Asia-pacific sourcing show set for March in cologne

Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 18, 2013

COLOGNE, Germany - The fifth edition of Asia-Pacific Sourcing will take place March 3-5 in Cologne, Germany, where more than 600 suppliers will present a wide range of products and extensive information on the theme of "products for the home and garden from the Far East" in Hall 5 of the Koelnmesse exhibition center.
     As an international platform for the multilateral import and export business, Asia-Pacific Sourcing brings together the products from growth markets in Asia with the increasing demand from Europe and North America. For three full days purchasers from Europe and North America - from a variety of sectors - will meet with their sourcing partners from the Far East.
     "For the big players from the participating trade sectors - especially from the large volume business - Asia-Pacific Sourcing is the ideal business platform and most important information forum for their activities in the Far East," said Katharina C. Hamma, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.
     A comprehensive range of home and garden products from the Asia- Pacific region will await trade visitors in a space totaling 24,000 square meters. The catalog of items on display will include tools, locks and fittings, ironmongery, fastening technology and gardening equipment and supplies.
     A new app for smartphones and iPads includes an offline search feature, interactive hall plan, a personal "favorites" list, a list of exhibitors, a product list, information about the exhibition center, opening times, ticket prices and information about how to get to Koelnmesse. A few days before the trade fair begins, the new app will be available as a free download for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry in German and English.
     There will also be a new approach to the entrance of Hall 5 for Asia-Pacific Sourcing. Using Entrance East, visitors to Asia-Pacific Sourcing will be directed through the Piazza to Hall 5. Detailed signs at Entrance East will show the route to take through the Piazza to Asia-Pacific Sourcing.
     Asia-Pacific Sourcing will be open exclusively to trade visitors. The fair will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 3-4 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 5. Admission is free of charge for pre-registered trade visitors.