Panadda Kongma, Vice President of VNU Asia Pacific and Committee Member of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Processed and Future Food Committee, coordinates collaboration between public and private sectors.

Bangkok – 1 July 2025 – VNU Asia Pacific, a leading trade show organizer in Southeast Asia, is strengthening its commitment to sustainability by driving initiatives to reduce food waste in the exhibition industry. The focus is on building partnerships across government agencies, private sectors, and professional associations to enable systemic change.

Ms. Panadda Kongma, Vice President of Business at VNU Asia Pacific, has been appointed as the project’s lead coordinator, playing a key role in linking stakeholders and fostering cross-sector collaboration. A major focus is on partnerships with the Thai Exhibition Association (TEA) and leading exhibition venues. Under the leadership of the newly appointed TEA President, Mr. Loy Joon How, the association has fully endorsed this sustainability initiative.

On the occasion of Global Exhibitions Day (GED) this past June, VNU kicked off the initiative by donating the “First Meal” – food collected from exhibition activities – to charities and foundations supporting underprivileged communities. This symbolic gesture marks the project’s launch and reflects its potential to drive positive societal impact.

Dr. Wisit Limlurcha, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Food Industries and a committee member of the Thai Exhibition Association, commented on the collaboration: “Reducing food waste in the business sector, particularly at large-scale exhibitions, is a key area where the food industry must engage. Having a structured coordination between organizers, venues, and exhibitors ensures efficient use of food resources, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances the overall image of the industry.”

This year’s effort builds on the momentum from last year’s collaboration, which received support from key partners including AWC, S&P, Betagro, CP, and other major food businesses committed to structured surplus food management.

VNU Asia Pacific aims to scale this initiative across all its trade shows and to develop long-term sustainability standards and operational guidelines in collaboration with its partner network.

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