18th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) happening at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from October 25 to 27, 2017

 The 18th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) will be happening at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from October 25 to 27, 2017, where approximately 3,000 delegates from 18 countries are expected at Asia Pacific’s largest retail event which is held once every two years. 

Organised by the Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) and endorsed by Federation of AsiaPacific Retailers Associations (FAPRA), the theme of the 18th APRCE 2017 is “Transformation, Creativity and Beyond”. 

The Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) was founded in 1982 and represents some of the largest retail companies in Malaysia. It has become a recognized representative of the retail industry by various Ministries and related authorities and agencies. 

On the other hand, the Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA) was founded in 1983 and fully established in 1989 at the 4th APRCE in Singapore. Since then, it has implemented activities and developed itself with the aim of discussing common issues in the region, promote information exchange and friendship, thereby contributing to the development of commerce and the improvement of retailers’ status in the region. 

FAPRA has been a congregation of retailers’ associations that come together for one key objective -- the sharing of information. Echoing this, one of the successful activities of FAPRA is the biennial APRCE which provides opportunities to FAPRA members to learn from experts, as well as enjoy meeting and establishing relationships with counterparts from around the region. 

Key global retailers are expected at the 18th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition which will spearhead a re-think on retail and how to drive change through innovation, transformation and staying ahead of the pack for business success. It will explore opportunities to capture the next decade of discerning digitised customers. 

According to APRCE 2017 Organising Chairman, Mr James Loke, about 1,300 foreign delegates have confirmed their attendance. They include those from Japan, China, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and other FAPRA-recognised national retail trade organisations such as in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Mongolia, Turkey and Fiji. 

The event is the perfect focal point for international networking, and Malaysia, as the host, is the ideal location to mix business with leisure. Representatives from Asia-Pacific will be converging here to exchange ideas, connect with suppliers, seek business opportunities and network. 

The 18th APRCE 2017 is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) and will bring together participants to learn, discover and network, and make meaningful connections with other industry professionals. It will also highlight innovative solutions to help retailers differentiate themselves from their competitors. 

Among the 22 speakers at the 18th APRCE2017 are: Mr Howard Saunders, Retail Futurist, Twenty Second and Fifth Ltd, US; Mr Christopher Sanderson, Co-Founder, Future Lab United Kingdom; Mr Motoya Okada, President and CEO, AEON Co. Ltd; Mr Benjamin Yong, Founder and Group Chief Eating Officer of the BIG Group, Malaysia; Mr Hoseok Kim, CEO of Celcom Planet Sdn Bhd (11Street), Malaysia; Ms Michelle Grant, Head of Retailing at Euromonitor International, US; Mr Chan Kok Long, Co-Founder & Executive Director of IPay88 Sdn Bhd, Malaysia; Mr Roger Wang, Chairman of Golden Eagle International Group, China and Mr Chen Xiaodong, CEO of Intime Retail Group, China.