VIV-organiser, VNU Exhibitions, has announced changes in the trade show calendar in Asia-Pacific.

VIV China will be an annual event from now on. The success of VIV China 2008 and the requests of key players in China led the organiser and its Chinese partner CNAS to this decision. The upcoming VIV China 2009 takes place on 19-21 October 2009.

VIV India is re-scheduled from November 2009 to 1-3 February 2010 and will also move to Bangalore.

According to the organizer, the new calendar complies with the many different requirements of customers (exhibitors and visitors) and will be more balanced, with biennial events VIV Asia and VIV India alternating in spring and the annual VIV China in the autumn (fall).

VIV China: changes and challenges

The schedule change of VIV China is the result of industry demands. The feed industry, farming and processing sectors in China are facing important changes.

"2009 forms the start of many scheduled changes in production within the dynamic and vast Chinese home market," says Ruwan Berculo, Project Manager VIV Asia-Pacific. "Chinese consumers are diversifying their consumption pattern."

Growth of poultry, beef and sheep meat consumption is expected at the expense of pork meat, traditionally the preferred meat in China. These changes will result in obvious challenges for suppliers, but action is called for to get share of the profit. VIV China serves this purpose by turning into an annual business platform.

With VIV China's new schedule, the industry has its yearly top meeting place to respond to fast growing business opportunities. Key drivers of VIV China 2009 will be tracking and tracing of feed ingredients, animal health and food safety. The exhibition takes place in the New China International Exhibition Center (NCIEC) in Beijing.

VIV India: new Dates, new location

The second edition of VIV India takes place on 1-3 February 2010 and moves from New Delhi to Bangalore. Bangalore is the key business hub of south India, the heart of the country's poultry, aqua and dairy production. The exhibition takes place in the state-of-the-art Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC).

Matchmaker VIV in Asia-Pacific

The current portfolio of VIV Asia, VIV China and VIV India covers the key markets in Asia-Pacific. The three events strengthen each other. India and China mainly focus on the vast home markets of these economic giants.

VIV Asia serves the total region, even stretching to the Middle East. "We have a wide network of associations, institutions, media partners and industry professionals, built over the years and still expanding," according to Mr Berculo. "Our objective is to be the preferred matchmaker for our customers – exhibitors and visitors, to add value to their businesses. This is why we are constantly actualizing our market insights and fine-tuning our communications."