank…and indefinitely, according to the exhibitor in question.
New at this Aquarama was also the Korea Pavilion incorporating six separate exhibitors, as well as the Korean Fishery Trade Association. This newcomer joined the other now-established Pavilions represented by Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Ornamental Fish International.
Seminars, Competitions and Farms
This year’s free Trade Seminar Programme was probably the best ever, with excellent international speakers and attendances to match. All three sessions: Fish Health Checklist (six separate presentations), Marine Selection (six presentations) and Pet Session (three presentations) were very well attended, including the last which was being introduced for the first time, in line with Aquarama’s decision to expand into the general pet sector, something that the current crisis dictated be tackled only modestly this time round. The general pet sector of Aquarama (Pet Asia) is expected to expand as the economic climate changes for the better, especially since there was keen interest in the idea when it was first mooted about a year ago i.e. before the steep slide into recession really got going.
As ever, the International Fish Competition – which also included Marine Tank and Planted Tank Competitions – was fully subscribed, with 1,347 entries from 13 countries. The farm visits programme was also fully booked up, with around 120 overseas delegates from 27 countries visiting six of Singapore’s top farms, ranging from dragon fish, through freshwater tropicals, to marines.
Hopes Fulfilled
During the Opening Ceremony, the Guest of Honour, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, had stressed the fact that the local ornamental aquatic industry was “…a resilient one (that was) doing relatively well despite the global economic downturn.” He felt confident that “with a strong track record, passionate and determined industry players…the industry will continue to grow from strength to strength.”
Mr. Jimé Essink, President and Chief Executive Officer of UBM Asia, was confident that, irrespective of the situation, Aquarama 2009 was fully expected to be a “spectacularly glittering” affair, thanks to the unflinching support the event enjoys worldwide.
Dr. Gerald Bassleer, President of Ornamental Fish International, felt that it was Aquarama’s undisputed importance that had led his organisation to choose the event to hold a ground-breaking International Conference on Invasive Alien Species to be addressed and attended by leading experts in the field from all over the world. For his part, Kenny The Fish, Chairman of Singapore’s Ornamental Fish Business Cluster, once more emphasised the resilience and hardiness of the ornamental aquatic industry, one with “a niche appeal that pervades geographical boundaries and demographic definitions”. Further, he felt that, “When times are uncertain…we need to demonstrate unwavering confidence because it will help us to ride out the waves.” He therefore applauded UBM Asia “for their confidence and commitment” and called on the industry “to rally round them with our support.”
It was, without doubt, this longstanding unwavering support from every corner of the globe that was largely responsible for this year’s confidence-boosting success, as well as the 40% pre-bookings already in place for 2011. In the words of Linda Tan, Head of Events (Aquatics & Paper) at UBM Asia, “All along, we have been receiving tremendous encouragement from our international and national supporters. However, until the show got under way, we didn’t really know whether this support would translate into attendances and sales for our exhibitors. It is therefore hugely uplifting for us all to see that our combined efforts, under very difficult operating conditions, have resulted in such an attractive, busy and successful show for all parties. We are now looking forward to the new challenges that Aquarama 2011 will bring with great optimism.
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(Pictures: AQM/PT Photo Library.)
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