1 August, 2006

PRESS INFORMATION -
AQUARIA CHINA 2006: A UNIQUE EVENT FOR THE CHINESE ORNAMENTAL AQUATIC INDUSTRY

Aquaria China ’06 (AC ’06) is the second staging of China’s all-aquatic trade show organised by CMP Asia Trade Fairs Pte. Ltd. following the successful launch of the event in 2004 at the same venue: the Jinhan Exhibition Centre in Guangzhou, Guangdong.

While there are other pet trade shows in China, Aquaria China is the only one in the whole country that is dedicated exclusively to the ornamental aquatic industry. It therefore caters for a very specific and specialised need in a way that more general events are unable to do. This unique format has been enthusiastically endorsed by much valuable feedback received after the 2004 edition, not just from the exhibitors themselves, but from the thousands of international visitors who travelled to Guangzhou from all corners of the globe.

As is usual at inaugural events, many of those who visited AC ’04 used the opportunity to gauge the situation or – to coin an aquatically-oriented phrase – to ‘test the water’. Having done so, and found it to their liking, many of those first-time visitors, have now become first-time exhibitors, boosting booth sales by no less than 25%.

The result is that, as Linda Tan, senior project manager enthuses, “Aquaria China 2006 will be much bigger than its predecessor, with all our past exhibitors being joined by an illustrious collection of companies from a wider range of countries booking space this time round.”

Among these first-time exhibitors are some of the major international and national players, including Tetra (Germany), Ocean Nutrition (Thailand), Red Sea Fish Pharm (Israel), Haifeng Feeds (Taiwan), Jebo (China), Minjiang (China), Biboxianzi (China), Unoaquatics (Malaysia), Dajana Pet (Czech Republic), PT. Inti Kapuas (Indonesia) and Qian Hu (Singapore)…to name but a few.

There will also be several official country/region/city exhibitors, including a Malaysian Pavilion, which mirrors the country’s representation at, and support for, Aquarama (Aquaria China’s sister show held every two years in Singapore). 

Turning to the International Fish Competition, AC ’06 can boast of some illustrious sponsors who have given their support to the event with generous prizes and trophies: Ocean Nutrition (Thailand), Haifeng Fish Feeds (Taiwan), Guangzhou Minjiang Aquarium Co. Ltd. (China), www.ky-fish.com (China), Qian Hu Corporation Ltd. (Singapore), Jebo (China), Hikari (China) and Wayne Discus Centre (Hong Kong).

Judging for this prestigious event will be in the hands of an international panel of renowned experts, headed by Chief Judge, John Dawes, who is also Aquaria China Consultant, as well as Aquarama Consultant (from the very first staging of the event), Chief Editor of Aquarama Magazine, international aquatic industry consultant and author. 

Regarding this year’s choice of judges, John Dawes comments, “We have tried to gather together a group of experts who have deep knowledge, not just of fish but…very importantly…of fish competition judging. We have screened each one thoroughly and are delighted with the high quality of the team. Bearing in mind that we are also receiving an overwhelming response from competitors, we can guarantee a much bigger competition than in 2004. In fact, owing to the limit of 490  that we have had to impose on the number of tanks that will be allowed, we are having to accept entries on a strict first-come-first-serve basis.”

Also in heavy demand is the Farm Visits Tour, which is always the most popular and overbooked sub-event at Aquaria China’s Singapore-based counterpart, Aquarama. Such is the demand, that the organisers have had to make seats available exclusively to foreign visitors, thus affording them a unique opportunity to see some of the fastest-growing farms and new applied technology establishments in the Guangdong region. 

In addition to the exhibition, fish competition and farm visit tours, Aquaria China 2006 also plays host to a number of other highlights:

*Trade Seminars: During the first two (trade-only) days of AC ’06, there will be a programme of trade seminars, attendance at which will be absolutely FREE for members of the aquatic industry. Supported by Chinese-English/English-Chinese translation, the programme will focus on trade issues relating to China. Import, export and manufacturing matters, as well as statistics, market trends, fish health and trading with the West will be discussed by a panel of international speakers from Asia (including China itself, of course) and Europe.

*Public Seminars: Following the trade seminar programme, there will be an equivalent one for the general non-trade visitor during the public days of the show. This programme is also absolutely FREE and will include some favourite Chinese subjects such as dragon fish and discus.

*New Products Showcase: This colourful feature, which was launched at AC ’04, proved a great success and is therefore being repeated (and expanded) this year. The New Products Showcase consists of a display of the latest products being marketed by the exhibitors present at Aquaria China and, thus, offers visitors and buyers an easy reference to what is new in the industry…and on which exhibitors’ booths they are being offered.

*Marine Tanks Display: Although corals and marine fish cannot be imported into China, some excellent marines are produced nationally. An exhibition of some of the best of these will be showcased. 

The general public will find many other attractions too, among them:

*FREE small-tank starter kits will be given away to the first 100 children that visit AC ’06 on each public day. Experienced staff will be on hand at the sponsors’ booths (Tung Hoi Aquarium Co., Hong Kong and Qian Hu Corporation Ltd., Singapore) to provide expert advice on how to set up these aquaria and how to introduce fish safely.

*A FREE Fish Clinic will be held on the Guangdong Province Aquarists’ Association (GDAA) booth, where hobbyists will receive assistance in solving their fish health problems from expert GDAA members.

*There will be a special display (again, with the help of the GDAA) which will include koi, arapaima (a giant relative of the dragon fish), the discus that will be awarded to the Grand Champion winner in the discus competition: a magnificent Spotted Eruption Discus donated by Wayne Discus Centre, Hong Kong, plus a very special discus with different-coloured eyes!

The AC ’06 organisers wish to stress that the success that Aquaria China 2004 enjoyed, and which is being repeated this time round, could not…and cannot…be achieved without enthusiastic and influential support. They therefore extend a vote of thanks to the Guangdong Aquarium Fish Committee of the Guangdong Province Aquarists’ Association, the China Society of Fisheries, supporting associations such as Ornamental Fish International, Betta Club Singapore, Vermillion Goldfish Club Singapore, Discus Club Singapore and Guppy Club Singapore; the official publications – Pets International (Netherlands) and Aqua-Zone (HK), as well as all the other supporting media and publications.

As Linda Tan emphasises, “Aquaria China 2006 is a one-stop exhibition with all the added fringe events, including free trade and public seminars, new products showcase, and much else…in a way that visitors can never get to enjoy at other events. It has undoubtedly already become the most exclusive China-based event for the international ornamental aquatic industry and THE platform for all sector professionals to gather and meet to explore the exciting business opportunities that China offers.”

For international enquiries regarding Aquaria China, which will be held on 7-10 September, 2006, at the Guangzhou Jinhan Exhibition Centre, contact Linda Tan or Doris Woo at: aquaria@cmpasia.com.sg. For China and Hong Kong enquiries, contact, Fion Siu at fion@cmpchina.com or Lauren Cheung at lauren@cmpchina.com and for Taiwan, contact Christine Liu at info@cmptaiwan.com. In addition, further details are available on the AC ’06 website: www.aquariachina.com