I EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW I
I EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW I Rodolphe Lameyse Vinexposium CEO 4 • THE DAILY • TUESDAY 16 TH MAY 2023 vinexpoasia.com
I EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW I Vinexpo Asia 2023: a major strategic event For Vinexpo Asia’s first trade show back in person after four years, Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, shares what visitors and exhibitors can expect from this year’s event From the 23 rd to the 25 th of May, Vinexposium is bringing Vinexpo Asia to Singapore, in the unique setting of the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. The largest B2B event in the industry is set to bring together professionals in wine and spirits for three days of business in the Asia-Pacific region. After a 4-year absence, what can we expect from VinExpo Asia 2023? Vinexpo Asia 2023 is an event where people will be able to reunite. It’s an amazing opportunity to see each other and get acquainted again! After 4 years marked by Covid-19 and the absence of any major events in the Asia-Pacific region, Vinexpo Asia is happening at a pivotal time for resuming international trade. With over 20 years in the region, the first Vinexpo Asia was held in Hong Kong in 1998, and it has become a popular, trustworthy and legitimate event for the whole wine and spirits industry. It is now strategic and vital for all global stakeholders, bringing together buyers, importers and sommeliers from the growth markets across Asia. Why was Singapore a strategic location for Vinexpo Asia this year? It quickly became an obvious choice because Singapore is now one of the gateways into Asia. Its strategic location makes it a hub of regional and global trade and its business model revolves, among other things, around a very open-minded approach to international trade. Has this decision been understood and accepted? Our desire to be part of this movement and to benefit from this dynamic sales environment is fully understood by our customers. Singapore was the best opportunity we could offer them in 2023, at a key time for returning to Asia. Can you tell us more about the exhibitors of Vinexpo Asia 2023? Vinexpo Asia will bring together nearly 1,000 exhibitors and 35 different countries will be represented. France will be attending in numbers with all of its wine regions present, and VINEXPO ASIA WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER NEW WINES AND SPIRITS AND MEET PRODUCERS AIMING TO ESTABLISH A FOOTHOLD OR DEVELOP THEIR PRESENCE IN SINGAPORE AND ACROSS ASIA we will also welcome many different international pavilions including Argentina, Australia, Chile, the United States and Italy. Spain, China, Portugal, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Switzerland, Japan, Aruba, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, South Korea, Romania, Thailand and Finland will also be represented. Vinexpo Asia will provide the opportunity to discover new wines and spirits and meet producers aiming to establish a foothold or develop their presence in Singapore and across Asia. How many visitors are you expecting? 8,000 visitors are due to attend Vinexpo Asia 2023 from the 23rd to the 25th of May, primarily from China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore. These visitors are local decisionmakers, executives and managers of the largest import companies, wholesalers, hoteliers/restaurateurs, wine merchants and e-tailers. The vast majority of them are directly involved in selecting and purchasing wines and spirits. Vinexpo Asia is therefore a unique opportunity to establish and maintain robust relationships in a major region for business. What will be some of the highlights of this year’s Vinexpo Asia? Vinexpo Asia will provide one of the most varied and prestigious programmes in the world as part of Vinexpo Academy. This will include masterclasses, of course, and the Major Tasting by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) along with conferences hosted by prominent international experts. Other programme highlights include the Battle of the Sommeliers and the Vinexpo Challenge, organised in conjunction with the International Association of Sommeliers (ASI). We have very high ambitions for this Vinexpo Asia. The entire Vinexposium team and myself are delighted to be able to host an event of this magnitude in Asia and build on the resounding success of Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris in February this year. This event offers the entire industry an opportunity to connect, share and enjoy a mutually enriching experience at a key time and in a positive, dynamic spirit! A SPECIAL CLUB PROGRAMME FOR HOSTING BUYERS Vinexpo Asia provides a CLUB programme with a range of privileges and services for the largest industry players. The show also also provides solutions to facilitate attendance for very specific buyers from a selection of countries. This includes Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, China, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, the Middle East and India. In addition to the CLUB programme, Vinexpo Asia also offers buyers turnkey business solutions to help them prepare for their visit to Vinexpo Asia. These can include pre-scheduled online appointments ahead of the event, a mobile application, online catalogues and programmes USA COUNTRY OF HONOR The USA, through a collective involvement of the three major US wine regions, has been chosen as Country of Honor for this exceptional edition of Vinexpo Asia in Singapore. With the presence of a common pavilion jointly-organized by California Wines, Oregon Wine board and Washington Wine, as well as a series of 6 masterclasses dedicated to educate about the diversity of wines from the Pacific coast of the US, dive deep into these exceptional terroirs THE DAILY • TUESDAY 16 TH MAY 2023 • 5
