Retail in Asia

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Singapore to host Asia Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition in 2011

The next Asia Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (APRCE) will be held in Singapore from 10-13 October 2011. Themed "Discover, Differentiate, Deliver!", the 15th edition of Asia’s largest retail convention and exhibition aims to discover new approaches to the latest issues facing the region’s retailers and highlight innovative solutions that can help retailers differentiate themselves from competitors, to deliver greater value to consumers in Asia.

APRCE was last held in Southeast Asia in 2001, when Jakarta hosted the 10th edition. Since then, it has been hosted in Christchurch, Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul. An estimated 2,500 participants from across the 17 member countries/areas of the Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Associations (FAPRA) are expected to attend. FAPRA members’ selection of Singapore as the host city will bring this regional event closer to the Southeast Asian retail hubs that have seen phenomenal growth in the past decade. Retailers in this region are expected to make up the majority of the delegates.

APRCE 2011 is hosted in association with FAPRA and jointly organised by The Singapore Retailers Association and Singapore Exhibition Services.

Key developments in the Singapore retail scene
APRCE 2011 will be the second time that Singapore is hosting the regional convention and exhibition. The Lion City last hosted the event in 1989. The 15th edition of the event will arrive in the wake of large-scale developments in the city’s retail landscape.

The iconic Orchard Road shopping belt has received a US$1.1-billion facelift, with investments from the private and public sectors increasing shopping options and diversity of retail concepts. Brand new malls along the stretch will add 100,000 square metres of retail space to the shopping belt. Two integrated resorts, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, will also be completed in 2010, adding to the mix by bringing flagship concept stores featuring top global brands.

In the next two years, over 500,000 square metres of retail space will be added to the market in Singapore, which is 25 percent more than the total space added over the last 15 years. This is a reflection of the extraordinary expansion of the retail sector in the island state in recent years.

Choice convention and exhibition destination
APRCE 2011 will be held at Resorts World at Sentosa, a US$4.7-billion mega-resort that will be home to Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium, and world-class MICE facilities. To be opened in early 2010, the development is located on the resort island of Sentosa. Sentosa is connected to mainland Singapore by road and is a mere 25 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from the commercial and shopping districts.

“We are truly honoured to be chosen to host APRCE 2011. The event will introduce best practices and innovative use of technologies to the growing retail industry in Asia, which is projected to see total retail sales reach US$5.3 trillion by 2013. It will continue to play a critical role in providing members with the competitive advantage in the increasingly globalised retail market place,” said Dato’ Dr Jannie Tay, APRCE 2011 Convention Chairperson and President of Singapore Retail Association.

For the latest updates, please visit APRCE 2011. To pre-register or reserve a copy of the convention programme, please email aprce@sra.org.sg. Early Bird Registration opens in 2010.

(Source: Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Associations)