Informex, the leading meeting place for buyers and sellers of high-value chemistry for a broad range of applications, announced the launch of the inaugural Informex Asia event, which will run from November 9 – 10, 2011 at Suntec, Singapore. The format of Informex Asia will be similar to that of the flagship Informex USA event and will feature a diverse exhibit show floor featuring around 100 domestic and international exhibitors, a high-level conference and various networking opportunities including a cocktail reception on the first evening. Informex Asia is jointly organised by UBM Asia and UBM Live.

The two-day conference will feature a line-up of senior figures from both business and trade associations and will cover topics such as the outlook for the Southeast Asian chemical market, the transportation and distribution of chemicals, new technologies and initiatives, sustainability, government regulations affecting the chemical industry and more.

“While developed countries still corner nearly 59 percent of the specialty chemicals market, the growth in the U.S. and Europe is just 2-3 percent compared to Asia at 10-15 percent,” said Krithika Tyagarajan, Research Director for chemicals, material, food practice, Asia Pacific at Frost & Sullivan.

Singapore's intellectual property protection, its support for research and development and corporate tax incentives make it attractive for new investment, as is evident in the recent expansions of major players within the fine and specialty sectors, including SyngentA's new agricultural R&D facility, Bayer MaterialScience's Functional Films Research Centre and the opening of Mitsui's second TAFMER(R) site, with Lanxess being the most recent investor in Singapore's Jurong Island with its new S$704 million butyl rubber plant, the largest investment in the German specialty chemicals giant's history.