InterPlas Thailand focuses on single-market ASEAN

The biggest exhibition for industrial production in the ASEAN region remains unbeatable as it brings the latest technologies, raw materials and services aimed at improving production efficiency and product quality. InterPlas Thailand 2014, the leading international plastics and rubber manufacturing machinery and technologies exhibition in Thailand is a major arena that offers business opportunities to industrialists in the plastics and rubber industries throughout the region. InterPlas Thailand has been certified by a world-class exhibition organisation called UFI as an “UFI Approved Event” so that is a proof that the event complies with high standards and being an international exhibition, it can provide benefits to exhibitors and visitors alike.

With innovations from 260 brands from 14 countries including Japan, South Korea, China, Germany, Italy, visitors can view the technologies and products that represent various segments of plastics and rubber manufacturing. The theme this year is “Strengthen Plastics Industry with New Innovations” and over 50,000 buyers across ASEAN are expected to attend.

This year, InterPlas Thailand takes on a more important role in the region’s robust plastics and rubber industry. ASEAN will soon become a single market as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) envisions a single market and production base characterised by free flow of goods, services, and investments, as well as freer flow of capital and skills by 2015. ASEAN, through the establishment of the AEC, is committed to enable businesses to fully tap on the potential of the region as an integrated and single investment destination.

Instead of 10 fragmented economies, ASEAN is creating a single market that will allow investors to increase their market reach to a total of 600 million, compared to only a minimum of half a million people or maximum of 240 million if they are to access only the market of one ASEAN country. To start off, the ASEAN economic ministers have drawn up the priorities that all the grouping’s 10 member states should focus on as part of the preparations for the implementation of the AEC in 2015.

For the plastics and rubber industry in the region, the integration of the ASEAN into a single market will pose both a challenge and an opportunity. The demand for automotive parts, packaging, design products and general appliances will drive the needs for production inputs. Within the ASEAN region, the free flow of goods will also raise demand for innovative technologies and raw materials as production inputs.