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Hong Kong Gifts, printing and packaging, and licensing events foster cross-industry opportunities

Fairs featuring sustainable, cultural and creative products attract over 60,000 buyers

The Gifts & Premium Fair, Printing & Packaging Fair and debut DeLuxe PrintPack concluded successfully today, while the Licensing Show ended yesterday. The four trade fairs attracted over 60,000 buyers from 127 countries and regions for sourcing and procurement
Buyers from outside Hong Kong were mainly from Mainland China, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, and Korea
A survey showed 60% of respondents believed overall sales would increase in the next 12 to 24 months

The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong concluded successfully today, while the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS), ended yesterday. The four trade fairs collectively attracted over 60,000 buyers from 127 countries and regions. The Gifts & Premium Fair welcomed some 35,000 buyers, while the Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack fair drew over 10,000 buyers, and the HKILS had over 15,000. Buyers from outside Hong Kong were mainly from Mainland China, Taiwan, the United States, Japan and Korea, demonstrating active global participation in the April trade events. Concurrent with the HKILS, the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) invited nearly 30 international industry experts to share insights on global licensing trends and growth drivers. The four trade fairs, along with the ALC, contribute to the promotion of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries and development of intellectual property trade.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “The Gifts & Premium Fair, Printing & Packaging Fair, inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong, and HKILS bring together creative industry professionals and licensing industry players, providing a platform for exchange and connecting potential partners. Under the national 14th Five Year Plan, Hong Kong serves as a centre for cultural promotion and exchange, with the goal of promoting Chinese culture overseas. This year’s Gifts & Premium Fair and HKILS feature rich cultural and creative content, with the participation of numerous cultural and creative communities from Mainland China, which has been well-received by buyers. Additionally, with the recent implementation of the plastic-free policy in Hong Kong from last week, the Printing & Packaging Fair and inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack have attracted many local buyers seeking eco-friendly packaging, creating more business opportunities for the industry.” She further emphasised that Hong Kong is a renowned global sourcing hub, and the April trade shows gather industry people from traditional markets such as Europe and the United States, as well as those from emerging markets such as Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East. With the HKTDC providing online and offline business matching platforms, the industry can seize golden opportunities in the April sourcing season.

60% anticipate increase in sales
During the Gifts & Premium Fair, the HKTDC commissioned an independent research agency to interview some 870 exhibitors and buyers. Of the respondents, 60% believed their overall sales figures would rise in the next 12 to 24 months while 38% consider rising demand from emerging markets as the biggest business opportunity this year, followed by recovering purchasing power from customers (33%) and business leads from e-tailing (30%). The greatest challenges identified were fluctuations of the global economy (49%), impact of inflation (34%) and exchange rate volatility (33%).

In terms of market expansion, the popular choices among respondents included Northern and Western Europe (27%), North America (27%), ASEAN (22%) and Japan (14%).

Respondents identified green, environmentally friendly (60%), chic and fashionable (40%) and high-tech (31%) as the three major gifts and premium market product-feature trends. The gift and premium items with the most growth potential were considered to be sustainable gifts (16%), figurines & decorations (16%) and toys & baby products (16%).

Market trends usher in cultural creative and eco-friendly products
Hong Kong is a leading sourcing hub for gifts, and exhibitors at the Gifts & Premium Fair are closely attuned to trends, incorporating cultural and creative designs. Marushin Sun Heart (HK) Limited has introduced uniquely designed small bags and pouches in the shape of food items which are popular in Europe and the United States. The exhibitor joined the Gifts & Premium Fair in order to bring these popular bags into Asian markets and the result exceeded expectations. Shoko Kodama, Board Director, Marushin Co., Ltd., said: “At the fair, we have transformed our booth into a supermarket and attracted a lot of new buyers, 70% of whom come from Europe and the United States and the remainder from Southeast Asia. Their responses are very positive. So far, we have found 20 to 30 potential distributors. Some of our existing distributors have already placed on-the-spot orders worth a total of US$50,000 on the first day. We expect our on-site orders will amount to US$200,000.”

In addition, a Jingdezhen porcelain manufacturer joined the Gifts & Premium Fair for the first time to promote handcrafted and unique porcelain artworks. Their products have garnered appreciation among collectors from Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore.

Hong Kong-based Printing and Packaging Fair exhibitor Zune Asia Ltd has operated in Hong Kong for over 20 years and now focuses on developing markets in Mainland China and Hong Kong. Area Manager Alex Cheung said: “We are a branch of a Swiss cutting company and have joined this fair for more than 10 years. On the fair’s second day, we already met close to 30 buyers from Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and India. We estimate to generate sales revenue of HK$5 million (US$640,000) to $6 million during the fair. We also reconnected with two past customers at the fair.” The returned Korea Pavilion also received positive responses, Jae Hyoung Kim, Manager of Sangil Eco & Paper Bag Co., Ltd, an exhibitor offering sustainable products and solutions, successfully connected to four potential buyers from large-scale stores based in Chile, Mainland China and Europe.

The inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong brings together a wider range of luxury packaging options for buyers. Curtis Chan, Founder of Hong Kong-based Merit Ideas International Limited, said: “We were very pleased that we made contact with 20 to 30 new buyers on the first day. We have also connected with five different buyers from packaging companies in Mexico, Lotte Group in Korea, Isabelle Food Company in Taiwan, and a jewellery company in Mainland China through the Click2Match platform. We expect to secure orders worth HK$200,000 (US$26,000) to $300,000 during the fair.”

One-stop trade platform enhances synergy
On the buyer side, Pierre Lombard, Marketing Executive of Verimark (Pty) Ltd, a direct marketing company in South Africa, said: “I have found at Gifts Fair 14 potential suppliers which have their own factories, and I’ll close deals valued at US$150,000 with two toy factories. I am happy to see new and innovative designs for smart watches, body massage guns, home fitness equipment and microfibre bath towels. I will place orders later.” Another buyer from the United States, Connie Tsang from Time Products International, highlighted that the product sustainability and practicality are key market trends. Through Click2Match, she connected with several eco-friendly product suppliers and will be finalising a deal with an Indian supplier to purchase environmentally friendly bags worth US$10,000.

Quan Luong Le, CEO and Founder of Nam Xanh Joint Stock Company, a buyer from Vietnam, found many suppliers at the Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack fair. He said: “We are looking for some long-term suppliers and we met 15 on the first day, who are mainly from Mainland China including Guangdong, Shenzhen and Xuzhou. We will shortlist three to four suppliers, and place orders of 5,000 to 10,000 units of ribbons, glass bottles and gift boxes initially, roughly amounting to US$40,000 to $50,000.” Another buyer, Martin Dusanek, Managing Director of Dekos Packaging Solutions in Czech Republic, said: “Our main focus was on sourcing green and high-end custom packaging products, and I successfully met potential suppliers from Mainland China and Korea. The estimated total value of the packaging procurement is US$50,000.”

Under the EXHIBITION+ model, the four trade fairs integrate offline and online elements. Apart from taking part in the physical fairs, buyers can continue networking through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform.

The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, organised by the HKTDC, took place from 27 to 30 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Concurrently, the HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Company (Hong Kong) Limited held the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and the inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Additionally, the HKILS and ALC were held from 27 to 29 April at the HKCEC.

