Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) established its presence in Singapore last week with the final landing of its own company IEG Asia and the acquisition of two exhibitions in the Jewelry and Food & Beverage sectors.
Following IEG’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in October 2022, IEG established IEG Asia Pte Ltd – a wholly owned subsidiary in Singapore.
The formation of IEG Asia demonstrates the group’s continued support for STB along with its ongoing development plan in Southeast Asia.
IEG has also completed the acquisition of Singapore International Jewelry Expo (SIJE) and Cafe and Restaurant Asia from CEMS – Conference & Exhibition Management Services.
Francesco Santa, International Business Development Director at IEG, said: “First and foremost, we are pleased to confirm the partnership with STB, a guarantee of development and success for the exhibitions acquired.
“We also want to emphasize the importance of synergies between events in Italy and the events acquired, not to mention the consequent impact obtained through the internationalization of our exhibitions on Italian territory.”
With a strong background in leading events in Italy in the jewelry and food sectors, including Vicenzaoro and Sigep, IEG continues its expansion strategy in the region, starting in Singapore, to strengthen companies’ business on a global scale.
IEG has appointed Ilaria Cicero as CEO of IEG Asia to lead the development of all projects in the region.
Cicero said: “The goal is to further develop the shows in Singapore, also by capitalizing on a mutual, productive exchange of the tremendous success of the last edition of Vicenzaoro in January 2023, which was attended by over 1,300 exhibiting brands.
“The same goes for Sigep with 1,000 exhibitors at the 2023 edition in Rimini.”
STB has confirmed its support for IEG and IEG Asia to develop existing events and launch future projects that can further strengthen Singapore’s overall Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) ecosystem.
Edward Liu, Managing Director of Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd, commented: “As the aseanization of the MICE industry in South East Asia begins this decade and the goals to take our events for Singapore and the region to the next level, we are pleased us to collaborate with the Italian Exhibition Group, which owns the jewelry fairs Sigep and Vicenza in Italy and abroad.
“These signature events would certainly add to our portfolio of Café and Restaurant Asia series as well as the Singapore International Jewelery Expo (SIJE).
“IEG’s strategic plan to expand into the Asian region will accelerate our current shows to grow faster to meet the demands of the Asian market and this would benefit the MICE industry in Singapore and beyond in near promise good things in the future. ”
STB Exhibitions & Conferences Executive Director Poh Chi Chuan added: “We warmly welcome IEG’s increased presence in Singapore and their plans to anchor prestigious global events here.
“IEG’s plans, as well as the recent opening of its regional headquarters in Singapore, underscore that our MICE industry is firmly on the path to recovery.
“We look forward to working together to host new shows in other sectors as global business travel gathers momentum.”
