Larger and individually designed stands expected – big players from around the world to come as visitors – free admission for early planners

Asia-Pacific Sourcing is an indispensable trade fair for companies looking for sourcing partners from the region in the sectors of hardware, DIY, gardens and white goods. The third edition of the trade fair, which will take place again from 1st to 3rd March 2009, promises to feature a broad range of products from the Asia-Pacific region. At next year's event the exhibitors, almost all of whom are coming to Cologne from the Far East, are expected to create larger and more individualized stands then before. Following the sourcing trade fair boom in Europe, Asia-Pacific Sourcing has established itself as a leading fair in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Already in 2007, 666 exhibitors and five additionally represented companies – that's over 20 per cent more than at the first event in 2005 –were in attendance, displaying their products on 32,000 square metres in Halls 11.1 and 11.2. In 2009, visitors can expect to find products from the following segments: tools, locks and fittings, do-it-yourself materials, ironmongery, fastening technology, garden furniture and equipment, barbecue equipment, camping articles and white goods. Incidentally, all of these topics have a long and successful trade fair tradition in Cologne.

Big players from large-volume business are expected to attend

Asia is becoming an increasingly important trade partner for Europe and North America. That’s why all of the big trading players from the sectors involved — especially from the large-volume business — are taking advantage of Asia-Pacific Sourcing as a business platform and innovation forum for their activities in the Far East. In addition, many industry representatives are again expected to come to the fair to make purchases to supplement their product ranges. Although the trade fair is taking place in Cologne, not only the exhibitors (99 per cent from abroad) but also the visitors (55 per cent from abroad) are highly international. This again underlines the leading role of Asia-Pacific Sourcing amongst sourcing trade fairs.