November 23, 2005—ISSA, a global trade association for the cleaning industry, recently announced the establishment of offices in Singapore and China. This follows the recent acquisition of Clean Asia Media Pte Ltd. by ISSA and its partners Amsterdam RAI and AFIDAMP, the Italian Association of Manufacturers and Distributors of Professional Cleaning Equipment and Products.
ISSA aims to work with local cleaning-related trade associations, government agencies, and members to add value to the cleaning industry in Asia while opening new opportunities for ISSA’s worldwide membership. ISSA notes that with the Chinese economy booming at an average annual growth of nine percent, the market for professional cleaning services and quality products is enjoying double-digit growth.
In addition, the construction of new commercial and industrial facilities, the rapidly expanding tourism sector boosted by the upcoming Olympic Games in 2008 and the World Expo 2010, and growing concern about fine dust, SARS, and the avian influenza pandemic have led to a need for a higher quality of facilities maintenance.
Among the first projects for the Asia-Pacific offices is to help develop and promote the ISSA/INTERCLEAN China tradeshow and educational conference, which will attract a wide range of visitors from the facilities management, professional cleaning, and janitorial distribution sectors.
The first edition of the show is scheduled for September 20-22, 2006, at the ShanghaiMart Expo in Shanghai. ISSA and Amsterdam RAI’s other upcoming ISSA/INTERCLEAN shows in 2006 include: Chicago, IL, October 4-7; Mexico City, Mexico, March 8-10; and Amsterdam, Netherlands, May 9-12.
The acquisition of Clean Asia Media also signals the launch of Asia Cleaning Journal, which will incorporate the former Clean Asia magazine. The new publication will be under the ownership of Criterion Publishing Ltd., publisher of European Cleaning Journal, and will be available in Chinese as well as in English.