Photos download: https://bit.ly/4aVqr2f

Website
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong: https://www.hktdc.com/event/deluxeprintpackhk/en
Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
HK Gifts & Premium Fair, HK International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong
Clementine Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4272, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org

HK International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Hong Kong International Licensing Show creates cross-industry business opportunities

More than 320 exhibitors showcase brands and IPs while global industry leaders gather at the concurrent Asian Licensing Conference to explore trends

The Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference concluded today, having drawn some 320 exhibitors bringing more than 550 brands and licensing projects.
At the Asian Licensing Conference, some 30 representatives from the global licensing sector engaged in profound discussions on industry hot topics
Issues raised included the ever-evolving global industry trends, sustainable development, the empowering potential of generative AI, the emergence of new forces in licensing, and innovative marketing strategies.
Young brands featured through the Design Licensing and Business (DLAB) Support Scheme, while MS FATTY maker Plastic Thing Limited was showcased

The curtains fell on the annual flagship event of Asia’s licensing industry, Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS), today after the three-day event organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), drawing over 320 exhibitors and showcasing an extensive array of more than 550 brands and licensing projects.

At the concurrent Asian Licensing Conference (ALC), some 30 esteemed global licensing leaders engaged in profound discussions on industry hot topics, including the ever-evolving global industry trends, sustainable development, the empowering potential of generative AI, the emergence of new forces in licensing, and innovative marketing strategies. The two events provided a platform for business development across regions and industries, creating business opportunities for participants and promoting the development of IP trading in the region.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Dr Patrick Lau said: “Under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong has been supported by the Central Government to develop into a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre. As an international business hub and sourcing platform, Hong Kong has been a trading centre for all types of IPs for many years, helping to promote the development of IP trading in the region. Licensing is an important part of IP trading and Hong Kong is one of the most developed and mature licensing markets in Asia. We are pleased to see that licensing has a wide range of applications and product categories, including not only the traditional characters, but also different areas such as arts, cultural and creative industries, sports and lifestyle sectors. Development of AI technologies will expand the quantity of creative digital content and generate enormous demand for and supply of branded, licensed content, further accelerating the already rapid growth of the industry.”

This year ALC focused on legal risks brought by generative AI and the sustainable development of IP licensing.

HKILS launched a new initiative “Reimagining The Classics”, which mesmerised attendees with the harmonious fusion of creative IP projects and renowned Hong Kong brands. Dr Lau emphasised that classic brands hold profound cultural value, and through strategic licensing partnerships, vitality can be injected into these iconic entities. “Reimagining The Classics” aimed to reignite boundless imagination for these timeless brands.

Hong Kong as a key brand licensing platform
The Design Licensing and Business (DLAB) Support Scheme also returned to HKILS this year, featuring 45 local brands with creative designs. On the other hand, Plastic Thing Limited, a Hong Kong-based company specialising in IP licensing, showcased their unique perspective as vibrant young brands. Their acclaimed IP MS FATTY has frequently collaborated with renowned institutions and shopping malls. Yip Kim Kwan, Director of Plastic Thing Limited, said: “HKILS provides a cost effective platform for young local brands to showcase their works to the world. These young brands have made significant contributions to the licensing industry in Hong Kong, and in recent years, there has been a growing number of creators entering the industry.” During the three-day exhibition, Mr Yip said they have received numerous inquiries from potential buyers and are already in discussions for collaborations. “The responses from buyers have been very positive, and we are currently following up on the details.”

Hong Kong serves as a bridge for the licensing industry in the world. Witnessing a surge in local brand development and licensing projects, the city has also attracted numerous international licensors and licensing agents to set up offices in Hong Kong. Moreover, renowned global licensors have been keen to partner with Hong Kong-based licensing agents, leveraging their expertise to unlock business opportunities across Asia.

Prominent HKILS exhibitor CAA Brand Management specialises in facilitating the expansion of diverse brands across various consumer-product categories and geographic regions. Elaine Chiu, Executive Vice President of the group, said: “Hong Kong provides an effective platform for licensing professionals and clients from diverse Asian countries to connect and foster meaningful exchanges. This exhibition has been instrumental in our exploration of diverse business opportunities, which are currently in the negotiation phase. These opportunities span various sectors, including trendy collectible models and experiential activities, which align closely with the primary target audience of CAA.”

Shusaku Watanabe, Manager of Chocolate Inc., a buyer from Japan appreciated the business platform HKILS creates. He said: “Through business matching services arranged by HKTDC, I met and identified a variety of new IPs from Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. I am going to explore collaboration with them for the Japanese market.”

Art and cultural Licensing continue to expand
This year’s HKILS once again welcomed Raistlin Lau, Hong Kong SAR Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony. During his address, he stated: “With our proximity to the Mainland, and strategic location at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong has been affirmed by many international licensors, and licensing as the strategic base for expanding their businesses in Asia and a launch pad to tap into the Mainland market. We welcome all licensing professionals to utilise the business expansion platform offered by the HKILS to not only establish contacts but also exchange ideas and thoughts behind innovation.”

The importance of art and cultural licensing continues to rise and become an undeniable global trend. Museum-inspired creative products utilising cultural assets have become significant business opportunities globally in recent years.

Sichuan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism brought more than 30 intangible cultural heritage, and cultural and creativity unit from across the province to the HKILS, showcasing more than 100 IP licensing projects and exchanging with exhibitors and buyers from all over the world. Some exhibitors have reached licensing deals with an amount of more than RMB3 million

In the ever-evolving realm of creativity, visionary creators not only revolutionise the licensing industry with their innovative ideas and forms but also strive to unravel the secrets to commercialise and market their creative endeavours. Anita Tantasirin, Director and Co-founder of Arwama Company Limited, shared her invaluable insights during the Licensing Academy session of ALC, shedding light on how licensing can unlock a plethora of business opportunities. With conviction, she stated: “We have encountered various potential clients at the exhibition, primarily from Asia. We have engaged with chain stores and malls and are also open to collaborations with hotels, theme parks and exhibitions. Although we expect the industry future will be challenging, passion is the key to the IP’s success”

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3QL7Fmf

Websites
Hong Kong International Licensing Show:
https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en/programme?category=all&date=all
HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

Media enquiries
For more information, please contact Raconteur:
Molisa Lau, Tel: (852) 6187 7786, Email: molisalau@raconteur.hk
Betsy Tse, Tel: (852) 9742 7338, Email: betsytse@raconteur.hk

The HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

HKTDC unveils gifts, printing, packaging and licensing events

Embrace the April sourcing season to seize global business opportunities across industries

Run of fairs creates global business opportunities across industries and disciplines
Following the successful Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle fairs last week, the gifts, printing and packaging and licensing events have attracted some 4,800 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair spins off DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong

Hong Kong has always been committed to promoting culture, creative and IP trade, leveraging the city’s unique East meets West advantages. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) hosted lifestyle and licensing events in April, gathering global trend-setting creative products and services, and helping the industry seize business opportunities. Following the successful conclusion of Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle last week, a range of exciting fairs and conferences will continue this week. The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair runs for four days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from today until 30 April. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and concurrent DeLuxe PrintPack are at AsiaWorld-Expo. The Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) are also held at the HKCEC for three days from today. The four events have attracted over 4,800 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions, while the ALC gathers some 30 international licensing industry leaders to discuss trends. These activities have created global business opportunities across industries and disciplines, consolidating Hong Kong’s role as the leading regional creative hub and IP trading centre.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Over the years, the HKTDC has been committed to promoting Hong Kong as the regional creative hub through exhibitions, conferences and diversified activities, helping local creative industries to go global. In response to market demands, the Gifts & Premium Fair launched the Cultural & Creative Corner for the first time last year and again this year with a variety of products rich in craftsmanship, creative design, cultural characteristics and ‘intangible cultural heritage’. The Licensing Show also invited renowned museums to display their art IP licensing, as well as international brands to showcase their creative designs and IPs. The two printing and packaging related fairs provided diverse packaging, creative solutions and customised services for different products. The three fairs complement each other, facilitating cross-disciplinary cooperation, generating greater synergies to the industries.”

Ms Chong also said the HKTDC is dedicated in promoting sustainable development in the business sector through its diversified support services and online-to-offline sourcing platforms, assisting the industry to promote and procure green products and solutions. The trade shows held this week include green zones, while exhibitors offering green products at other zones are also provided with green labels for buyers’ easy identification.

