By Ian Neubauer

Bangkok is setting the groundwork for a global campaign to promote itself as a hub for exhibitions and boost its competitiveness in the MICE industry.

Bangkok Municipal Administration signed memorandum of understanding with the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) yesterday to launch the $3million campaign that will run until 2010, the Bangkok Post reported.

Under terms set out in the memorandum, the city will provide transport, billboards, venues and join overseas and accompany the TCEB on foreign road shows. The groups have jointly organised events in the past, with the campaign expected to formalise their relationship.

TCEB chairman, M R Disnadda Diskul, told the newspaper Thailand had strong potential to increase its MICE industry because of its prime location, good utilities and abundant facilities such as hotels and exhibition halls.

TCEB expects 947,600 business visitors to the country in 2008 and generate $2million in revenue. The forecast represents 20 per cent year-on-year growth compared with 2007, which created around $1.7million in revenue.

Bangkok will host ITU Telecom Asia 2008 in September and Asia’s largest industrial-machinery trade show, Metalex in November.