Singapore Press Holdings Limited : Sphere Conferences Partners Myanmar Government to Organise First Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference

-Regional Airlines and Airport Leaders to Explore Opportunities of Myanmar, Asia's Upcoming Aviation Hub

Singapore,6 January 2014- Sphere Conferences, the conference arm of Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) today announced its partnership with the Ministry of Transport (MOT) of Myanmar and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) of Myanmar, to organise the inaugural Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2014, to be held at the Traders Hotel in Yangon from24 to 26 March 2014.

Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2014 is the country's first strategic conference that convenes airport operators, regulators, senior airlines executives and key aviation stakeholders to strategise, plan and capitalise on the next booming aviation market in Asia. It will be the platform for discussions and debates on the potential growth plans for Myanmar's airlines and airports as the country poises to enter a major period of growth.

Since the opening up of its economy, Myanmar has seen a sharp increase in the number of business and leisure arrivals. With this trend projected to be on the rise, Myanmar's aviation industry is expected to boom in the coming years. According to DCA of Myanmar, the total number of air passengers in 2030 is likely to rise to 30 million. In addition, Myanmar's fourth international airport, the Harthawaddy International Airport, is expected to start its operations in 2018. The rapid growth signals strong demand for expertise and opportunities for investments from around the world.

The key issues to be discussed at the conference include:

• Aviation outlook for Myanmar 2014 and beyond
• Regulations and the financial landscape
• Airport, airlines and strategic stakeholders partnerships
• Air cargo development
• Airport planning and design
• Integrating IT into existing initiatives to optimise efficiency and reduce cost
• Air traffic management
• Enhancing passenger's experience
• Airport safety and security
• Emergence of low cost carriers in Myanmar
• Cost control on fleet and fuel

As Myanmar's only aviation event, the conference is expected to garner support from major international organisations and associations, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA is the official industry partner for the event which provides valuable market insights of the aviation sector. IATA recognises Myanmar's efforts in developing its regulatory system, air traffic management as well as airport infrastructure and hopes to see a continued momentum in these areas.

U Nyan Tun Aung, Union Minister for Transport of Myanmar, said: "As we have always been working on the development of the aviation industry, we are happy to share our thoughts and masterplan with practitioners and experts from other countries. By organising the first aviation conference in Myanmar with Sphere Conferences, we are looking forward to hearing case studies and exchanging best practices with leading regional and international airlines, airport operators and service providers."

Mr Chua Wee Phong, Chairman of Sphere Conferences, said: "We are glad to have this opportunity to work with the Myanmar government in organising this inaugural aviation conference. With engaging panel discussions and successful case studies, Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference 2014 will be the perfect platform for aviation leaders to exchange ideas and collaborate in achieving greater excellence in Asia's next biggest aviation market."

For more information about the event, visit the website: http://mcadc.sphereconferences.com/

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Co. Registration. No. 198402868E

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Zhu Jiahui
Marketing Executive
Sphere Conferences
Tel: [phone]
Email:[e-mail]

Ms. Vanni Cheong
Assistant Manager
Corporate Communications & CSR
Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

About Sphere Conferences

Sphere Conferences, a conference arm of Singapore Press Holdings, produces conferences that are of the highest quality bringing inspiration, innovation and value to customers. Sphere's purpose is to empower customers with big and fresh ideas and lasting relationships that will enable them to excel in their chosen markets, by providing unique networking and learning platforms whereby they can learn, network and do business. For more information, please visit www.sphereconferences.com

About Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

Incorporated in 1984, main board-listed Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH) is Asia's leading media organisation, engaging minds and enriching lives across multiple languages and platforms.

Newspapers, Magazines and Book Publishing
SPH has 19 titles licensed under the Newspaper Printing and Presses Act, of which nine are daily newspapers across four languages. On an average day, 3.05 million individuals or 76 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of SPH's news publications. SPH also publishes and produces more than 100 magazine titles in Singapore and the region, covering a broad range of interests from lifestyle to information technology. SPH's subsidiaries, Straits Times Press and Focus Publishing, produce quality books and periodicals in English and Chinese.

Internet and Mobile
Beyond print, the Internet editions of SPH newspapers enjoy over 300 million page views with 20 million unique visitors every month. Apart from AsiaOne, SPH's online and new media initiatives include ST701, the leading online marketplace for jobs (STJobs), property (STProperty), cars (STCars) and general classifieds (STClassifieds); Stomp,omy.sgand The Straits Times RazorTV. SPH also launched The Straits Times' iPad and enhanced iPhone applications, an Android smartphone application and The Business Times' iPhone application. SPH's Chinese flagship newspaper Lianhe Zaobao has also launched its digital editions which include a web application, as well as online and PDF versions.

Broadcasting
In the radio business, SPH Radio Pte Ltd operates entertainment stations UFM 100.3 in Mandarin, as well as Kiss92 and HOT FM91.3 in English. SPH has a 20 per cent stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8 and U, and a 40 per cent stake in MediaCorp Press Limited, which publishes the free newspaper, Today.

Events and Out-of-Home Advertising
SPH's events arm Sphere Exhibits organises innovative consumer and trade events and exhibitions as well as large scale conferences in Singapore and the region. In addition, SPH has ventured into out-of-home (OOH) advertising through its digital out-of-home platform SPHMBO.

Properties
SPH REIT is a Singapore-based REIT established principally to invest, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of income-producing real estate which is used primarily for retail purposes in Asia-Pacific, as well as real estate-related assets. SPH REIT is managed by SPH REIT Management Pte. Ltd., which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings Limited.

The initial portfolio of SPH REIT comprises the following two high quality and well located commercial properties in Singapore:

· Paragon, a premier upscale retail mall and medical suite/office property, well known for its upscale mall housing many luxury brands, located in the heart of Orchard Road; and
· The Clementi Mall, a mid-market suburban mall located in the centre of Clementi town, an established residential estate in the west of Singapore.

The Seletar Mall is SPH's latest retail development and is expected to open at the end of 2014. This property is a potential asset to be injected into SPH REIT. SPH's wholly-owned subsidiary, Times Development Pte Ltd, also developed a 43-storey upmarket residential condominium, Sky@eleven, at Thomson Road.

For more information, please visit www.sph.com.sg