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History　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　


The Federation of Asian Retailers Associations (FARA)
Overview

The establishment of the Federation of the Asian Retailers Associations (FARA) --- precursor to the FEDERATION OF ASIA-PACIFIC RETAILERS ASSOCIATION (FAPRA) --- was first proposed at the Heads of Delegations (HOD) meeting of the 2nd Asian Retailers Convention (ARC) held in October 1985 in Seoul, Korea. After deliberations during the subsequent HOD meeting in Hong Kong in September 1987, the HODs unanimously resolved in favor of its establishment during the 4th Asian Retailers Convention in Singapore in September 1989.

The Federation of Asian Retailers Associations or FARA was officially signed into existence during the 5th Asian Retailers Convention in Bangkok, Thailand in November 1991. Initially, the FARA was approved by ten (10) founding members. These are the Retailers Council of Australia, Ltd., Department of Stores Association of the Republic of China, Hong Kong Retail Management Association, Japan Retailers Association, Korea Retailers Association, Chamber of Philippine Department Stores & Retailers, inc., Singapore Retailers Association and the Thai Retailers Association. Not present during the signing was the Retail & Wholesale Merchants Association of New Zealand.

FARA was established basically to further the development of the retail industry in the region, enhance communication and promote friendly cooperative relations among member countries and encourage the expansion of commercial activities in the region that will contribute to the general development of the member countries and the Asian region as a whole.

The Bi-annual ASIAN Retailers Conference & Expo (ARCE)

To continue the exchange of information and promote networking among the retailers in the region, the FARA institutionalized the holding of the bi-annual Annual Asian Retailers Convention (ARC) which became the main activity of the FARA. The dynamics of retailing and the ever changing consumer preferences pose a continuing challenge for every retailer. Hence the annual ARC became the venue to update the retailers in the region on the latest trends and development sin the regional as well as the global retail industry.

First held and hosted by the Japan Retailers Association in 1985, The first ARC was a attracted some 2000 delegates from the member countries and established the benchmark of succeeding retailers conventions.

Hosting an international event of this kind and magnitude required massive preparations and promotion. The host country was tasked not only to come up with an interesting and relevant program but also to showcase the best that the host country can offer as a retail and tourist destination. The challenge was such that the members interested to host the bi-annual event would have to pose a bid during the HOD meetings prior to the ARC.

In 19__, the ARC was expanded to include an Exhibition showcasing suppliers and organizations doing business with the retail industry and renamed Asian Retailers Conference.

After Japan in 1985, the ff countries have had the privilege of hosting the ARCE:

1985 – 2nd ARC in SEOUL, KOREA

1987 – 3rd ARC in HONGKONG

1889 – 4th ARC in SINGAPORE

1991 – 5th ARC in BANGKOK, THAILAND

1993 – 6th ARCE in MANILA, PHILIPPINES

1995 – 7th ARCE in KL, MALAYSIA

1997 – 8th ARCE in ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

1999 – 9th ARCE in TAIWAN

2001 – 10th ARCE in JAKARTA, INDONESIA

2003 – 11th ARCE in CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

2005 – 12th ARCE in BEIJING, CHINA

In 2007, the ARCE would have gone full circle and returns to Tokyo, Japan for the 13th ARCE.



FARA Responds to the Times

Since its inception, the various FARA leaderships have envisioned making FARA a more relevant and responsive organization for the regional retail industry. Over the years, it has sought and invited the various representative and recognized national retail organizations of other Asian countries to join and be part of the group. Since then, the FARA has grown with the membership of China, India, Turkey, Mongolia, (and Vietnam?).

In order to sustain the FARA organization beyond the bi-annual ARCE, the HODs of the member countries have decided that a Permanent Secretariat was necessary to sustain its operations, just like each individual member. Hence, during the 12th ARCE in Beijing, the HODs agreed to the creation of a Permanent Secretariat and China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC) – the host of the 12th ARCE --- offered to host and sponsor said Permanent Secretariat.

At the same time, with its growing membership, the FARA leadership has expanded beyond its Asian origins and recognizes that the FARA member countries truly encompass not only Asia but the Asia Pacific region. Hence during the last Executive Directors (EDs) meeting held in Singapore in May 2006, the FARA EDs have decided to recommend the renaming of the FARA organization to FEDERATION OF ASIA-PACIFIC RETAILERS ASSOCIATION (FAPRA) and subsequently, the ARCE will now be called ASIA PACIFIC RETAILERS CONFERENCE AND EXPO (APRCE). This recommendation will be presented and approved at the HOD meeting in Tokyo, Japan in October 2006.