UBM Live Announces Launch of Informex Asia in Singapore

PRINCETON, N.J. and SINGAPORE, Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Informex, the leading meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications, today announced the launch of the inaugural Informex Asia event, which will run from November 9th to 10th 2011 at Suntec, Singapore. The format of Informex Asia will be similar to that of the flagship InformexUSA event and will feature a diverse exhibit show floor featuring around 100 domestic and international exhibitors, a high-level conference and various networking opportunities including a cocktail reception on the first evening.

The two-day conference will feature a line-up of senior figures from both business and trade associations and will cover topics such as the outlook for the Southeast Asian chemical market, the transportation and distribution of chemicals, new technologies and initiatives, sustainability, government regulations affecting the chemical industry and more.

"Informex is a global event brand that focuses on the premier marketplaces for the fine and specialty chemical industries and we are thrilled to be launching in Singapore in 2011," commented UBM Live/Informex Global Brand Director Jennifer Jessup. "Having undertaken extensive market research and consulted with regional trade and government organizations, we believe that Singapore will provide an ideal location at which to bring together industry leaders from throughout South East Asia and the global chemical community."

Coinciding with UNESCO's International Year of Chemistry 2011 and endorsed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), and the Singapore Chemical Industry Council (SCIC), Informex Asia is well-supported in its position to serve a rapidly-expanding Southeast Asian specialty chemicals market driven by double-digit manufacturing growth figures in India and China.

"While developed countries still corner nearly 59 percent of the specialty chemicals market, the growth in the U.S. and Europe is just 2-3 percent compared to Asia at 10-15 percent," said Krithika Tyagarajan, Research Director for chemicals, material, food practice, Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan.

Singapore's intellectual property protection, its support for research and development and corporate tax incentives make it attractive for new investment, as is evident in the recent expansions of major players within the fine and specialty sectors, including Syngenta's new agricultural R&D facility, Bayer MaterialScience's Functional Films Research Centre and the opening of Mitsui's second TAFMER® site, with Lanxess being the most recent investor in Singapore's Jurong Island with its new S$704 million butyl rubber plant, the largest investment in the German specialty chemicals giant's history.

Singapore has seen strong growth in end markets such as automotive, construction, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, while the Singapore Economic Development Board is aiming to double chemical industry manufacturing output from S$180 billion in 2004 to S$300 billion by 2018.**

Dr. Magali Bonnier, Specialty Chemicals Manager, A*STAR Institute of Chemical & Engineering Sciences and a key advisor on the Informex Asia launch, concluded, "We are very pleased that a global brand such as Informex will be launching in Singapore next year. Providing a platform for the Southeast Asian fine and specialty chemicals industries to interact is extremely beneficial to the growth of the chemical industry in the region."

For further information on Informex Asia go to: www.informex.com/asia

**Source: Labour Market Highlights 2010, Ministry of Manpower and Singapore Workforce Development Agency, September 2010

UBM Live and UBM Asia are wholly owned subsidiaries of United Business Media plc (LSE: UBM) a leading provider of business information services to the maritime, travel, fashion, technology, healthcare, media, and property industries. UBM offers services in trade shows, online, news distribution, and publishing to customers across the globe. Its brands are represented in more than 30 countries and are organized into specialist teams that serve their business communities helping them excel in their market by working effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.ubmlive.com and www.ubmasia.com.sg.

About Informex: Organized by UBM Live, Informex is the leading meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications. As the premier, must-attend event in the chemical industry for the past 27 years, Informex is a marketplace for networking and doing business in the fine, custom and specialty chemical manufacturing industry. The show traces its origins to a group of members from the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Associates (SOCMA) who were looking for an annual place to meet and do business. Each year the event brings together an international mix of more than 4,000 fine and specialty chemicals professionals and 500 exhibitors for the all-encompassing 4 day event.

SOURCE Informex