The processing and packaging industries are growing at exponential rates in Asia. Increasing drug manufacturing activities in emerging nations is driving demand for packaging especially in countries such as India and China.

Due to lower wages, skilled and plentiful workforce and the increasing availability of state-of-the-art technology, these countries have emerged as favourite destinations for packaging companies.  Moreover demand for pharma packaging in these countries has increased, particularly in the wake of patent expiries, which has helped them  to emerge as centres for generic drug manufacturing.

According to a GBI Research study, the global pharma packaging market was  dominated by the US, with a market share of 37 per cent in  followed by Western Europe and Asia Pacific, with market shares of 33 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, in 2010. However Over the next five years, the Asia Pacific market is expected to grow by more than 10 per cent, while Western European and the US markets will grow only at six per cent and four per cent, respectively. Thus  in the future as Asia Pacific is poised to grow faster than Europe and the US.

ProPak Asia 2012, the definitive exhibition and conference for international manufacturers and suppliers of machinery, technology and materials for the packaging, filing, processing, and quality assurance sectors, taking place at  the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) from June 13 to 16, 2012 will help drive  the next level of growth for the industry in the Asian region.

The event theme this year, which also marks ProPak Asia's 20th anniversary, is "Total Processing and Packaging Solutions for Food, Drink and Pharmaceuticals", focusing the spotlight on processing and packaging solutions that ensure quality, freshness, and safety for these industries.

"As the largest international processing and packaging event in Asia, ProPak Asia continues to highlight the topical issues that are affecting the industry, and brings together the leading manufacturers and suppliers to showcase a wide range of cutting-edge solutions to an international audience," said  Justin Pau, General Manager of Bangkok Exhibition Services.

"The processing and packaging industries are growing at an exponential rate in ASEAN and the ProPak 2012 exhibition and conference is designed to equip industry practitioners with perspectives that drive the next level of growth. Building on last year's theme of going green, we aim to make great strides forward in every sector,"  Pau added.

"With its high annual visitorship, ProPak Asia is the perfect platform for Singaporean companies to present their products and solutions to the industry at large, and to keep abreast of the trends in the market," said  Albert Lim, Chairman of the Packaging Council of Singapore.

ProPak Asia 2012's emphasis on food, drink and pharmaceuticals brings awareness to high-performing materials and processes for these sectors. "By nature of their perishability and compositions, food, drink and pharmaceuticals put very high demands on processes and packaging materials," explained Lim.

The event  is expected to welcome international participation from 14 national groups and independent exhibitors from up to 40 countries. Buyers are likely  to exceed 35,000 trade professionals as business and investment continues to rise in Asia.

Last year, the 19th ProPak Asia conference attracted 33,376 trade buyers from 61 countries, with the top 10  key Asian buyer concentration from Malaysia, India, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The exhibitor's profile include food and beverage, food processing machinery, packaging machines and technology, weighing machines, testing machines and technology, canning technology, labelling and marking technology, confectionery machinery, food ingredients, liquids and solids handling machines, packaging machinery, packaging materials and printing technology etc.

The visitor's profile include food manufacturers industry, packaging industry, professional and decision makers, packaging machinery industry, process control engineers and specialists, printing technology industry, importers and exporters, food and confectionery departments, wholesalers and retailers, visual and print media, governments agencies and general public.

The event this year also put the focus on ideas and concepts driving emerging sectors by serving as home to five specialized zones:

• DrinkTech Asia 2012 - The 11th international beverage and brewing processing and packaging technology exhibition.
• PharmaTech Asia 2012 - The 19th international pharmaceutical & cosmetics packaging and processing technology exhibition.
• Lab & Test Asia 2012 - The 6th international laboratory equipment, instrumentation, test
• and measurement and quality control exhibition
• PlasTech Asia 2012 - The 7th international plastic for processing and packaging technology exhibition
• A new addition to the show this year is:
• PrintTech Asia 2012 - The international printing for processing and packaging technology exhibition

Furthering the education landscape for the processing, filing and packaging industry, ProPak Asia will feature a series of high-level conferences, seminars, workshops and competitions, with special segments highlighting food, beverage and pharmaceutical solutions. These include:

• Food Innovation Asia Conference 2012, organised by the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT).
• TISTR Conference 2012, organised by Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR).
• The 5th Plastics in Packaging Conference organised by Asia Plastic News.
• Food Innovation Contest 2012 organised by the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT)
• Technology Promotion Association (Thailand-Japan) Conference 2012
• PharmaTech Seminar 2012 organised by the Pharmaceutical Industry Association Thailand (PIAT).
• The Thai Star and Asia Star Packaging Award 2011 and Press Conference 2012 organised by the Department of Industrial Promotion.
• The FoSTAT-Nestle Bowl Quiz organised by the Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT)
• Green Packaging Conference organised by Plastics and Rubber Asia

Supawan Teerarat, exhibition director, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), an official supporter of ProPak Asia 2012, said, “Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) is the government agency working under the direct supervision of the Thai Prime Minister's Office. Our primary mission is to promote the MICE industry in Thailand. And ProPak Asia is regarded as the pride of Thailand which is recognised and praised as the leading, largest and most international regional trade exhibition for the food, drink and pharmaceutical processing and packaging industries.”

“Especially for this year, TCEB once again selected ProPak Asia to be one of the important international regional trade exhibitions under its “Better the Best” campaign, the qualified champion trade show of Thailand.

ProPak Asia 2012, to be held this year, has received full support contributed by TCEB for three consecutive years. TCEB provides support to ProPak Asia which includes international marketing activities and specific promotions, campaigns, roadshows and business matching events in ASEAN plus six countries. This aims to increase business opportunities, make the industry to be ready for AEC 2015 and help our overseas participants maximise the value of their visit to Thailand.”

Since its incorporation in 1989, BES rapidly became one of the leading trade exhibition and conference organisers in Thailand. Now with a portfolio of more than 20 events over three countries, BES has extensive experience of organising both national and regional exhibitions and conferences in Thailand, Vietnam and India. International recognitions include its organisation of the first exhibition in Thailand to be endorsed by the worldwide exhibition standards organisation in Paris, the Union des Foires Internaitonales (UFI), and its achievement of the International Star for Quality Award in Geneva in 2010.

Since the launch of the first ProPak Asia in 1984 the show has developed into one of the most effective vehicles for buyers and sellers to meet in one location. The steady growth of the event has mirrored the growth of Thailand as a regional hub for the processing and packaging industries, becoming Asia's numero uno show for these sectors. Thus ProPak Asia is  playing a crucial role in the region's processing and packaging advancements.