Singapore's growing infrastructure - requiring the need for ever more professional staging services - is already having a positive effect on this year's Event 360º show, which makes its debut under the wing of the umbrella PALME Asia expo in July.

As the former PALA Show, the event has been a fixture of trade in Pacific Asia for the past 18 years; but with its rebranding to PALME Asia, sales manager Hanslee Azhar believes that the move back to the island of Singapore (from Bangkok) is also vital for the free trade advantages this location holds.

Event 360º Asia

Some 1,000 square metres - a quarter of the overall capacity at Singapore Expo - will be set aside for Event 360º Asia. Heartened by the initial response, Davin Er, who is responsible for developing this sector, believes that interest has not only been stimulated by the support from the Singapore Tourism Board, but the building of the S$3.85bn Marina Bay Sands complex, housing casino, hotel and convention centre.

Event 360º Asia will also be working closely alongside Singapore-based UnUsUal Productions, who are among an increasing number of local companies that have the capability of offering world-renowned event staging technology in the form of smoke, pyrotechnics, sound and lighting.

"In addition," says Mr Er, "we also have the support of The Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS); this means that Event 360º Asia will be able to offer a one-stop shop for event promoters and exhibition organisers looking for this expertise."

Install Asia

At the same time, Install Asia - launched in Bangkok last year by PALME Asia organisers IIR Entertainment & Installation Technology Group ­- is developing its own unique twist, according to Hanslee Azhar.

"Because manufacturers are now looking increasingly at complete systems rather than selling out of boxes, we have been speaking to AV integrators and consultants, who have seen the extent to which business is growing right across Asia Pacific," he said. "This not only includes corporate boardrooms and banks, where video-conferencing facilities are enabling personnel to speak to colleagues around the world - but also in the residential world where there is a growing requirement for ‘smart' homes.

"There is still a lot of education to be done, but many of the manufacturers now have bases in Singapore."

Heading the list is video switching giant, Extron, while other supporters of Install Asia include TOA Electronics, Optimus Spain, Communications Specialties and Lighthouse Technologies.

In conclusion, Mr. Azhar says, "The old PALA Show was purely dedicated to sound and lighting but the growing interest from AV professionals is now changing the whole complexion of this year's event."

PALME Asia takes place from July 12-14 at Singapore Expo, 2007.