Promoting local design brand with international cultural and creative activity
The Hall of Fine Designs in the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair brings together local and international well-known brands, including Red A (Booth: 1C-G03) from Hong Kong, Yashica (Booth: 1C-E04) from Japan; c-secure (Booth: 1D-C05) from the Netherlands and LifeBion (Booth: 1D-C06) from Italy. Highlighted products include Rollink FUTO, a lightweight and collapsible suitcase by local enterprise OMG Design Factory (Booth: 1D-A03); Evopad Eco (Booth: 1C-D09), a portable multi-functional desktop tool serving as mouse pad, phone and pen holder made from recycled PET bottles which earned it a Bronze at the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards (HKSDA) 2021.

The fair features a dedicated Cultural & Creative Corner, showcasing nearly 30 exhibitors. Notably, the Chinese Gifts Themed Exhibition, which is part of the 2024 National Cultural and Tourism IP Authorisation Series Activities under the guidance of the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Enterprises from Shandong and Henan will exhibit intangible cultural heritage products, showcasing the distinctive cultural essence of the regions. The Mainland China pavilion at the fair features a variety of lifestyle and creative products from different provinces. The Shaanxi pavilion (Booth 5E-F01-02, 04, 5E-G01-03), organised by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce, debuts this year to showcase products encompassing ancient and modern culture in the Cultural & Creative Corner. These include ceramic products, Terracotta Army themed exhibitions, trendy toys and an augmented reality App that integrates cartoon drawing and colouring. The Outdoor & Sporting Goods zone debuts this year, displaying camping equipment, dance shoes and sports products. The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association (HKEA) has also organised a thematic pavilion (Booth: 5C-D02) to showcase the extraordinary design and brand strength of Hong Kong exhibitors. The winning pieces of the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards organised by the HKEA are exhibited on-site.

There are cultural, creative and design elements at the HKILS. The Bring Me Home Souvenirs Series (Booth: 5G-B22), inspired by collections and exhibits of various Hong Kong public museums, are developed to infuse daily lives with the essence of art, history and science. Numerous renowned museums from Mainland China, including the Palace Museum (Booth: 5F-F03), the National Museum of China (Booth: 5F-G03), the Gansu Jiandu Museum (Booth: 5F-G03) and the Henan Museum (Booth: 5F-G03), participate in the HKILS to showcase their art IP. Plastic Thing Limited (Booth: 5G-A37), founded by Yan Ip in 2013, is well known for its character Fatty and exhibits in the HKILS for the first time. Director of Plastic Thing Limited Yip Kim Kwan together with the operators of the rising Asian IPs will speak at the Licensing Academy session tomorrow to discuss strategies for unlocking opportunities through licensing, and the major challenges they face along the way. DLAB (Design Licensing and Business Support Scheme) Hong Kong Pavilion (Booth: 5G-S01 – 5G-S45) returns to the HKILS, promoting the latest creative designs of 45 local brands.

Inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack
Apart from jointly organising the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, the HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Company (HK) Ltd have responded to growing global demand for luxury packaging products by launching the acclaimed World of DeLuxe PrintPack Zone as a separate event this year. The debut DeLuxe PrintPack features a variety of printing and packaging products and solutions for luxury goods covering cosmetics, wine, jewellery and watches. Dongguan Creative Packing Co., Ltd. (Booth: 3-B02) from Mainland China has introduced the elegant high-gloss painted humidor made from Spanish cedar wood while Midas Printing International Limited (Booth: 3-B03), winner of over 300 printing awards, joined as a local exhibitor.

Focus on sustainability and innovation and technology
According to the green technology & environmental services industry profile in Hong Kong published by the HKTDC Research last year, the added value of Hong Kong’s environmental industry in 2021 amounted to HK$10.2 billion (US$1.3 billion), with an annual growth rate of 2.2%. The recent implementation of plastic-free measures also signifies Hong Kong’s readiness and commitment on sustainable development. Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair exhibitors seize business opportunities on the trend. Shanghai Jielong Group Co., Ltd. (Booth: 3-E15), the leading paper printing company in Mainland China, brings integrated green printing solutions to the fair. The Green Printing & Packaging Solutions zone at the fair will also be in the spotlight, with Sangil Eco and Paper Bag Co., Ltd. (Booth: 3-F02) from the Korea Pavilion showcasing eco-friendly paper bags made from recycled materials and FSC-certified timber, which demonstrate excellent loading capacity and durability.

The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair also welcomes eco-friendly exhibits. Matrix Promotion Limited (Booth: 1E-B03) launches Monopoly Go Green, which uses recycled paper and FSC-certified timber and incorporates eco-friendly concepts in the game, such as building a greenhouse to earn more rent.

To establish IP licensing as a sustainable development strategy, ALC invites Lisa Zhang, Co-Founder of Alfilo Brands, to discuss sustainable future in IP licensing and her experience in IP cooperation with museums in the Licensing Academy session on Day 3 (29 April). She will also explain how to use Green IP to diversify revenue streams and ensure a sustainable future. Other thematic sessions include generative artificial intelligence, the rise of new IP creation and beauty in licensing.

Discussing latest industry trends
The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack will feature seminars, exhibitor and buyer forums, and cultural performances focusing on sustainability, industry innovation and technology, creative design thinking, the silver economy, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area opportunity and consumer market trends. At the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, representatives from Coresight Research, Google and Pinkoi analyse consumer trends and OMO (online-merge-offline) retail concepts. Representatives from Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) and St James’ Settlement Jockey Club Upcycling Centre conduct a seminar on sustainable gifting and upcycling. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and The Hong Kong Printers Association will jointly organise a CTV (Colour Tone Value) seminar. Representatives from Hong Kong Open Printshop, FUJIFILM Business Innovation Hong Kong and Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University will discuss the transformation and trends in printing. At a DeLuxe PrintPack seminar, local packaging designers will discuss the impact of luxury packaging on branding.

Digital platform creates efficient exhibition experience
Under the EXHIBITION+ model April fairs integrate offline and online elements. Buyers can continue searching for products and services on the hktdc.com Sourcing platform and network through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform. During the physical fair, buyers can use the Scan2Match function of the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitors’ exclusive QR codes, bookmark favourite suppliers, browse product information and continue discussions with exhibitors online during or after the show.

Photos download: https://bit.ly/3w9GGcQ

Events details:

Events	Event Date	Opening Hours	Venue
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair	27-29 Apr (Sat-Mon) 30 Apr (Tue)	9:30am – 6:30pm 9:30am – 5pm	HKCEC
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair	27 Apr (Sat) 28-29 Apr (Sun-Mon) 30 Apr (Tue)	10:30am – 5:30pm 9:30am – 5:30pm 9:30am – 3:30pm	AsiaWorld-Expo
DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Licensing Show	27-29 Apr (Sat-Mon)	9:30am – 6:30pm	HKCEC
Asian Licensing Conference

Website
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en
Shuttle Bus Arrangement: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en/travel-to-fairground-awe

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

HK Gifts & Premium Fair, HK International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong
Clementine Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4272, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org

HK International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

HKTDC Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle forge global business opportunities

Survey indicates that over 60% in the industry foresee sales growth in the next two years

Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle concluded successfully today. The two fairs gathered global creative designs, attracting some 24,000 buyers from 100 countries and regions
Non-local buyers mainly came from Mainland China, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and the United States
Survey showed over 60% of respondents believed overall sales will increase in the next 12 to 24 months
Respondents from Home InStyle believe sales prospects are promising in the Middle East, Mainland China and ASEAN markets. Meanwhile, respondents from Fashion InStyle consider Taiwan, Latin America and ASEAN as markets with favourable sales prospects

Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today. The four-day fairs attracted some 24,000 buyers from 100 countries and regions, with a significant presence from Mainland China, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and the United States. Global buyers actively participated in the two fairs, proving Hong Kong’s status as the creative capital of Asia.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle, held concurrently this year, have effectively converged the latest global trends in home and fashion lifestyle products. The fairs have enticed professional buyers and buying missions from different countries and regions, including renowned fashion e-commerce giant Zalora, Glop Studio from France, Carrefour’s Turkiye Branch, Hometeka do Brasil S/A from Brazil, Hyundai Department Store from Korea and The Mall Group from Thailand. These events have created cross-sector opportunities for the industry. The HKTDC remains committed to promoting the development of the fashion and creative sectors and we will continue to inject new vitality into the Hong Kong fashion and creative industry by organising CENTRESTAGE, the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE in September this year, building upon the success of these two fairs to reinforce Hong Kong’s status as the creative capital of Asia.”

