Thailand to host Gastech 2026

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Bangkok, 18th September: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) announced Thailand won the bid for Gastech 2026, joined forces with the Ministry of Energy. Gastech 2026 will be held from 15th to 18th September 2026, at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC).

Gastech 2026, focuses on gas, LNG, hydrogen, and other sustainable energy solution, will provide opportunities for business negotiations and knowledge exchange with leading global energy players, as well as for bilateral and multilateral collaborations to advance future energy development.

It is expected Gastech 2026 to attract over 50,000 attendees from 150 countries, including more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and over 1,000 energy experts. It is also estimated to generate an economic impact of €385 million (US$453 million), including €198 million (US$233 million) in revenue for Thailand, and €26.9 million (US$31.7 million) in taxes.

Dr. Supawan Teerarat, President of TCEB, said, “Thailand’s winning bid to host Gastech 2026 highlights the country’s role in the global energy industry and reinforces its position as a leader in Asia’s energy sector and an international exhibition hub in the Southeast Asian region or ASEAN. The event also offers wide-ranging benefits, supporting economic growth and industrial development.”

JNTO appoints executive director in Singapore

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Japan, 19th September: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) appointed Kenji Yoshida as Executive Director of its Singapore Office, effective 12th September 2025. He succeeded Takuya Shiraishi, who has returned to JNTO headquarters in Tokyo.

Yoshida will oversee JNTO’s initiatives in Singapore and work with local stakeholders to strengthen tourism links between Singapore and Japan. Joined JNTO headquarters in 2016, he has served as Executive Director at JNTO Hanoi Office.

Yoshida was quoted, “Moving forward, I would like to use the acquired experience to contribute and establish friendly relationships between Singapore and Japan through tourism.”

10,000 attendees at new Organic Festa Asia

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Shanghai, 23rd September: Organised by Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd and supported by IFOAM-Organics Asia, the inaugural Organic Festa Asia (OFA) 2025 concluded with nearly 10,000 attendees.

Running at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), OFA 2025 was held from 3rd to 5th September 2025, bringing together 234 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions, occupying an exhibition space of 7,500 m2.

OFA 2025 featured four international pavilions, from Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and Korea, as well as six government delegations from across China introduced regional specialities. The key focuses included “Sustainable Fashion Zone” and “Vitality Aesthetics Space”, which provided immersive experiences linking organic living with clothing, food, and lifestyle. Apart from the exhibition, OFA 2025 also held more than 50 forums and conferences, bringing together over 70 experts.

Ms. Evian Gu, General Manager of Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, stated, “The debut of OFA delivered results that exceeded expectations. The volume of on-site transactions and partnerships far surpassed forecasts, proving both the commercial value of OFA and the healthy development of the organic ecosystem. Today’s success is only the starting point – we aim to grow OFA into a vital gateway for the Asian organic industry to reach the global market.”

Quick takes

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New Transformation Project Manager at GES EMEA

GES EMEA announced the appointment of Jess Metcalfe as Transformation Project Manager with a particular focus on expanding the business and strengthening its presence in new territories. She has over a decade of experience in the exhibitions and conferences industry, with expertise spanning operations, project management, and large-scale transformation initiatives. She has also held senior roles with leading organisers, where she successfully delivered integration, M&A, and change management projects of critical importance.

Macau records 4m+ visitor arrivals in August

Macau’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) released its latest number of visitor arrivals in August 2025, with a record of 4,219,034, a year-on-year increase of 15.5%. Same day visitors grew 25.1%, while overnight visitors increased by 3.4%. The average length of stay was held at 1.1 days, which remained unchanged.

Messe Frankfurt launches new show in Uzbekistan

International exhibition organiser, Messe Frankfurt, has expanded its portfolio in the Central Asian market, by launching its first ever technical trade fair in Uzbekistan, Intelligent Building Expo 2026. Taking place in Tashkent, the new trade fair will run from 20th to 22nd May 2026, covering areas of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and water supply, lighting and building automation, security technology and IT security.

160,000+ visits at Furniture China 2025

The 30th edition of Furniture China and Maison Shanghai 2025, organised by China National Furniture Association and Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets, attracted 163,527 visits from 174 countries and regions, with overseas visitors increased by 13.9% year-on-year, reaching 32,618. Furniture China was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), running from 10th to 13th September 2025, while Maison Shanghai took place at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center (SWEECC), from 9th to 12th September 2025. Under the theme “BEYOND NEXT”, the events showcased over 3,200 exhibitors, covering areas from finished furniture to raw materials and smart manufacturing, and occupied an exhibition space of 350,000 m2.