The MICE Asia Executive Congress opened in Singapore Monday to provide a networking platform for corporate buyers and solution providers in the field of meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE).

Some 200 general managers, senior marketing directors and event executives from around the world, especially the Asia-Pacific region, are taking part in the two-day meeting, which comprises corporate case studies, one-to-one business meetings and interactive workshops.

Participating companies include China Telecom, Singapore Telecommunications, Amway Corp., Nokia, Toshiba, Honda Motors and Daewoo among others.

Inaugurated in 2005, the meeting is organized by Naseba, a Monaco-headquartered company which produces and hosts interactive events worldwide for senior level business executives.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran said that MICE Asia is an important platform for key decision makers in the MICE industry to exchange ideas and explore new possibilities.

"To augment Singapore's position as a vibrant destination for BTMICE (business travel and MICE) visitors, the government will continue to develop and bring in new attractions and lifestyle offerings," he added.

In 2005, about a quarter of the 8.9 million visitor arrivals to Singapore are BTMICE visitors and they contributed 30 percent of the 10.8 billion Singapore dollars (about 6.8 billion U.S. dollars) in the country's tourism receipts, according to the minister.

Source: Xinhua