Tag: hktdc

Seven concurrent trade fairs close, attracting 16,000+ onsite buyers

“Physical + online” format creates new business opportunities

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) brought its seven autumn trade fairs* together onto a single “physical + online” platform in 2021. The physical fairs ended today, attracting more than 16,000 industry buyers to visit in person and conduct business discussions, while the online fairs run until 6 November. To date, more than 3,000 meetings have been arranged while close to 12,000 buyers browsed products and conducted business discussions online.

The HKTDC has brought its seven autumn trade fairs together into a single “physical + online” platform. The physical session was successfully concluded today and attracted more than 16,000 buyers, while the online fairs run until 6 November.
Eco Expo Asia opened its doors to the public on Public Day today (30 October), with visitors able to participate in a range of themed green workshops and talks as well as purchase environmentally friendly products at the Green Mart.
On 29 October 2021, the Environment Bureau of the HKSAR Government held the “Carbon Neutrality Partnership Launching Ceremony” during the Eco Expo Asia.

Featuring more than 1,700 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, the hybrid fairs present a comprehensive range of the latest technologies. HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said this year’s policy address outlined steps to build Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre, underlining the huge potential for companies in the innovation and technology industry. The seven fairs ran in a hybrid format to allow global buyers and exhibitors to connect and conduct business matching both online and offline, creating more business opportunities.

Positive sales outlook
The HKTDC conducted an on-site survey during the fairs. Among more than 450 exhibitors and buyers interviewed, more than half (55%) expected overall sales to increase next year, while 30% expected sales to remain steady. In terms of market potential, respondents were most optimistic about Taiwan (78%) and South Korea (63%) among traditional markets, and Mainland China (76%), India (72%) and Eastern Europe (72%) among emerging markets.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected exhibitors and buyers in different ways, including a drop in sales and revenue (64%), rising logistics costs (23%) and rising sourcing/production costs (19%). With just two months remaining until the new year, 44% of respondents believed fluctuations in the global economy will be the major challenge to their businesses in 2022, followed by an increase in operating costs (32%) and changing political developments (29%). Asked about opportunities, 37% of respondents expected that business leads driven from e-tailing would have the most impact, followed by recovering customer purchasing power (36%) and rising demand from emerging markets (34%).

Seven fairs present latest technology
The seven trade shows took on a vibrant atmosphere, presenting a one-stop shop for electronic technologies, smart city solutions, lighting solutions, medical and environmental protection technologies, services and information.

At the HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo, Innobuild exhibitor BeeInventor displayed a smart helmet which deploys Internet of Things (IoT) technology to improve construction-site management. Commercial manager Simon Yau said the company targets Hong Kong customers and had met 40 potential buyers in the first two days, including those from construction companies and government departments. The company expects 30% of these prospects to become new customers, far exceeding expectations.

HKTDC International ICT Expo exhibitor Dayta AI Limited showed cloud solutions that analyse customer traffic patterns at offline retailers. Dayta’s Head of Business Development Jack Ling said the company had negotiated with 30 potential partners at the expo and closed a deal with a fashion retailer. Other buyers include non-government organisations and retailers in the IT sector. He expects more deals to be made after the event.

Eco Expo Asia promotes green recovery for carbon neutrality
The Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region earlier this month released Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050. The plan outlines the four major decarbonisation strategies and measures – net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction – that will lead Hong Kong towards carbon neutrality. Themed “Promoting Green Recovery for Carbon Neutrality”, this year’s Eco Expo Asia brought together companies offering environmental protection products, solutions, equipment and technology in different categories, including Green Building & Energy Efficiency, Green Transportation and Waste Treatment & Recycling.

A buyer at the expo, Max Tsang, Director of GreenCo ESG Advisory Limited, said he was looking for the latest eco-friendly solutions and products for clients and was helped by the HKTDC’s business matching service, which assisted them in screening suitable suppliers and successfully identify three potential providers of waste management equipment and food waste decomposers. Mr Tsang said Eco Expo Asia provided an ideal platform for him to learn the latest environmental protection trends, adding that he would like to participate again next year.

Online fairs create new business opportunities
At the online fairs, which run until 6 November, the HKTDC is continuing to mobilise its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite overseas buyers to conduct discussions with exhibitors via video conferencing. The online fairs are once again featuring Click2Match, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered online business matching platform launched by the HKTDC last year, to bring exhibitors together with potential buyers. Buyers and exhibitors can also take advantage of functions such as a meeting planner, live chat, video meetings and e-business card exchange, helping to facilitate their online business.

