Character & Licensing Expo Asia 2010 slated for May


By AMRITA VALECHA | 12 January, 2010 - 17:57

The Character & Licensing Expo Asia 2010 (CLEA 2010 / www.clea.asia) is an upcoming event in Thailand taking place between 6th to 9th of May in 2010 @ the Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon. Formerly known as the "Bangkok Toys & Comics Convention", the current incarnation is the inaugural Asia event for Character & Licensing Business cooperated and supported by Thai government and private organizations.

Talking to Animation Xpress Asia Pacific Organizer of CLEA, Napat Phromphruk shared, "The Thailand government issued "Creative Thailand" as a creative economy policy several months ago. They want to support our show as one of its projects to encourage the Character & Licensing business in Thailand and also for other countries, especially neighbour countries because we have many talents from creative part to developer and many various manufacturers. CLEA2010 is the first step for Character & Licensing business which would be a business platform in Thailand. CLEA2010 got cooperaton from 14 Thailand major privates associations, which represent creator, developer, marketer and also manufacturer. It makes CLEA to be a turnkey platform for Character & Licensing business as all under one roof show."

New Business Opportunity
Nowadays, the cartoon characters provide a unique way for business in many industries, not only Comic books, Animations or games which they are always the main representatives, but also the licensing products such as toys, stationeries, house wares, and etc. The cartoon characters make value added and change the product positioning from just an ordinary product to become the Life Style Products, which always gain more profits.

Cartoon Character industry is one of the best country revenues sources in many countries such as USA, EU, Japan, and South Korea, making them over hundred billions US dollars per year

Thus, Cartoon Character business is one of the new strategic opportunities for Thailand and neighbor Asian countries. Moreover, Asian countries still have many potential talent peoples and many manufacturers, which have great production capabilities.

The show will cover all related business as a turnkey system under one roof. Exhibitors can be both sellers and buyers for completely business match from the designers' original design to the factory's finished products. Meanwhile, visitors can enjoy both participating exclusive exhibitions and shopping fabulous various products directly from the designers and licensers.

The exclusive exhibition located at the strategic pavilions such as:
- Thai Comics Fair
- Asian Comic Fest
- Creative Content Asia
- World Art Toy
- World Character Fest

Show supported by Thailand government departments and related private organizations:

This is the first time ever cooperation from both Thailand government departments and related private organizations to establish cartoon character business in the Character & Licensing Expo Asia 2010 platform.

Thailand Government Departments:
Department of Intellectual Property
Department of Business Development
Department of Export Promotion
Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau
Software Industry Promotion Agency

Private Organizations:
Thai Cartoon Social Entrepreneur Network
The Thai Cartoon Association
Thai Cartoon Institute, Children Foundation
Thailand Animation and Computer Graphic Association
Bangkok Youth Association
Urban Rehabilitation Foundation
Thailand Media Social Enterprise
The Publishers & Book Sellers Association of Thailand
Thai Toy Industry Association
Thai Gifts Premiums & Decorative Association
Thai Housewares Trade Association
Thai Stationeries and Office Supplies Association
Thai Game Software Industry Association
Thailand Industrial Designers Society
The Thai Ceramic Society