Launching from March 23 to 26 2010 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, the AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SOURCING FAIR(AISF) is already attracting strong industry support as the Australian gateway for global business, linking overseas manufacturers in the fashion, accessories and homewares categories with key Australian buyers.
Visitors attending the Fair will include buyers dealing in bulk production in the Australian region, including brand owners, distributors, wholesalers, large department and chain stores, designers and specifiers. Signalling the strength of demand for the Fair’s offer, the fair generated interest from high profile industry groups located in countries including Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to name but a few.
Marie Kinsella, Managing Director of Australian Exhibitions and Conferences Pty Ltd (AEC), confirms “AISF is an exciting new exhibition for Australia, which will develop closer links with international organisations and Australian companies. It is a unique event in this region, hosting major foreign exhibitors serving the fashion, apparel and homewares sectors.” The Fair’s timing in March 2010 is also designed to service industry buying schedules, allowing major buyers to start work on their new collections. And with the Fair offering a wide range of products and supplier countries under one roof, AISF offers invaluable time and money savings by cutting down on international travel.
Furthermore, as global industry restructuring continues followingthe worldwide economic downturn, the fair is an opportunity for overseas manufacturers looking to diversify their client base outside major markets such as the US and Europe. The benefits both for Australia and for overseas markets doing business with Australia are becoming increasingly evident.
One example of these benefits is the Indian market. With Australian consumers hungry for high quality, well crafted product in the fashion, lifestyle and homewares categories, much of this product already available from Indian manufacturers.
However, out of total textile and clothing imports to Australia worth US $6,165 million during 2008, imports from India accountedfor only US $201 million, meaning India’s share in Australia’s total T&C imports is only 3.26 %. “Clearly there is a significantpotential to grow India’s market share and those of other overseas countries by undertaking targeted marketing initiatives around this exciting new fair,” Marie Kinsella commented.
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