AT-Vibe Technology Ltd, which participated in both the physical and online formats of the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) for the first time, demonstrated its latest IoT solutions. Product manager Wilson Chan was very satisfied with the response at the fair. “We are negotiating orders with potential buyers from several IT companies and a bank that we met at the physical exhibition,” Mr Chan said. “The HKTDC has also lined up virtual meetings for us to meet with overseas buyers on its AI-powered Click2Match platform to further explore overseas business opportunities.”

* The seven autumn trade fairs include the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), HKTDC International ICT Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo, electronicAsia, which is jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia Pte Ltd, and Eco Expo Asia, which is jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

Seven autumn trade fairs websites

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 trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Seven autumn trade fairs open today

  • Showcasing latest high-tech products from various industries
  • Creating synergies and opportunities for SMEs

As a fast-developing international hub for innovation and technology, Hong Kong’s innovation and technology-related industries have huge potential. Continuing its commitment to helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capture these new opportunities, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has brought its seven autumn trade fairs* together into a single physical + online platform in 2021. Featuring more than 1,700 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, the hybrid fairs present a comprehensive range of cutting-edge tech products, solutions, medical and environmental technologies, services and intelligence. The four-day physical fairs are held from today until Saturday (27 to 30 October) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), while the online fairs run until 6 November.

The seven fairs have gathered more than 1,700 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, showcasing the latest cutting-edge tech products, solutions, services and intelligence to create cross-sector opportunities for local companies amid the pandemic
The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia spotlight a host of smart home appliances, electronic gadgets and accessories, anti-pandemic products, AIoT and wearables, as well as components and production technologies
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has set up the Smart Government Pavilion at the International ICT Expo to highlight various cutting-edge developments

Wide range of cutting-edge technologies on display
The seven trade fairs* create diverse cross-sector business opportunities for SMEs in Hong Kong. The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia (jointly organised with MMI Asia Pte Ltd) present a host of the latest cutting-edge technology products, including smart home appliances, electronic gadgets and accessories, anti-pandemic products, artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) and wearables, as well as electronic components and production technologies. Featured products include inventions developed by local start-ups such as a hydroponic smart grower (booth 1E-C30), A.I. O2O servicing robot (booth 1E-C23) and automated guided robot (booth 1E-C28). The Hong Kong Electronics and Technologies Association and IOT HK Association have organised group pavilions to present various innovations and technologies.

The HKTDC International ICT Expo spotlights smart city solutions and ICT technologies across all sectors, including the Smart Government Pavilion (booth 1E-A02) and HKICT Awards Pavilion (booth 1D-E20) set up by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). Under the theme of “Robotics Technologies”, this year’s Smart Government Pavilion showcases more than 20 technology solutions that facilitate smart city development and enhance public services, covering various major areas such as “Smart Mobility”, “Smart Living”, “Smart Environment”, “Smart People” and “Smart Government”. The OGCIO is showcasing a number of robotics technologies adopted by different government departments, such as the Guiding Robot used by the OGCIO, the Disinfection Robot used by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Deliverbot used by InvestHK, the Intelligent Robotic Monitoring System used by the Correctional Services Department, and the Robotic Dog for Landslide Inspection used by the Civil Engineering and Development Department. The OGCIO aims to help different sectors gain a better understanding of how government departments are enhancing work safety and efficiency through the application of robotics technologies.

Other highlighted exhibitors and pavilions include Autotoll, HKBN Enterprise Solutions, Cyberport, The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Smart City Consortium, Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum and B4B Challenge. Several local research and development centres, including the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) and Automotive Platforms and Applications Systems (APAS) R&D Centre are also showcasing their latest projects. It is believed that fostering such technologies can further promote Hong Kong’s status as an innovation and technology hub.

The HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair brings together the most updated medical supplies, equipment and technologies. The fair features various thematic zones including the debut Epidemic Prevention & Control zone along with Biotechnology, World of Health & Wellness, Rehabilitation & Elderly Care, Hospital Equipment and the Startup zone, as well as a group pavilion organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA). Highlighted products include the self-developed video consultation app DoctorNow (booth 1C-F20), the HPV/STD DNA “pad-type” self-sampling kit (booth 1C-F37), an electronic stethoscope (booth 1C-D18) and a flexible robotic endoscopic system (booth 1C-C10).

The HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo display different smart and eco-friendly lighting products, such as the Qivation Lighting-Q Colour light bulb (booth 1D-B200) and the electronic UV lamp ballast for germicidal lamps (online fair). This year’s Outdoor and Tech Light Expo features the Innobuild zone to showcase construction-related technologies and products. One of the Innobuild exhibitors displays a smart helmet (booth 1D-A06) that incorporates functions such as health monitoring, safety alerts, real-time positioning and communication.

The 16th edition of Eco Expo Asia, organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and co-organised by the Environmental Bureau of the HKSAR Government, presents a wide range of green products and solutions. The highlighted zones at the expo include Green Transportation, Waste Management & Recycling and Green Buildings & Energy Efficiency. A wide variety of electric vehicles and related charging equipment, the latest recycling technologies and energy-saving solutions for companies will be featured at the fair.

A series of forums and seminars will be conducted during the fairs, sharing the latest technology trends with industry players. Highlights are as follows:

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), electronicAsia
Symposium on Innovation & Technology (27 October)
Co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronics & Technologies Association, the symposium is held today with livestreaming available online. Under the theme “REVIVE & THRIVE”, international industry representatives and academics examine the latest market trends and the development of technologies ranging from 6G technology to artificial intelligence and space technology. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3v1YVMs

Hong Kong Electronic Forum (28 October)
Co-organised by the HKTDC, MMI Asia Pte Ltd and The Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association, the forum will discuss the effective use of third-generation semiconductors. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3lZDSqH

Startup. Smart Launch (28 and 29 October)
To enable start-ups to promote innovative ideas and explore commercialisation opportunities for their smart products, a series of “Startup Smart Launch” product demo sessions are being organised.

International ICT Expo
Capturing Smart City Project Opportunities in ASEAN (28 October)
Industry representatives and economic analysts are invited to share their insights into smart city development and blockchain traceability and transparency in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/2YXjxJA

“Meet the Giants”: Emerging Trends of Smart Mobility and Transport Systems (28 October)
This seminar will share the latest developments in smart city technologies and green transportation systems. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3nr6Uze

How Can Decentralised Data Management Technology be Used for Local Business and Global Expansion? (28 October)
Co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong PKI Forum, invited experts will share information on the latest applications and user experiences among local firms. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3n5U09o

Unleash the Potential of Next-Generation Smart City Solutions (29 October)
Co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, this seminar will include discussions about transportation, artificial intelligence development and the application of blockchain. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3BT5zqH

Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair
A series of exhibitors’ forums are arranged on 27 October to introduce a range of featured medical and nursing products as well as the most up-to-date medical know-how. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3C1DnCb

Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition),
Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo

A seminar themed “Illuminating the Connected Future” will be held on 28 October. Representatives from the lighting and construction industries will exchange insights on the latest trends and developments in different sectors ranging from retail lighting design to smart lighting and building networking technology. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3DU5F1M

Eco Expo Asia
Eco Asia Conference (27 and 28 October)
Sessions will be held under four main themes: “Advancing Net Zero”, “Promoting Green Recovery for Carbon Neutrality”, “Towards Material Circularity in Hong Kong” and “Green and Sustainable Finance for Eco Business”. The conference will address key environmental issues and offer insights on industry trends. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3jkPu66

Public Day Green Talks (30 October)
Under three main themes – “Climate Change: Could Hong Kong be Spared?”, “Let’s Save 10L Water 2.0 Campaign” and “Holistic Green Journey Experience: Urban Farming & Eco-friendly Hotel” – speakers will share their knowledge with the public to raise their awareness on environmental issues. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3vsyTly

Public Day Workshop (30 October)
There will be workshops under two interesting themes: “Green Magic – Succulents Zoo” and “Effects of Oil Spillages on Sea Birds and Clean Up Experiments”. For details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3vsyTly

For the online fairs, the HKTDC will continue to mobilise its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite overseas buyers to conduct business discussions with exhibitors via video conferencing. The online fairs will once again feature Click2Match, an artificial intelligence-powered online business matching platform launched by the HKTDC last year, to bring exhibitors together with potential buyers. Buyers and exhibitors can also take advantage of functions such as a meeting planner, live chat, video meetings and e-business card exchange, facilitating them to do business online.

