South East Asia's First International Pet & Accessories Show

SINGAPORE, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's pet markets have been enjoying dramatic growth with higher than ever pet ownership and spending. Traditionally, while the United States and United Kingdom have been the leaders of the world pet market, a number of other countries are emerging as global pet forces. Worldwide sales of pet related products and services reached US$81 billion in 2010, despite the global recession.

(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2010/04/19/20100419602891.jpg )

The growth of the growing world pet market can be attributed to the humanization of pets as more cultures view companion animals as beloved family members. China's pet industry, for example, took off within the last five years. Brazil is expected to become one of the largest pet food markets by 2014, second only to the United States.  Other vibrant pet market growths are expected from India, Russia, Romania, Morocco, Thailand, South Africa, Indonesia, Slovakia, Venezuela, Mexico, Latin America, Japan and Vietnam. Industry trends suggest that the pet business will continue to boom in the future - from pet food to specialty pet services like grooming, pet sitting, pet friendly travel and more.

Almost 1 in 2 households in the United Kingdom includes a pet. The dog and cat populations in the United Kingdom are estimated to be around 8 million each. In the United States, there are about 77.5 million pet dogs and 93.6 million pet cats. Pet ownership is also increasing in other parts of the world. There is a lot more to the pet industry than dogs and cats. Pet owners today do not limit their connection with animals to dogs or cats alone. A wide range of other animals have found their way into the households and affections of pet lovers. Fish, birds, rabbits and hamsters for instance, have found their way into the households of pet lovers.

Along with the growth of the pet population has been the phenomenal growth of pet superstores, estimated to have grown by 118%. Even in the face of economic downturn, global sales of cat and dog foods continue to grow. The pet product shopper base has continued to migrate into the higher-priced pet specialty channel. The growth of pet products for supermarkets and hypermarkets is estimated at 63%.

It is therefore timely for UBM to launch South East Asia's first international Pet & Accessories trade show in Singapore on May 30, 2013 at the expo and convention centre at the Marina Bay Sands. The Sands Expo and Convention Center is Singapore's largest exhibition and meeting venue, featuring the island's largest hotel. Over a period of 4 days, exhibitors representing all facets of the pet care industry will be marketing and promoting their pet wares to an expected turnout of 5,000 trade and 15,000 public visitors, among them important pet industry decision-makers, buyers and C-level executives from industry representing suppliers, distributors, buyers, wholesalers and retailers.

Some of the key highlights of the show will include a trade seminar where experts from the pet industry will speak about the latest developments in the industry in the ASEAN region and also the global scene, a pet grooming competition, a rabbit competition run along the American Rabbit Breeders' Association standards and a Dog Agility/Obedience competition.

Pet Asia 2013 will be co-located with Aquarama 2013, the 13th edition of the International Ornamental Fish and Accessories Exhibition at Halls B and C of The Sands Expo and Convention Center, the Marina Bay Sands. Aquarama is Asia's biggest international ornamental fish, invertebrates, plants and accessories exhibition organised for the ornamental aquatic industry and its related sectors. It is befitting for Singapore to host the show as the Number One ornamental fish exporting country which accounts for 20.3% of the world's total ornamental fish export value in 2008 (US$339.533million). The two shows will span an area of 8,310 sqm and house some 200 vendors from all over the world.

The show is open to the trade from 10am to 6pm on May 30 and 31, 2013 and from 10am to 1pm on June 1. Members of the public can visit the show from 1pm to 8pm on June 1 and from 10am to 7pm on June 2, 2013. Adults will need to pay only S$8 to visit both shows. It is free for children below 12 years of age.

About UBM Asia (www.ubmasia.com)

Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is Asia's leading exhibition organiser and the biggest commercial organiser in mainland China, India and Malaysia. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 25 major cities with 29 offices and over 1,200 staff.

With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 19 market sectors with 160 dynamic face-to-face exhibitions, 75 high-level professional conferences, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock vertical portals and virtual event services for over 1,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks.

UBM Asia has extensive office networks in China, Southeast Asia and India, three of the world's fastest growing B2B events markets. UBM China has 11 offices in the major cities in mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen, where we organise more than 60 exhibitions and conferences. In ASEAN, UBM Asia operates from its offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines with over 50 events in this region. UBM India teams in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad organise 20 exhibitions and 60 conferences every year across the country.

For more details on Pet Asia 2013, visit its website at www.petasia.com.sg or contact the Project Team.

Team PET ASIA 

Ms. Iman Tam, Project Executive, iman.tam@ubm.com, +65-6592-0889

Ms. Doris Woo, Sales Manager, doris.woo@ubm.com, +65-6592-0887

Ms. Jennifer Lee, Project Manager, jennifer.lee@ubm.com, +65-6592-0891

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