INTERNATIONAL NEwswww.exhibitionnews.co.uk 13UBM FORGES TURKISH HUBEUROPEUBM has formed a strategic partnership with NTSR, a leading Turkish exhibition company, to create an operational and logistical hub for launching UBM's products into Turkey and the wider region.The deal, brokered by Mayfield Media, is hoped will help UBM bridge markets in Europe and Asia. NTSR is one of the best-known organisers in Turkey, with more than 30 years' experience.A statement from UBM said Turkey is an attractive prospect for future launches due to its "unique geographic and cultural position, fast-growing economy and relatively young but growing media market".TCEB PRESIDENT HANDS IN NOTICEThe president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has announced his decision to step down. Akapol Sorasuchart (pictured) submitted a resignation letter to the TCEB's board on 29 February without providing a reason, according to a report in Thai newspaper The Nation.Sorasuchart, who has held his position for almost two and a half years, reportedly said 'existing problems' prompted his resignation.The bureau president said he wants the agency to continue with its bid to host the World Expo 2020, but was worried about the bid's progress, adding that without making people available to work on the project, Thailand would lose opportunities in the international arena.Sorasuchart said his resignation would not have a major impact on the bid, which is very much a live campaign, but called on the government to lobby the body that awards the World Expo, the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE).BIE officials are to visit Thailand soon in order to assess its preparation for hosting the event, a check carried out on all competing nations. ASIANET DEBT HAlvED AT TARSUSTarsus has grown its group revenue by 42 per cent to £61.7m and halved its debt as it builds its business in the US, China, Turkey and the Middle East.Like-for-like revenue growth, excluding foreign exchange movements, increased by eight per cent in a year that saw Tarsus make a series of acquisitions and divestments.Net interest expense increased slightly to £1.6m and reported profit before tax was £3m in the year to 31 December 2011, down on 2010 (£5.3m). However adjusted profit before tax rose 77 per cent to £16.8m (2010: £9.5m), or 15 per cent on a more accurately comparable biennial basis (2009: £14.6m).The substantial increase in adjusted profit before tax can be attributed to a number of one-off items relating to disposals, acquisitions and goodwill write-downs. These include an exceptional £1.4m in transactional costs for completed and pending acquisitions, a £2.3m profit from the disposal of French subsidiary Modamont and a goodwill (non cash) write-down on the remaining French businesses of £8.4m.According to Tarsus, the goodwill write-down was taken as the carrying value of these French businesses altered as a result of the changed economic conditions in Europe.The company halved its net debt to £13.7m (2010: £28.6m), a figure Tarsus chairman Neville Buch claims exceeded expectations."Last year was a record year with the group achieving a strong financial performance, both on a year-on-year and biennial basis, and we have halved our debt level," said Buch, adding that US business was better than expected.Revenue from emerging markets currently contributes 38 per cent to total revenue on a proforma basis. In the Middle East revenues increased to £21.2m, up on the 2010 figure of £7.5m. This reflects the growing Dubai Airshow (pictured).WORLDUAE BEGINS WORLD EXPO CAMPAIGNThe UAE has launched its bid to host the 2020 world Expo in Dubai, a campaign that would see the Emirates invest Us$4bn (£2.5bn) in infrastructure.The world Expo, held every five years, was last hosted by shanghai where it drew 73 million visitors, according to the Chinese government. The 2015 world Expo will be staged in Milan. The UAE is competing with four other candidates for the right to host the event; Thailand, Russia, Turkey and Brazil.The Arab nation's bid is themed 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future', and will trade on Dubai's mixed make-up of nationalities."The city is home to 200 different nationalities, who live and work together in harmony," said the UAE's Minister of state and MD of the Higher Committee for Hosting the 2020 world Expo, sheikh Ahmed bin saeed Al Maktoum. "They do so in an environment that is safe, tolerant and open to the world. That is why we believe Dubai is the perfect city to host the world Expo."MIDDLE EASTFIBO SPAIN BRAND REMAINS, REED TOLDFIBO spain, the independent exhibition whose relaunch prompted Reed, organiser of German fitness and health exhibition FIBO, to call in lawyers over brand protection, has confirmed it has the rights to the FIBO trademark in spain.Last year Reed Exhibitions Deutschland sought legal advice following the re-emergence of FIBO spain after a 12-year hiatus. The independent exhibition, organised by Madrid-based LEDO sports and Events, was established in 1989 and first ran in 1990. It ceased operating in 2003 as the result of a pending court case involving the previous owners. But despite the hiatus, FIBO spain continued to exist as a registered and therefore protected brand, which will relaunch later this year under its new ownership.According to the spanish Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark 'Fitness Y Bodybuilding (FIBO)' is fully in force, having been registered in 1989, with LEDO sports and Events registered as its licensee.EUROPE

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