Ensuring safety for an enjoyable visit
The well-being and safety of exhibitors and visitors is the top priority at the physical exhibitions. Various measures have been put in place to protect participants against the pandemic, including requiring everyone in the fairground to wear a mask; prohibiting eating and drinking in the fairground; setting up temperature-screening stations; providing hand sanitiser at multiple locations around the venue; and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors’ booths and the venue itself. For more details, please visit: https://bit.ly/3vm7yRR

* The seven concurrent fairs include the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), HKTDC International ICT Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), HKTDC Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo, electronicAsia, which is jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia Pte Ltd, and Eco Expo Asia, which is jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

Seven autumn trade fairs websites
– Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition): https://hkelectronicsfairae.hktdc.com
– electronicAsia: www.electronicasia.com
– International ICT Expo: https://ictexpo.hktdc.com
– Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition): https://hklightingfairae.hktdc.com
– Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo: https://hkotlexpo.hktdc.com
– Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair: https://hkmedicalfair.hktdc.com
– Eco Expo Asia: www.ecoexpoasia.com

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3ElJzWw
HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

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

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

HKTDC Export Index 3Q21: COVID, transportation costs dim Christmas sales outlook

Potential seen in Mainland China and smart healthcare

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced today that its Export Index for the third quarter of this year (Q3) fell 9.7 points back to its first-quarter level of 39.0, after rising for five consecutive quarters, as sector and market sub-indexes declined across the board. The latest survey results indicate perceived uncertainties over Hong Kong’s export performance in the coming months, especially during the traditional peak Christmas season.

HKTDC Economist Samantha Yim, Director of Research Nicholas Kwan and Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang announced the HKTDC Export Index for the third quarter of 2021 at a press conference today [L-R]

HKTDC Director of Research Nicholas Kwan said business confidence in Hong Kong’s exports for the near term has been undermined by continuing uncertainties over the COVID-19 pandemic and surging transportation costs. Only 20.2% of Hong Kong businesses polled in the Q3 survey anticipated an increase in their Christmas sales this year, compared with 38.7% who foresaw no change and 41.1% who predicted a decline. Most respondents in the latter category expected declines of no more than 30%.

“The key issues seen as affecting Hong Kong’s export performance in the coming six months continued to be the pandemic [45.5%, up 4 percentage points on the second quarter (Q2)] and softening global demand [20.3%, up 3.6 percentage points],” Mr Kwan said at a press conference today.

Digital transformation accelerates
In the survey, the proportion of Hong Kong exporters who reported having been affected by the pandemic (66.6%) rose 9.7 percentage points from Q2. The most-cited pandemic-induced problems include reduced order sizes (59.5%) and order cancellations (28.1%), as well as disruptions to logistics and distribution (58.6%) and increased transportation costs (53.6%). “It is worth noting that an increased proportion of Hong Kong companies reported difficulties in sourcing raw materials, parts and components. This category accounted for 24.6% of respondents, up 10.8 percentage points from the last quarter. This suggests that the supply chain may have been affected,” Mr Kwan said.

Nevertheless, some Hong Kong firms (9.3%) said the pandemic had positively affected their business, which had benefited from increased product demand, especially in the electronics and toys industries. This is partly attributable to the COVID-19-inspired acceleration of digital transformation among enterprises, a restructuring of the global supply chain and a shift towards e-commerce, which together saw businesses invest heavily in electronics products to upgrade their operational resources.

“Under the pandemic, quite a number of Hong Kong companies have accelerated their digital transformation,” said Mr Kwan. “The survey found that their digital business strategies include developing an online sales operation [56.3%], promoting products via a digital channel [56.0%], enhancing their cybersecurity [50.2%], developing a cloud computing/online management system [47.7%] and adopting digital payment solutions [31.9%].”

To address current market challenges, many Hong Kong firms said they were considering or would consider adopting various business strategies, including developing Mainland China sales (47.9%), building online sales channels (45.8%) and expanding their product portfolios (44.9%). Meanwhile, an increased proportion of Hong Kong enterprises were planning to diversify into new overseas markets (35.5%, up 7.1 percentage points), mainly in Europe (29.5%) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region (20.5%).

Relatively stronger performers: toys and Japan
The HKTDC conducts the Export Index survey every quarter, interviewing 500 local exporters from six major industries including machinery, electronics, jewellery, watches and clocks, toys and clothing, to gauge business confidence in near-term export prospects. The index indicates an optimistic or pessimistic outlook, with 50 as the dividing line.

“Among industry sectors, toys recorded the highest reading and a relatively mild drop [44.0, down 1.1 points], while Hong Kong exporters were the least optimistic about clothing [36.1, down 7.2 points],” HKTDC Economist Samantha Yim said. “As for markets, exporters showed the most confidence in Japan [47.9] and Mainland China [47.8].”

