Asia

The Hong Kong Book Fair is a book fair organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, held annually at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, selling and exhibiting books, printed matter, stationery, printing, compact discs and other multimedia publishing. The Hong Kong Book Fair is an international book fair and has established itself as a platform for cultural exchange, not just for Hong Kong but the globe as a whole. The exhibition is divided into several themed zones representing various sectors in the world of publishing and ensuring that the Hong Kong Book Fair keeps up with trends in the industry. New zones include multimedia, featuring e-books, online publishing, audio-visual learning aids and educational software. Other zones will focus on books related to the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, teenagers, children and religion. Hong Kong Book Fair is held annually and in conjunction with the Hong Kong Publishing Copyright Fair. The annual exhibition at the City Hall organized by the Hong Kong Publishing Federation could be regarded as the predecessor of the Hong Kong Book Fair. The First Hong Kong Book Fair was held in 1990. The Fair has become an annual major event in Hong Kong, with the number of visitors reaching a new high every year. The organizer, the HKTDC, has always been striving to promote local reading culture. Apart from extensively inviting the public to the Fair to visit and buy books, it also spares no effort in organizing diversified cultural activities during the Book Fair period with a view to enhance the contents and quality of the Fair. During the past 20 years the number of exhibitors has grown from 149 to 504 in 2009, with corresponding growth of attendance from 200,000 to 900,000 in 2009. The Fair has developed from a mere promotion platform for the industry to an annual territory-wide major reading and cultural event for the public of Hong Kong. During the pandemic, the Hong Kong Book Fair provided an online platform to enable participation for the public, who love reading and learning. They specially collected a series of online reading, learning and cultural activities resources provided by their partners to broaden our horizons and thinking, cleanse our souls, inspire our lives, and equip us with a stronger self. The exhibition offers various books and publications, such as, books for children and teens, religious and spiritual books, e-books and e-learning resources, sports and leisure books, they also have exhibitions showcasing education and learning, hobbies, audio-visual and multimedia products. One is sure to find something for everyone.

Since the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair’s launch in 1981, the Fair has striven to uphold the original mission of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, the founding father of the UAE. The Sheikh believed in education and culture as fundamental pillars for building a strong modern state and developing international relationships. Initially named the Islamic Book Fair, the Fair was created to provide a meeting point and marketplace for publishing houses in the Arab world. It was also designed to be a forum through which to grow the region’s publishing industry, expand business activities across the globe and turn Abu Dhabi into a major centre for the publishing world. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has since gone from strength to strength, today providing an ideal global marketplace and a gateway to the thriving Arab publishing industry. In recent years, the Fair has enjoyed celebrating Abu Dhabi International Book Fair’s and Abu Dhabi’s heritage, with a spotlight on their founder, entitled ‘Sheikh Zayed: Light Illuminates the Future’ – featuring a series of panels and seminars, as well as an exhibition charting his intellectual legacy. Abu Dhabi International Book Fair has also been proud to honour the works of other great Arab thinkers, such as the renowned poet Abu at-Tayyeb Al Mutanabbi and philosopher Ibn Rushed. Every year, we are thrilled to introduce international visitors to new dimensions of the region’s rich cultural and literary heritage. The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is the bedrock of the publishing industry across the Middle East and North Africa. The 31st edition of ADIBF will be held from 23 to 29 May 2022 at Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Center. The Fair looks forward to stepping up its competitiveness, consolidating its regional position and enhancing its global presence through excellence in providing professional and cultural content. It also seeks to combine the regional publishing sectors and creative industries and encourage endeavors to support industries that contribute to enhance readable, visual, audio and interactive culture, thus consolidating Abu Dhabi's position as a hub for Arab publishing and global creative content. This further presents ADIBF as a global platform for creative content based on language in its global context.