Survey reveals optimistic sales-growth outlook

An independent research agency commissioned by the HKTDC interviewed some 740 exhibitors and buyers. Of the respondents, 64% believe overall sales will increase in the next 12 to 24 months.

Among Home InStyle respondents, 36% identify business leads driven from e-tailing as the most significant business opportunity this year while 42% of Fashion InStyle respondents believe the major opportunity lies in recovering purchasing power from customers.

Home InStyle respondents predicted that kitchenware and tableware (22%) would have the biggest growth potential this year, while simple design (25%), smart home products (24%), and environmentally friendly and energy-saving products (22%) will be the most popular trends. Fashion InStyle respondents identified urban clothing (35%) and womenswear (33%) as having the highest growth potential.

In terms of the market outlook, respondents from the Home InStyle believe sales prospects are promising in the Middle East (89%), Mainland China (79%) and ASEAN (76%) markets. Meanwhile, respondents from Fashion InStyle consider Taiwan (75%), Latin America (74%), and ASEAN (72%) as markets with favourable sales prospects.

Expanding business networks and pioneering new markets
Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle attracted exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, including emerging markets such as Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East. The fairs boasted over 2,200 exhibitors. Aligning closely with sustainable development trends, both fairs featured an extensive range of eco-friendly products. Notably, Home InStyle directly responded to the Hong Kong SAR Government’s newly implemented plastic-free regulations on disposable tableware, offering alternative solutions to industry buyers.

The portable foldable cutlery set offered by the Hong Kong exhibitor, Uphold Living Ltd, was the highlight at Home InStyle as it provides a sustainable alternative to disposable cutlery. Eric Tong, Director and Co-founder of the company, said: “A German buyer will be our sole distributor in Germany and the United Kingdom and placed an order for 10,000 sets valued at US$136,500. We have found potential distributors from Korea, Singapore and the US and potential buyers from Taiwan and Hong Kong. The pre-fair news coverage has also generated four leads from local buyers.” In addition, Saudi Arabian exhibitor, Plastic Manufacturing House Co., made its debut at the fair where it engaged with buyers from South America, Canada, Europe, Morocco, the Philippines, Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company is confident it will strike a HK$400,000 (US$51,000) deal with Moroccan buyers.

Indonesian buyer Mulianingsih planned to procure plastic boxes and glass food containers worth over US$400,000. She said: “At the Home InStyle, I could directly purchase new products from suppliers at lower prices. So I don’t have to rely on Jakarta’s distributors. Through Click2Match, I identified two potential suppliers for plastic boxes and food containers and have already placed sample orders. It was a brilliant idea to co-locate the Home Instyle and Fashion InStyle, that allows me to source fashion accessories under one roof.”

Global fashion buyers flocked in for sourcing, Click2Match fosters business discussions
The Taiwan Creative Industry Development Association brought five brands and two jewellery designers to exhibit at Fashion InStyle. According to Brian Hsueh, a supervisor at the Association, the exhibition allowed them to connect with over 30 potential buyers from Mainland China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Vietnam and other locations. They estimated they can secure orders valued at over US$200,000. Mr Hsueh remarked: “This exhibition has met our expectations very well, proving it to be an effective shortcut for Taiwanese brands to engage with the world.”

Tze Her Ying, Chief Operating Officer, Saturday Club, visited Fashion InStyle to source items for the Singapore-based online fashion brand specialising in ladies’ wear. She has identified two suppliers and made plan to order approximately 5,000 items, including sportswear like yoga wear, from a supplier within the Athleisure zone. She noted: “I was impressed by the fair, and the Click2Match business matching platform was very useful. It allowed us to identify potential suppliers before even arriving at the event. I highly recommend companies in the industry to visit this exhibition.”

Under the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ format buyers and sellers can network through the smart business-matching platform Click2Match after the fairs close.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has a lineup of exciting exhibitions this month. The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will take place from 27 to 30 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and the inaugural DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong run concurrently at the AsiaWorld-Expo during the same period. The Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference will also be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 27 to 29 April. These five events will create cross-discipline business opportunities and generate greater synergies for the industries.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4aKsF4t

Websites
HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
Home InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/homeinstyle/en
Fashion InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/en
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HK Gifts & Premium Fair, HK International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong
Clementine Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4272, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org

HK International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

HKTDC Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle open today

Lifestyle fairs gather over 2,200 global exhibitors to promote Hong Kong’s fashion and creative industries

Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle raise curtain on seven late-April events reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international platform for lifestyle products and creative businesses
The fairs gather over 2,200 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions
Eco-friendly products and services boost Hong Kong’s sustainable development credentials

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is hosting seven lifestyle products and creative trade events from today until 30 April. Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle open today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The four-day lifestyle fairs feature multiple themed zones and attract over 2,200 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, promoting Hong Kong as an international business platform for lifestyle products and the creative industry.

Sophia Chong, the Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “To cater to the latest market trends, HKTDC has redesigned some of our April fairs, including merging the Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair into Home InStyle to create cross-industry synergy. HKTDC has always been committed to promoting sustainable development in the business community. This year’s Home InStyle features many products that align with the Hong Kong SAR government’s ‘plastic-free’ measures, while Fashion InStyle showcases eco-friendly technologies and products, and launches a new Certification and Trade Services zone to provide sustainability accreditation services. The two fairs also provide eco-labels for exhibitors selling green products, helping the industry promote and source eco-friendly products and solutions.”

Home InStyle showcases traditional crafts, award-winning designer products
This year, Home InStyle gathers 1,750 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, including first-time exhibitors from Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. The fair also features 12 pavilions, bringing home furnishings with cultural elements from Mainland China, Taiwan, India, Japan and Thailand. The Taiwan Pavilion displays a diverse range of product categories, including kitchenware, coffee cups, interior decoration furnishings and outdoor products, while the Indian Pavilion showcases household textiles and home decor products.

The well-received Cultural and Creative Corner features over 50 exhibitors and design brands from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines, including a debut by Shanghai Industrial Design Association (Booth: 3C-B28), showcasing highlighted products from Shanghai Design 100+; while Ibaraki, Aomori and Yamagata prefectures in Japan exhibit traditional handicrafts such as pottery, ceramics and wooden lacquerware; Hong Kong Design Institute (Booth: 3C-B05) features award-winning tableware Yuen Sek created by local designer Alvin Liu, which has won the Red Dot: Best of the Best Award 2021, the Gold Award in the Cultural and Creative Design category of the Wenzhou International Design Biennale 2020, and the Bronze Award of the Hong Kong Smart Design Awards 2021. The design is inspired by the Chinese dining experience, combining ergonomics, functionality and aesthetics.

The Cultural and Creative Corner has invited PANTONE as Colour Partner to provide recommendations for curating the zone. Renowned art-book publisher TASCHEN has also set up a lifestyle library at the event.

