Hub for global sourcing

Asia-Pacific Sourcing 2017 saw a ten per cent increase in the number of visitors. Including estimates for the last day of the fair, around 7 300 visitors from 65 countries came to Cologne. "The increased attendance and in particular the huge interest from abroad underline the standing of the trade fair as the international hub for global sourcing between Asia and Europe," commented Katharina C. Hamma, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse, with regard to the figures.
In Hall 5 of the Cologne exhibition grounds, 644 companies (2015: 656) from 14 countries exhibited existing and new products and trends from the home, garden and leisure sector. At the same time, numerous companies expanded their stand areas this year. "This development shows that we are satisfying the demands of our customers with the concept of Asia-Pacific Sourcing. The demand for and utilisation of further growth opportunities by the exhibitors demonstrates the existing and future potential of Asia-Pacific Sourcing," continued Hamma.
The three-day show at the beginning of March in Cologne (Germany) is regarded as Europe's number one sourcing platform. New features this year included the Best of China special area in Hall 5.1, an exclusive exhibition area in which 17 Chinese companies presented their new products, attracting great interest. According to Koelnmesse, the trade visitors on the whole praised the increasing quality of the products made in China that were on show at Asia-Pacific Sourcing.

The International Trade Fair for Retail Promotions and Imports (IAW) was once again held in parallel with Asia-Pacific Sourcing 2017. Ulrich Zimmermann, executive director of the Nordwestdeutsche Messegesellschaft (North West German Exhibition Company), gave the following summary: "The cooperation with Asia-Pacific Sourcing worked excellently again in its second year. The visitors were able to benefit from the variety of offerings of the two events, the exhibitors were also correspondingly satisfied with the additional attendance. The fact that IAW and Asia-Pacific Sourcing are staged parallel to each other has created positive synergy effects for all trade fair participants."
The next Asia-Pacific Sourcing will take place from 5 to 7 March 2019.