TPT September 2009

A wise choice

Tube Southeast Asia 2009, Bangkok — 13-15 October NOT only is Thailand, by virtue of its location, a superb choice to host Tube Southeast Asia for the second time; the timing of this year’s conference is also extraordinarily apt. On 24 July, the chief economist of the Asia Development Bank (ADB) confirmed that East Asian countries have begun their recovery from recession. Jong Wha-Lee, the head of ADB’s Office of Regional Economic Integration, projects the recovery of the regional economies as occurring in a V-shape pattern, with Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines — members all of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — each growing at its own rate. But Mr Lee sees all four nations enjoying positive growth in 2010, led by a Chinese economy poised for 8% expansion this year. A positive note of another kind was struck by Piamsak Milintachinda, a former executive director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat in Singapore. Now Thailand’s first appointee to the Committee of Permanent Representatives (CPR) formed last year under the ASEAN charter, he told the Bangkok Post (25 July): “We use the European Union, which has a CPR based in Brussels, as an example.” Given this double impetus Thailand richly deserves the honour of hosting Tube Southeast Asia 2009. Those going to Bangkok for the show will take in the premier showcase in the Greater Mekong Subregion for state-of-the-art tube and pipe technology. They will come away from the event prepared to exploit the opportunities presented by the recovery even now gathering steam in the area. Registration for Tube Southeast Asia 2009, organised by Messe Düsseldorf Asia with its industry partner International Tube Association, is now open. Event: Tube Southeast Asia 2009 Date: 13–14 October, 10.30am–6pm and on 15 October, 10.30am–5pm Venue: Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre Phone: +65 6332 9620 (Organiser) Email: tube@mda.com.sg Website: www.tube-southeastasia.com

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S eptember 2009

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