(Editor: Leona)

The Asian buying season began today as the 21st Malaysian International Furniture Fair opened its doors. The show, held across the PWTC and MECC venues in Kuala Lumpur between 3rd-7th March, is a popular international fixture, attracting upwards of 6000 international buyers each year - in addition to around 14,000 Malaysian buyers, according to organiser UBM.

Today is the 13th day of the Chinese New Year, adding an even greater feeling of occasion for those attending this popular travel destination. MIFF is renowned for being a friendly place at which to do business - but it's a strong transactional trade platform first and foremost. This edition features 500 exhibitors from 15 countries, around 10% of them new exhibitors, including newcomers from Bulgaria and Korea, as well as Malaysia.

Visitors from more than 140 countries and regions are expected to attend the show, and pre-registration figures promise a good number of first-time visitors.

Dato' Dr Tan Chin Huat, MIFF chairman, comments: "The overall responses reflect the importance of MIFF as a highly-effective trade platform in the international marketplace, one that stands out for value, quality, variety and world-class show experience. Our goal is always to continue to develop MIFF to benefit exhibitors and buyers alike. We strive to make the show even better every year."

The timber industry is a key component of the Malaysian economy, and Malaysian furniture is exported to more than 160 countries - the UK being one of the principal destinations. As reported in Furniture News last year, there is significant manufacturing potential yet to be unearthed at this event, particularly thanks to the addition of the Muar Hall two editions ago, which comprises companies from Malaysia's key manufacturing region.

There are additional features in the form of seminars and the increasingly popular MIFF Furniture Design Competition. For the first time, state agency Malaysian Timber Council has teamed up with MIFF and China-based Malaysian designer Philip Yap to present a showcase entitled Designing with Malaysian Hardwood - Collection No. 1, featuring contemporary living and bedroom sets made of sepetir, a light golden brown tropical hardwood.

In terms of size, at 80,000 sqm of exhibition space across the two venues, MIFF is at full capacity again - but it's also a show that feels it has outgrown its shell. Delays to the completion of a long-awaited new exhibition venue means that the show still feels a little constrained, and, due to a shifting event calendar, MIFF is also detached from the other Asian shows by more days than before - yet UBM hopes that these problems will be rectified in 2017: "The trade show industry still has plenty of room to grow in Southeast Asia," says Jime Essink, president and CEO, UBM Asia.

"We are excited that, finally, more exhibition space will be ready in Kuala Lumpur by 2017. This will open exciting opportunities to expand and bring more events here. The launch of the ASEAN Economic Community from this year will be another key driver for the show industry in the region."