‘Clarity matters’ as Vinexpo Asia opens in Singapore

Bringing together more than 11,000 visitors and 1,100 exhibitors, Vinexpo Asia opened with a bang this morning. With the global trade situation more uncertain than ever, what are its organisers hoping for over the three days?   Vinexpo Asia officially opened in Singapore this morning, with the bang of drums, the crash of cymbals and a traditional lion dance. At the finale, the dancers unveiled scrolls bearing the words ‘success’ and ‘prosperity’. Was this to be an auspicious omen for the three-day show? Rodolophe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, enthusiastically welcomed those two words as positive signs, but he also painted a complex picture in introducing the show. As he welcomed guests and dignitaries, he spoke of the global challenges the industry faces. ”The world is changing fast,” he said, “and so is our wine and spirits industry.” He highlighted the triple challenges that the trade faces: a younger generation that is drinking differently, climate change that is rewriting the rules on production and geopolitical shocks such as tariff regimes. “In short, the wine and spirits industry is at a turning point,” he summarised. What then, is Vinexpo’s solution? “Clarity matters,” according to Lameyse. With the opportunity to meet face-to-face and build new partnerships, the trade’s professionals are being enticed to Singapore to bed in their relationships. Moreover, the show has a programme of events and masterclasses, reflecting Lameyse’s aspiration that the show should also lead the way in assessing market dynamics and strategising for the future. “We have built strong and stable ties with Asia’s key markets,” said Lameyse, reflecting on more than 25 years working in Asia since the inaugural Vinexpo Asia-Pacific show in Hong Kong in 1998. “Let’s make this edition count.”

A warm welcome from Singapore

Joining Lameyse in the opening ceremony was Ms. Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Government of Singapore. She offered a warm welcome to the show, highlighting Singapore’s key position as a trade hub and its longstanding advocacy of free trade. Echoing Lameyse, she commented: “The world is changing and changing fast, threatening to unravel the global trading system.” Indeed, she gave a stark warning on the perils on the horizon: for small producers, “barriers are not just inconvenient, but existential.” Yet she presented Singapore, and indeed Southeast Asia, as a bright spot. Not only is the country a stable base for global trade, but the region’s young, growing middle-class is an untapped market for the wine and spirits industry. More locally, Vinexpo is set to tap into Singapore’s food and beverage scene. Although the region’s most mature market, the nation still presents opportunities for growth. The city hosts four of the world’s Top 50 Bars. It is the site of Vivino’s first physical store, opened in 2024. In terms of import and export, it punches well above its weight; it is, for instance, one of the world’s top five exporters of sparkling wine. The opportunities in the city are palpable. ”Within Singapore,” says Siow Huang, “there is a deepening appreciation for wines and bespoke spirits.” For Vinexpo Asia’s second Singapore show, that could be a surefire route to success and prosperity.