Multiple zones showcase diverse home products
The highlighted zone, Hall of Elegance, features renowned designer brands such as Topchoice (Booth: 1D-D03), Ucome (Booth: 1D-C02), Amercook (Booth: 1E-B02), AmVegan (Booth: 1E-B02) and Azuda (Booth: 1E-A03). The Green Living zone spotlights popular green homeware while Pet Supplies zone showcases innovative and modern merchandise for animal lovers.

Home InStyle introduces fresh zones this year that cannot be missed, including Home Textiles and World of Fine Textiles. These extraordinary zones carry household items and textiles from designer brands with astonishing style and quality. A debut exhibitor from Sri Lanka, Phoenix Industries Limited (Booth: 3D-E01), the country’s largest manufacturer of plastic products and a winner of consumer goods and sustainable packaging awards, presents high-quality furniture and homeware in the Furniture zone.

Fashion InStyle launches Certification and Trade Services zone, promoting sustainable fashion technology
As Asia’s leading fashion and textile sourcing event, this year’s Fashion InStyle gathered over 450 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg and Thailand. A new Certification and Trade Services zone is launched to provide certification and consultation services, including on sustainable designation.

The Fashion Tech zone showcases cutting edge technologies in clothing production and marketing. The Nano and Advanced Materials Institute features a variety of functional textile materials, including an ultralight and ultrawarm sustainable aerogel fibre that can be knitted with wool fibres to produce lightweight fabric with extraordinary thermal insulation properties. Other highlighted zones include Athleisure, Fashion Accessories, Urban Chic, Designer Spotlight, Kid’s Wardrobe and Material Bazaar.

Exciting activities highlight market trends and opportunities
Seminars, buyer forums, product demonstrations and fashion parades help the industry grasp market opportunities and upcoming product trends. Today, Albert Chan, Head of the Greater China office at Coresight Research, and Nicholas Fu, Economist (Global Research) at HKTDC, shared insights on the retail apparel market and consumer trends in Fashion Outlook and Forecast. At the Silver Symphony: Orchestrating Opportunities in the Growing Market seminar on Monday (22 April), Aaron Lee, Director of Industrial Engineering and Marketing Strategy of BNET TECH, Lawrence Lui, Co-founder & Executive Director, Longevity Design House, and other industry experts will explore the vast business potential in the rapidly growing silver market. Other seminars and activities focus on various topics such as sustainability, fashion technology, creative design thinking and the silver economy. The Pet X Fashion Parade, jointly organised by Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle, will showcase trendy apparel designs and diverse pet products.

The HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ model integrates offline and online elements at the fairs. Buyers can continue searching for products and services on the hktdc.com sourcing platform, and network through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform. During the physical fair, buyers can use the Scan2Match function of the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitors’ exclusive QR codes, bookmarking their favourite suppliers, browse product information and continue discussions with exhibitors online during or after the show.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/440ATTk

Events details:

Details of seminars, buyer forums, product demonstrations and fashion parades at all events: https://bit.ly/3JizqhR

Websites
Home InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/homeinstyle/en
Fashion InStyle: https://www.hktdc.com/event/fashioninstyle/en
Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkgiftspremiumfair/en
Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkprintpackfair/en
Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklicensingshow/en

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

InnoEX, Spring Electronics Fair boost tech hub status

Two spring tech fairs attract some 88,000 global buyers, showcasing Hong Kong?s potential to become an international innovation and technology centre

2nd InnoEX, 20th HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) drew some 88,000 buyers from 139 countries and regions
Apart from local visitors, the fairs welcomed buyers mainly from Mainland China, India, Japan, Korea and the United States
31% of the local exhibitor respondents consider AI as the strongest I&T field in Hong Kong, followed by Fintech (27%)
Product categories with strong growth potential seen as smart home or smart living products and solutions (23%), electronic or electrical accessories (20%) and home appliances (16%)

The second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), along with the 20th HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), concluded today following four resoundingly successful days. This year’s fairs attracted some 88,000 buyers from 139 countries and regions, mainly from mainland China, India, Japan, Korea and the United States, highlighting Hong Kong’s advantages in its pursuit to become an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “InnoEX and the Electronics Fair, as signature events of the Business of Innovation and Technology Week (BITWeek), along with a series of fascinating events, synergistically fostered international technological innovation in Hong Kong, propelling the region towards unparalleled economic and social development. The findings of the survey conducted during the events underscore the prevailing optimism among exhibitors and buyers regarding promising business prospects. Capitalising on Hong Kong’s esteemed position as an international trade centre, the HKTDC is committed to supporting companies in expanding their market reach for innovative products, fortifying the I&T ecosystem, and augmenting local I&T capabilities.”

At InnoEX the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion set up by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) showcased over 100 technology solutions closely related to people’s daily lives through interactive experience and live demonstrations. The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) also presented remarkable AI and robotics technology achievements by 16 research centres under InnoHK. Numerous Hong Kong pavilions and tech companies introduced innovative projects that received positive feedback from industry professionals. The exhibition also featured 20 pavilions from 16 provinces and cities in Mainland China, along with the So French So Innovative pavilion and the India and Canada pavilions, showcasing cutting-edge technologies such as aerospace and satellite technology, chips, data analysis, AI and robotics that can be adopted across various industries. The pavilions attracted many buyers interested in further understanding products and solutions, and engaging in business negotiations.

PTF AreaTech Company Ltd, a Hong Kong start-up exhibiting at InnoEX, is working with a state-owned enterprise to promote application of BeiDou satellite technology in Hong Kong and ASEAN countries. Jonathan Maang, Chief Technology Officer of the company, said: “On the first day of the exhibition, we were visited by representatives from several Hong Kong government departments who provided valuable advice to help us optimise our technological solutions. In just a day and a half we received nearly 120 guests, including potential buyers from Japan and ASEAN. The exhibition has opened the international market for us and presented us with numerous business opportunities. We look forward to showcasing even more of our application solutions at next year’s exhibition.”

InnoEX attracted many heavyweight buyers. Don Tsang, Senior Business Director, Digital Technology Business, Ant Group, said: “The scale and international scope of InnoEX is truly impressive. The exhibition enables us to connect with exhibitors hailing from Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States. The innovations showcased have the potential for wide-ranging applications across diverse industries. What particularly captured my attention were the exhibitors from Shenzhen. Their products have already reached a high level of maturity and have successfully attained dominant market leadership. I look forward to attending InnoEX again next year!”

Hong Kong exhibitor Greentek participated in the Spring Electronics Fair for the 20th year. Ken Cheung, Regional Sales Manager of the company, stated: “Around 50 buyers, mainly from Europe and the US, showed interest in our products including TV components and smart storage boxes, and we have already received on-site orders totalling approximately US$200,000. We will definitely participate at the fair again next year.” Additionally, Korean juicer company Hurom also leveraged the fair to connect with buyers from emerging markets such as India, Malaysia, Russia and Turkey with the hope of expanding into more new markets.

Nico Broder, CEO of Spanish company Atlantis Internacional SL, was sourcing smartwatches, smartphones and mobile accessories at the Spring Electronics Fair. He said: “We are expanding our product range, and have already found new suppliers at the exhibition. We expect to purchase products valued between US$2 million and US$4 million.”

ASEAN Roundtable fosters cooperation; Nobel laureates share insights
Highlighted InnoEX events included the ASEAN Roundtable, which brought together officials from ASEAN countries, Mainland China and representatives from research institutions who discussed smart-city strategies and needs. The discussions covered topics such as promoting digitalisation, enhancing citizens’ digital skills, supporting start-up development, practicing sustainable development and a people-centric approach, and strengthening internet coverage and security. Exhibitors also introduced I&T solutions. Representatives from ASEAN, Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR Government officials had in-depth exchanges at the meetings and appreciated the discussions, believing they contributed to promoting government-to-government (G2G) and government-to-business (G2B) cooperation.

