Since 1996, Thailand has been ranked first among ASEAN visitors/exhibitors to trade fairs in France. Thai visitors account to 33% in average of the totality of ASEAN visitors (4000 in odd year and 5000 in even year). This majority is clearly seen on the exhibitors side with 45% Thai from the total ASEAN exhibitors to France. 

Visitors: Despite of the economic crisis in 1997 which leads to the visitors fall in in 1998 and a stagnation in 2000-2001, Thai visitors continue to visit French trade fairs.  The visitors number has tripled from 630 in 1996 to 2 059 in 2006. These visitors are not only buyers or distributors but also manufacturers or designers who visit the fairs to be informed of new technologies, to benchmark their products with competitors or to get inspiration of the new trends.  

To note that since 2007, Thai visitors have been slowing down in visiting trade fairs in France. This can be explained by political instaiblity since 2007, world's economic crisis 2008-2009 which slowed down visitors from around the world, without forgetting the face that many trade fairs were created in ASEAN/Asia Pacific with target specially Asia visitors.  

Exhibitors: Thai exporters continue to exhibit in France as France is a main country to penetrate the European market. We have to note that the European market is one of the 3 main export markets of Thailand after the United States and Japan. However, it is important to keep in mind that China and other ASEAN countires will be come major trade partners of Thailand in the coming years thanks to the AFTA (since 1 January 2010).

It is important to note that there are more Thai exhibitors in pair years than in impair years as SIAL takes place every two years in the pair year, and each session, there are more than 100 Thai exhibitors attend under the Thailand Pavilion subsidised by the Department of Export Promotion (DEP), Ministry of  Commerce.