Marketing Consultant @ Colombo, Sri Lanka MBA (UK), Certified professional Marketer (Asia), Chartered Marketer, MCIM (UK), PGDipM (UK), MSLIM (SL) During my tenure in Audit firm, Financial Industry, Media Organization, Educational Institute, Retail Industry, Petroleum Industry, FMCG Company, Entrepreneur & Marketing Consultant, I gained wealth of knowledge & experience, all spiced with a well-honed instinct for positive marketing. With over twenty Four years of relevant experience, I am adept at executing any tasks associated with the job. Marketing Consultant – (01/ 2021 – to date) Designed & implemented marketing strategies according to client’s objectives and budget, execute task and monitoring outcomes. Influenced team members to establish most effective tools & methods, liaised with top Mgt & give strategic direction & findings. DGM – Marketing – (09/2019 – 12/ 2020) Lanka Sathosa Ltd (LSL) – Ministry of Trade Awarded & won SLIM – Nielsen People’s Awards for LSL, planned & implemented all marketing & advertising campaigns and increased imaged. Drives traffic to store & improved profitability by creating operational in-store action plans, designed & streamlined business strategies, turning around the company (LSL) by increasing foot fall level & basket value. Alliance with Pickme and Postal Dpt. tested and delivered groceries to customers’ doorstep, managed to design of LSL website, developed & launched e-commerce platform & simplified website booking forms and also achieved the highest sales of Rs.17.5Bn in first half 2020 at LSL history. General Manager – (08/2017 –09/ 2019) Infinity Foods (Pvt) Ltd – Market Trader (Pvt) Ltd Responsibility of the overall imported beverages and snacks foods portfolio and tested viability, including strategy direction and P&L. Leveraged new ideas to improved overall business, maintained of all KPI’s and in charge of the Mkt budget and reinforced the brand image. Brand Manager – (08/2015 –08/2017) Lanka Spice (Pvt) Ltd (LSL) – “Mc Currie” Delivered properly the marketing mix, simplified website of “Mc Currie” to increase the profitability, comprehensive strategic PR programs for the exploitation of LSL, channel marketing strategy, excellence in trade execution & secured top tier events for marketing & developed new slogan. Developed and presented the TV commercial to build image of the “Mc Currie” position as a premium brand in the minds of target market segment, turnaround of brand performance & maximized turnover of the year 2016. Head of Sales & Marketing – (03/2011 – 07/2015) The Golden Lane Shops – Maldives Exceeded Mrf.10.2M sales for month of July 2011 in “GL” history, coached team members to improve their skills & achieved work quality. Responsible for rebranded “GL Style” into one of the strongest sports & casual ware brands in the Maldives, has been able to achieved double digits’ growth, successfully handle commercials in Dhi T/V, MNBC, Raajje Radio and adverts on Haveeru newspapers to increase the awareness. Work as a part-time Consultant / Trainer for The Hawks (Pvt) Ltd, (B2B Business) in Male, Maldives – (1/11/2012-11/2//2015) Brand Manager – (02/2008 – 03/2011) Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) Managed & maintained two brands, which were the Buckinghamshire new university MBA (BUCKS) & Certified Professional Marketer (CPM) status at the AMF and led colleagues and delegated teams to monitor sales. I was an active part of the team that launched “BUCKS MBA” program in Sri Lanka and monitor overall performance of the two brands. Published adverts, strategic alliances with advertising & media agencies, coordinate with head office in UK effectively build brand image in SL. Business Development. Executive. – (04/2005 – 02/ 2008) Wijeya Newspapers Ltd (WNL) An accomplished Mgt. executive for the launch of “IT Times” brand in SL. Identified innovative marketing campaigns, negotiated with major supermarkets to successful distribution of magazine of the in Island wide and delivered to Sri Lankan Airlines as well & increased the penetration level. Senior Marketing Executive. – (09/2003 – 04/ 2005) Leader Investment (Pvt) Ltd (Forex) Presented for real-time Forex trading advisory services to clients, ensuring they gain maximum return on investment & won customer confidence, reduced & resolved complained, ensured that all clients data was safely stored. Build network with top line customers. I was an active part of the team in opening a new branch office in Kandy City and led trained & motivated team to manage profitability. Chairman / Managing Director – (12/2001 – 09/2003) AMS Holdings (“SAP” Tea) Responsible for the launched “SAP” brand of tea and negotiated the longer payment terms with suppliers, reduced short expired return stock and saved money, ensured the optimal brand visibility of “SAP” tea. Improved overall penetration of “SAP” range of tea southern provincial area, suburbs of Colombo as well as some of identified supermarket in the country and maximized sales and streamlined the route plan. Established to worked as a Group Internal Audit Assistant at Sumathi Holdings & presented new findings to the Mgt.- (03/2000 -12/ 2001) During my career as an Audit Trainee at B.R.de Silva & Company, I have managed to visit varies types of companies – (04/1997 – 03/2000) Produced Student at St. Aloysius College – Galle, Sri Lanka (1979 – 1993)