Dr Alias Bin Rameli, Director General of Town and Country Planning, Ministry of Local Government Development, Malaysia, attended the Roundtable discussion and led a delegation of representatives from Malaysia’s 16 states and federal territories to visit InnoEX. He stated: “We came across many products and technologies with great potential, such as solutions for water management and wastewater treatment. Malaysia’s smart city development initiative holds the potential to unlock over a thousand business collaboration opportunities. We leveraged this exhibition to establish valuable partnerships and explore deeper avenues for cooperation. We will continue to seek suitable technological solutions to advance our development goals.”

The Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities set up a pavilion and organised the inaugural Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference during InnoEX, inviting Nobel laureates, Turing Award winners, I&T professionals and renowned scientists to share insights. The conference attracted enthusiastic participation and engagement from professionals across various sectors.

Recognising the crucial role of young talent in promoting I&T ecosystem development, this year’s InnoEX and Spring Electronics Fair introduced Exhibitors Meet Talents. This initiative, aimed at helping exhibitors attract talent, drew job seekers to explore employment opportunities and engage in discussions with prospective employers.

AI considered most promising field in local I&T industry
Independent surveys commissioned by the HKTDC at the fairs, with over 340 respondents from InnoEX and 670 from the Electronics Fair, made several key findings:

InnoEX

31% of the local exhibitor respondents identified AI as the strongest and most advantageous I&T area in Hong Kong, followed by Fintech (27%).
37% of respondents believed the market growth potential of I&T is the greatest in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities in Mainland China, followed by other mainland cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu (36%), ASEAN countries (27%) and Hong Kong (26%).
Local exhibitor respondents believed Hong Kong start-ups have the greatest advantage and potential in the field of AI research (24%), followed by information and communications technology (21%).

Spring Electronics Fair

Exhibitors were optimistic with 64% of respondents anticipating an increase in overall sales in the next one to two years.
Participants identified smart home and smart living products and solutions (23%), electronic and electrical accessories (20%) and home appliances (16%) as the electronics product categories with the highest growth potential in major markets this year.
Respondents believe that in the next two years, potential is highest for extended reality (XR) in audiovisual entertainment uses, as well as mobile and online games (both at 26%).

The exhibitions adopt the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ model, merging online and offline elements. Exhibitors and buyers can continue to network through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform until 23 April (Tuesday).

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/442qeaB

Websites
InnoEX: innoex.hktdc.com/en
Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition): hkelectronicsfairse.hktdc.com/en

Media enquiries
Yuan Tung Financial Relations:

Anson Wong	Tel: (852) 3428 3413	Email: awong@yuantung.com.hk
Salina Cheng	Tel: (852) 3428 2362	Email: salcheng@yuantung.com.hk
Hing-fung Wong	Tel: (852) 3428 3122	Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Clayton Lauw	Tel: (852) 2584 4472	Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Phyllis Tsang	Tel: (852) 2584 4288	Email: phyllis.km.tsang@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

HKTDC launches seven events to cover lifestyle sectors and licensing in late April

The showcases for global trendy products and design thinking draw over 7,000 exhibitors globally

Seven HKTDC-organised lifestyle and licensing events will launch from late April, covering lifestyle products and licensing industry, including the Home InStyle, Fashion InStyle, Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, Deluxe PrintPack Hong Kong, Hong Kong International Licensing Show and the Asian Licensing Conference.
The fairs feature over 7,000 exhibitors from some 30 countries and regions.
Home InStyle introduces a brand new image and the acclaimed World of DeLuxe PrintPack Zone will spin off from the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair to debut as DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong.
The seven events run during the prime sourcing period in late April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo, generating greater synergies for cross-industrial and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Hong Kong has always been known for its rich blend of Chinese and Western cultures, generating a thriving cultural and creative ecosystem that has become one of the economic-growth engines. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will host seven events covering lifestyle products and licensing industry in April. These include the Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle from 20 to 23 April at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Exhibitions and conferences will follow in the next week – the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair from 27 to 30 April at the HKCEC, the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair and concurrently the debut DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong at AsiaWorld-Expo, as well as the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference from 27 to 29 April at the HKCEC. These seven events further promote Hong Kong’s lifestyle and creative industries, helping the sectors seize global opportunities.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “This year, the HKTDC continues to coincide its seven events to highlight lifestyle products and licensing opportunities in late April to create more synergies. Catering to industry needs, we have redesigned the Home InStyle fair and introduced the new DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong. Global exhibitors will showcase creative designs and innovative technologies, proactively addressing three major industry trends – cultural and creative design, sustainability and multi-functionality of products. April is the prime sourcing month; these seven major events will provide a comprehensive platform for global exhibitors and buyers to explore bountiful business and trade opportunities across industries and sectors.”

The seven lifestyle events include six products fairs and one licensing conference. These six fairs will bring together over 7,000 exhibitors from some 30 countries and regions, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Australia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United States, showcasing a wide spectrum of lifestyle products, brands and services in various categories, including houseware, fashion, gifts, printing and packaging, and licensing. The Asian Licensing Conference will gather nearly 30 international licensing industry experts to share valuable insights.

Home InStyle showcases global design homeware and Fashion InStyle promotes sustainability (20 – 23 April at HKCEC) Adapting to changing markets, the HKTDC has reconfigured some fairs this year to provide more comprehensive and effective promotion and sourcing platforms. The former Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair has been integrated into Home InStyle, featuring a wide range of tableware, kitchenware, furniture and houseware products, as well as awarded designs and traditional handicrafts from around the world to meet sourcing demand for multifunctional and design products. One highlighted zone, Hall of Elegance, will feature renowned designer brands such as Topchoice, Ucome, Amercook, AmVegan and Azuda. The Cultural and Creative Corner has invited PANTONE as Colour Partner to provide trends for curating the zone. The zone will bring together around 50 exhibitors and design brands from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan and more. Local exhibitor Pete’s Studio & Co will showcase their desk nameplates inspired by retro Hong Kong street signs. The new design allows buyers to personalise the nameplates with their preferred names but simultaneously preserves the nostalgic essence of Hong Kong heritage.

Another major exhibition, Fashion InStyle, gathers suppliers from the ready-to-wear, garment and fashion industry. This year, the Certification & Trade Services zone debuts to provide certification services and advice to clothing manufacturers, including sustainability recognition. The Fashion Tech zone brings the latest technologies applied to clothing production and marketing. Among them, Arxy Future Lab from Luxembourg presents an immersive virtual showroom that allows users to showcase the exquisite intricacies of fashion designs, materials, and fitting effect on models in the virtual realm. This helps reduce sample production and promotes sustainability. The exhibition also features themed zones such as Corporate Wear and Urban Chic. The Athleisure zone brings fashion that combines comfort and functionality, offering buyers a diverse range of high-quality choices as athleisure booms.

Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, a one-stop and comprehensive sourcing platform (27-30 April at HKCEC) The Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair will bring together selected gifts from around the world. The renowned Hall of Fine Designs will feature well-known local brands such as Red A and Tiny Memory, YASHICA and Marushin from Japan, c-secure from the Netherlands, LifeBion from Italy and more. The Cultural & Creative Corner will showcase designs with local cultural characteristics and products related to intangible cultural heritage from exhibitors of Shandong and Henan provinces, who have participated in the National Cultural and Tourism IP Authorisation Series Activities 2024 under the guidance of the national Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Hong Kong Exporters Association will organise a distinctive pavilion, and Hong Kong Smart Design Awards’ winning pieces will also be exhibited on-site.

DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong debuts (27 – 30 April at AsiaWorld-Expo) The HKTDC and CIEC Exhibition Company (Hong Kong) Limited jointly organise the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair. In response to growing demand for luxury packaging, the acclaimed World of DeLuxe PrintPack Zone spins off to launch as a separate event, DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong. The fair will focus on luxury packaging and creative packaging solutions for products covering categories such as food, cosmetics, wine, watches, and jewellery. Hong Kong exhibitor Midas Printing International Limited, winner of over 300 international awards, will showcase handcrafted chocolate and macaron boxes. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair helps the industry seize opportunities in e-commerce and sustainable development, with Hong Kong exhibitor Kerry Logistics (Hong Kong) Limited bringing value-added service solutions for green packaging.

These five fairs will feature seminars, buyer forums, product demonstrations and fashion parades focusing on topics such as sustainable development, fashion technology, creative design thinking, silver economy and consumer market trends, enabling industries to capture global business opportunities. PANTONE will discuss interior decoration colour trends at Home InStyle. There will also be a cross-over between Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle to present pet products and fashion items together in a parade. Representatives from Coresight Research, Google and Pinkoi will analyse consumer trends and the OMO (Online merge Offline) concept at the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair. The Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair will co-organise seminars with the Graphic Arts Association of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Printers Association to explore the impact of Generative AI on printing and design industry and introduce CTV (Colour Tone Value) hue control.

As licensing draws global attention, show details industry trends (27 – 29 April at HKCEC) According to Licensing International, global licensed goods and services sales exceeded US$340 billion in 2022, an 8% annual growth rate. Despite the challenging business environment and ongoing impact on consumer markets, licensing industry sales continue to rise. The Hong Kong International Licensing Show is a business-expansion platform which spans regions and sectors, bringing together licensors, brands, licensing agents, licensing operators and traders from around the world, including brands such as Global Brands Group Holding Limited, Medialink Group Limited and Muse Communication (H.K.) Limited. Additionally, under the sponsorship of CreateHK by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the Innovative Entrepreneur Association will set up the DLAB Hong Kong Pavilion, dedicated to promoting 45 local designers and their intellectual property licensing projects.

At the concurrent Asian Licensing Conference, industry leaders will discuss global licensing business, including sustainable development in IP licensing, generative AI, new generation and IP creation, and licensing in the beauty and cosmetics industry.

Digital platforms shape efficient exhibition experiences This year’s April lifestyle fairs will continue to adopt the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ model, integrating offline and online elements. Buyers can make purchases on-site and search for products and services on the hktdc.com sourcing platform and network through the Click2Match smart business-matching platform. In addition, during the physical exhibition, buyers can use the Scan2Match function of the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitors’ exclusive QR codes, save favourite exhibitors, browse product information, and continue online discussions with exhibitors during or after the exhibition.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/49CBID0

Events details:

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Home InStyle and Fashion InStyle
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HK Gifts & Premium Fair, HK International Printing & Packaging Fair and DeLuxe PrintPack Hong Kong
Clementine Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4272, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org

HK International Licensing Show and Asian Licensing Conference
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

Inaugural HKTDC Smart Lighting Expo, Spring Lighting Fair receive enthusiastic response

The industry is optimistic about the market this year

The inaugural Smart Lighting Expo and 15th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) concluded successfully today, attracting some 16,000 buyers from 107 countries and regions
Apart from local visitors, the fairs welcomed buyers from mainly Mainland China, Australia, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Russia and the United States, underscoring the shows’ internationality
An on-site survey showed that 63% of industry players anticipated sales rising in the next 12 to 24 months
InnoEX and Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) will follow and open on Saturday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the inaugural Smart Lighting Expo and 15th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) (Spring Lighting Fair) concluded successfully today. The twin lighting fairs welcomed some 16,000 buyers from 107 countries and regions, making a strong start to the HKTDC technology fairs in April.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “As one of the partner events of the Business of Innovation & Technology Week (BITWeek), the inaugural Smart Lighting Expo and the 15th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) attracted not only buyers in Hong Kong but those from Mainland China, Australia, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Russia and the United States, a testimony to the fairs’ internationality. The two lighting fairs brought enormous business opportunities to those in the industry and served as an ideal platform for exchanging ideas on the latest market development and trends.

“An exciting line-up of mega events will captivate visitors one after another, with the HKTDC launching the four-day InnoEX and Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) this Saturday (13 April) following the successful conclusion of the lighting fairs. We will also organise a series of lifestyle fairs later this month, including Fashion InStyle, Home InStyle, Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair, Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair, the brand-new Deluxe Printpack Hong Kong and Hong Kong International Licensing Show, poised to foster economic development in Hong Kong across different industries.”

Smart lighting products unlock unlimited potential
An on-site survey of 507 exhibitors and buyers found 63% anticipated higher sales in the next 12 to 24 months while 35% expected stable sales, a testimony to optimism in the lighting market. Other key findings are as follows:

Market outlook and product trends:

Respondents considered the North America (62%), Mainland China (59.7%), ASEAN countries (59.6%) and Northern & Western Europe (55%) to be promising lighting markets over the next two years in terms of growth.
For the industry overall, household lighting systems that are compatible with or can be controlled by smart phone/tablet applications (40%), smart lighting systems primarily geared for energy-saving for household/industrial/commercial purposes (38%) and household lighting systems that are connected to or compatible with the Internet (27%) were considered to have the greatest market potential.
Respondents named home automation and smart lighting control systems (46%), energy-efficient lighting control solutions (37%) and outdoor smart security lighting systems (22%) as having the biggest potential for smart lighting.
Respondents revealed that consumers would be willing to pay an average premium of 24% for smart-lighting products.

Participants applaud robust trading opportunities
Organised under the theme Bright Lighting • Smart Living, the lighting fairs attracted over 1,300 exhibitors and featured a diverse array of innovative lighting products and technologies ranging from sustainable and human-centric lighting to fashionable lighting products.

Among zones, the Smart Ecosystem and IoT Supply Chain Area in the Smart Lighting Expo and the Hall of Aurora in the Spring Lighting Fair captured the attention of many buyers.

Trading at the twin shows was promising. Mars Lee, CEO of Zhongshan OBALS Lighting Electric Co., Ltd., said: “The debut Smart Lighting Expo is a good platform to promote our customised smart lighting products and apps targeting high spending markets in Australia and Europe. We are so happy that on the first day of the fair, multiple buyers from Australia and Europe have placed orders for our smart lighting control systems, track lights, downlights and linear lights worth RMB3.8 million [US$525,000] in total. We are very satisfied with the results and have already signed up for next year’s Smart Lighting Expo.”

Orachat Leingpeboon, Vice President Smart City Promotion, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) from Thailand, visited the Smart Lighting Expo and said: “I am here to see the latest smart lighting solutions, energy-saving and eco-friendly products for smart city development projects in Thailand. I’ll provide my suggestions to related government departments and bridge the supply and demand sides. At the Expo, I have seen new and interesting technologies such as solar wrap poles, smart home solutions and horticultural lighting. I’ll share these new technology updates with related government departments and the public in a webinar in Thailand. I’ll recommend the twin fairs to the Department of Alternative Energy Development & Efficiency and the Illuminating Engineering Association of Thailand too.”

At the Spring Lighting Fair, a loyal exhibitor from Hong Kong, Walter Zeng, Product Manager of KTE Electrical Ltd., said: “On the first fair day, we have talked to more than 200 overseas buyers mainly from Europe. The HKTDC’s Click2Match platform also provides extra opportunities for us to find new buyers and we have already set up at least three online meetings. We estimate that our sales turnover generated by this fair will surge by 50-80%.”

Firat Kendal Aksoy, General Manager of Kendal Elektrik from Turkiye, said: “We visit the Spring Lighting Fair regularly to source new products and close deals with existing suppliers. This year, I have found three potential suppliers of magnetic track lights, solar lights, desk lamps, new designs for cabinet lights and spotlights. I have already finalised my orders with two suppliers for a total of US$1.5 million worth of LED bulbs, floodlights and ceiling lights. I am going to close another eight to nine deals during the fair period. The Scan2Match function allows me to bookmark favourite suppliers in the HKTDC Marketplace App and know more about their new products.”

