WSA2010 (Wine&SpiritsAsia2010) will have its own dedicated area, consolidating exhibitors of wine and spirits products and services on one show floor and co-located alongside with FHA2010 (Food&HotelAsia2010). This move will enable Asia's wine and spirits buyers and sellers to meet at an exclusive area for business networking, product sourcing and knowledge gathering activities. Previously, these specialist exhibitors would be located among other F&B companies across several halls of FHA (Food&HotelAsia).

"Organising Wine&SpiritsAsia2010 as a dedicated event will add more value to our exhibitors and visitors - facilitating business networking and encouraging larger international interest into the region's emergent wine and spirits industry. This strategic move is especially timely and reflects of Asia's growing thirst for wine and spirits," said Ms. Ting Siew Mui, Project Director for Wine&SpiritsAsia and FHA from show organiser, Singapore Exhibition Services.

Asia, with its increasing affluent and discerning population, possesses vast potential for the wine and spirits industry. Imported Western spirits is expected to reach 18.4 per cent of the whole market, or 191,623 million cases by 2010, reflecting a projected growth of 26 per cent since 2004. Wine consumption in Asia (excluding Japan) was US$7 billion in 2007 and the figure is targeted to reach US$17 billion by 2012.

The Singapore Government, in a move to attract more international wine makers and exporters and to elevate its status as an emerging wine industry, recently implemented an exemption of duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST) for wines exhibited in trade events. This ensured an added draw for international wine industry looking to extend their footprint into the Singapore and Asian wine market.

WSA is an international exhibition of wine and spirits that bridges leading wine and spirits buyers with prominent international sellers. WSA2010 will bring numerous benefits to exhibitors and trade buyers, such as improved logistical and infrastructural support, increased space to accommodate more wine and spirits exhibits, direct access for buyers to wine exhibitors, and specialised opportunities for effective industry networking and trading activities. WSA2010 has received strong endorsements from prominent international groups, including Australia, Austria, France, Italy, Singapore, South Africa and Spain.

The Wine&SpiritsAsia Challenge, which seeks to promote knowledge, prestige and value of world-class wines to Asia, has been renamed as the WSA Wine Challenge. The WSA Wine Challenge 2010 will be held at the Asia Pacific Wine Hub (APWH) in Singapore from 16 - 18 April 2010. APWH, a logistics, warehouse and supply chain solutions provider, is WSA's strategic partner for WSA Wine Challenge 2010.