Download - Dental Asia

EXHIBITIONPREVIEW
by Desmond Teo
Watershed Period for
Asia Pacific Dental Congress
Despite its long history, Asia Pacific Dental Congress
(APDC) appears to be losing its appeal to many an
exhibitor in recent years. This is due in part to the
many regional and domestic exhibitions that have
been sprouting up in the region, which have indirectly relegated
APDC to a less significant role. Nonetheless, the influence of
this regional dental grouping — Asia Pacific Dental Federation
(APDF), the main sponsor of APDC — cannot be ignored all
together.
The 30th APDC this year will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from
May 6-10 at the Bangkok Convention Center at Central World.
The Dental Association of Thailand, organizer for this year’s
APDC, is confident that it will be able to put up a good show
this year, after witnessing what the successful conclusion of the
29th APDC in Jakarta last year. The absence of the Thai
contingent at the recently concluded IDEM in Singapore speaks
volume of the support that APDC will be receiving from the Thai
dental community.
According to exhibitors, many felt that APDC has through the
years transformed from a major regional exhibition to one that
is more domestic in nature. This has in turn put them in the
same league as other domestic dental exhibitions in the region.
A number of major exhibitors are giving the show a miss and
focusing their resources on major shows elsewhere. They are
being represented by their local distributors/dealers instead.
On the scientific program side, it is heartening to see that
APDC still maintains a high standard for the papers presented.
This time round, some established dental professionals and
academics will be lending their support and sharing their
knowledge and experiences with the delegates.
Being Relevant
Like all other dental shows in this region, Asia Pacific Dental
Congress needs to constantly evolve and maintain its
relevance for the dental community in this part of the world.
Since its debut in 1955, APDC has undergone many changes.
Dr Adirek S. Wongsa, President of the
Local Organizing Committee for APDC
2008 is confident that this year’s event will
be one of the better ones in terms of
participation and turn-out. “APDC will be
the biggest event in the dental calendar of
Thailand this year, hence, I expect strong
support from the local dental industry, as
well as the member countries.”
Dr Adirek S. Wongsa
APDC still has an important role to play, especially in bringing
dental awareness and dental education to the lesser-developed
countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Complacency, if there were
any, must be banished at this critical juncture, if it were to avoid
the fate of oblivion. APDC cannot stand still; it has to keep reinventing
itself in order to restore its pre-eminent position in the
face of on-coming ‘competition’.
The ball is in your court, APDF.
DA
Dental Asia • May / June 2008
47