Under the hybrid EXHIBITION+ model, the twin lighting fairs combined in-person sourcing with online meetings via the HKTDC’s Click2Match smart business-matching platform and hktdc.com sourcing platform. Click2Match will be available until 16 April to facilitate discussions between exhibitors and buyers around the world.

InnoEX and Spring Electronics Fair to launch this weekend
The second edition of InnoEX, co-organised by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and HKTDC, will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 13 April. The four-day exhibition, themed Innovations for A Smarter World, will gather global next-generation smart solutions and disruptive innovative technologies to promote innovation and foster cross-disciplinary cooperation, showcasing Hong Kong’s strengths as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. To be staged concurrently, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) will showcase the latest electronic products and cutting-edge I&T solutions of renowned brands and I&T companies across the globe.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/49sHoiT

Fair websites
Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition): hklightingfairse.hktdc.com
Smart Lighting Expo: smartlightingexpo.hktdc.com
InnoEx: innoex.hktdc.com
Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition): hkelectronicsfairse.hktdc.com
HKTDC Media Centre: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

Media enquiries
The HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:

Jane Cheung

Tel: (852) 2584 4137

Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

The HKTDC’s Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

Inaugural HKTDC Export Confidence Index: Rising expectations of export uptick

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) released its inaugural HKTDC Export Confidence Index today.

An upgrade to the well-established HKTDC Export Index, the new quarterly HKTDC Export Confidence Index will provide a more nuanced and comprehensive overview of business sentiment among Hong Kong-based exporters.

Derived from a survey of more than 500 Hong Kong exporters, the Export Confidence Index comprises five sub-indices – Sales and New Orders, Trade Value, Cost, Procurement and Inventory. These findings are evaluated in terms of Current Performance (how they represent present market sentiment) and Expectation (a measure of exporter sentiment with regard to the coming quarter).

For the first quarter of 2024 (January-March), the overall Expectation score was 47.4. This figure is close to the 50 benchmark (the dividing point between contractionary and expansionary trends) indicating an improved near-term export outlook. It was also notable that the Expectation scores for all sub-indices comfortably exceeded the Current Performance reading of 39.6, which, again, suggests exporters are confident that better times lie ahead.

Commenting on the thinking behind the new index, HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: “Multiple elements impact exporter confidence and we now have an evaluation system that allows us to factor them all in. This will ensure that our quarterly assessment of this key component of Hong Kong’s economy is more versatile, more relevant and more insightful than ever before.

“The success of this initiative to date has allowed us to confidently report a likely uptick in orders from Mainland China, as well as a gradual overall recovery in exports that looks set to be led by the electronics sector.”

Optimistic prospects in Mainland China and US
Among the other key findings, the Sales and New Orders sub-index highlighted rising confidence in export growth, with its 49.9 reading close enough to 50 to suggest a high likelihood of stabilisation.

On the market front, exporters are generally more optimistic with regard to Mainland China and the United States, with exporters anticipating resumed growth in mainland orders in the second quarter.

Of the six key export sectors, electronics enjoyed the most positive outlook, followed by timepieces, equipment/materials, clothing, toys and jewellery.

There are also signs of stronger procurement activity in the electronics, toys and equipment/materials sectors as the corresponding Expectation indices approach or exceed the 50 level.

Overseas markets to regain growth momentum
For survey respondents, economic risks remained the primary concern among the external market issues that could potentially impact exports over the next 12 months. For 83.3% of respondents, an economic slowdown/recession in their primary markets was considered the biggest potential obstacle to export growth.

Putting the findings into perspective, Cherry Yeung, the HKTDC Senior Economist with oversight of the new Index, said: “Despite such concerns, there are many positive takeaways from the Q1 survey. Some 70% of traders, for instance, are anticipating resumed growth in their core overseas markets, while 37.1% are expecting a rapid upturn in mainland market demand. Looking beyond that, 36.4% of respondents are confident that e-commerce will provide new impetus for many export businesses in the course of the coming year.

“It is also reassuring that 55.9% of exporters believe their future profitability will remain unchanged or actually improve, with 40.9% expecting their profit levels to stay stable and 15% seeing an upturn on the horizon.”

References
HKTDC Export Confidence Index: https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MTY0Nzc3MTE3OQ
HKTDC Research website: https://research.hktdc.com/en/

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3xfpjHJ

Media enquiries

Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Jane Cheung

Tel: (852) 2584 4137

Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

Fashion Hong Kong 2024 pop-up store in Paris draws strong response

11 emerging designer brands showcasing sustainability, art and culture and craft design

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) launched a series of Fashion Hong Kong 2024 campaigns this month, introducing the global fashion industry to the unique charm of Hong Kong’s designer brands. The such promotion campaign overseas, Hong Kong Pop-up Design à Paris successfully concluded in France on 25 March, having drawn support from Parisian consumers, fashion journalists, trade buyers and bloggers. Curated by the HKTDC and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, the campaign’s pop-up shop showcased 11 emerging Hong Kong designer brands, bringing a wide range of fashion products such as clothing, leather goods, jewellery, and accessories to Parisian consumers and trade buyers, promoting cultural and business exchanges between France and Hong Kong.

Fashion Hong Kong has joined renowned events such as international fashion weeks since 2015 to showcase Hong Kong’s unique and diverse designers. Campaign visits have included New York, London, Paris, Copenhagen, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai. In parallel with the Paris pop-up store, Fashion Hong Kong will also hold promotional campaigns in Thailand and Shanghai, and will continue to promote Hong Kong brands, supporting their expansion into markets in Mainland China and overseas.

Wide range of fashion creations showcased in Paris
The Paris pop-up store featured 11 Hong Kong designer brands and brought a series of personalised designs focusing on sustainable fashion, art, culture and craftsmanship to global fashion capital Paris. Sustainable fashion products have become popular in recent years, with brands such as ARTY:ACTIVE, Coat Tote, OLEADA and SOULMATTE demonstrating commitment to the environment by using sustainable design concepts, materials and processes. The pop-up also showcased a range of art and culture design brands, such as ditto ditto, JARDIN DES FONTAINES and Pair Pair Full. Highlights included Victoria Harbour magnets made with letterpress techniques, printed accessories with urban and animal motifs, and funky, mismatch- socks with patterns of Hong Kong anecdotes. The pop-up store also highlighted the craftsmanship of KKLUE, La Serenidad, LOUISE CASTLE and WHY brands, combining traditional craftsmanship and innovative design to create one-of-a-kind items of jewellery, bow ties and clothing.

Fashion Hong Kong launched around the world
To help Hong Kong sports and leisure brands seize booming e-commerce opportunities in the ASEAN market, Fashion Hong Kong has partnered with lifestyle e-commerce platform Pinkoi to set up a dedicated page on its Thailand-specific e-commerce platform, promoting eight Hong Kong sports and leisure brands, helping the brands deploy cross-border e-commerce to sell in Thailand and explore overseas markets. The promotion will run until 9 April.

From 23 March to 13 April, Fashion Hong Kong will showcase a range of new products from Hong Kong fashion brands in a promotional event at RESEE, a trendy boutique in Huaihai 755 Shopping Mall in Shanghai, helping the brands capture business opportunities brought by Shanghai Fashion Week. From 24 to 29 March, Fashion Hong Kong will also participate in DADA Showroom, the official B2B showroom partner for Shanghai Fashion Week, to arrange business matching meetings between brand designers and fashion professionals, helping the designers network and find business opportunities.

Fashion Hong Kong: https://fashionhongkong.com.hk/en

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4csLLgD

11 Hong Kong brands in Paris:

Media enquiries
For enquiries, please contact:
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: :snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en