The survey also registered declines in the Trade Value Index (54.1, down 2.9 points) and the Procurement Index (36.2, down 9.3 points). The Employment Index, on the other hand, rose by 3.1 points to 44.7, showing the labour market was relatively stable.

Bright spot: smart healthcare
HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang said the pandemic, despite its negative impact on the global economy, has accelerated the development of smart healthcare, creating new business opportunities. “Under the pandemic, smart healthcare equipment has been gaining traction and consumers are becoming increasingly receptive to such technologies as remote healthcare, the medical-related Internet of Things [IoT] and health data management,” she said.

“Automated and electronic healthcare services such as smart hospitals and remote medical consultations can ease human resources pressure and help meet the enormous healthcare demand from the world’s ageing population. Hong Kong’s elderly population, for example, is expected to increase to one-third of the total population by 2039,” she added.

Ms Tsang noted many medical products and services have incorporated new technologies in recent years, such as wearable devices that measure and monitor health data, systems using big data and artificial intelligence to predict the chance of developing an illness, devices equipped with virtual reality technology for making initial diagnoses, robots that assist in surgery and rehabilitation treatment, as well as solutions for storing medical data in the cloud.

To reduce production costs, many of Hong Kong’s medical and healthcare equipment manufacturers have moved their production bases to the mainland. However, quality control, marketing, R&D, design and material and equipment procurement continue to be carried out in Hong Kong. In the first half of this year, the city exported HK$7.8 billion (US$1 billion) worth of medical and health equipment to markets led by the mainland (24%), the European Union (18%), the United States (10%), India (8%), ASEAN (7%) and Japan (6%).

Ms Tsang explained that Hong Kong’s medical and healthcare sectors are presented with new opportunities because of the close ties between the local and mainland healthcare markets, coupled with the city’s role as a research and development (R&D) hub for the industry and a major fundraising centre for biotechnology companies. “Hong Kong possesses first-rate R&D talent, a strategic location close to production centres in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a robust intellectual property protection regime and extensive international business networks. All these together make Hong Kong the ideal platform for developing smart healthcare,” Ms Tsang said.

Highlighting Hong Kong’s role as a regional healthcare investment platform, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the HKTDC will hold the inaugural Asia Summit on Global Health on 24 November. Themed “Shaping a Resilient and Sustainable Future”, the hybrid online-offline event will examine business and cooperation opportunities in Asia’s healthcare sector. The event will include exhibitions, project presentations and Deal Flow Matchmaking sessions to facilitate business discussions and investment partnerships.

References
– HKTDC Research website: http://research.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Export Index 3Q21: Threat of Covid-19 Variants Triggers Decline in Exporter Confidence Over the Near Term: https://bit.ly/3k5GEde
– Smart Healthcare series https://bit.ly/3z6bB52
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3hxh6E1

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department
Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

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

Asia’s fashion showcase CENTRESTAGE concludes

Survey: 70% see seasonless fashion as key promotional strategy

Asia’s premier fashion event CENTRESTAGE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, drew to a successful close yesterday. The three-day extravaganza (10 to 12 September) brought together more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions, with 30 fashion events taking place. It attracted over 2,550 trade buyers and more than 17,200 public visitors to participate and source fashion items. Over the three days of the event, close to 700 video business meetings were arranged to match global fashion buyers with exhibitors online.

The sixth CENTRESTAGE brought together more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions, with 30 fashion events taking place. It attracted over 2,550 trade buyers and more than 17,200 public visitors to participate and source.
More than 20 fashion shows were held at CENTRESTAGE, including the Hong Kong Emerging Talents Show and Fashion Go Places. Multiple brands showcased their latest collections on stage.
“Hong Kong Kids Fashion Show” which featured a collection of internationally renowned brands, and the “LEGO x Hong Kong Designers Parade” were well received by audiences.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said: “CENTRESTAGE, the premier annual event in the Asian fashion industry, is the first and largest fashion event staged in Hong Kong since the pandemic began. The fair helped industry participants exchange the latest fashion information and develop their businesses. I am pleased to see talented designers launching their latest fashion collections and apparel, showing an endless stream of creativity and vitality. The show was fully open to public visitors for the first time, attracting fashionistas and members of the public who follow fashion trends. The atmosphere in the fairground was positive and it was a special experience for everyone.”

53% say fashion sales will increase in 2022 – significantly higher than 2019 survey
The HKTDC conducted a survey during the show to gauge future product trends and the outlook for the fashion industry, interviewing more than 290 exhibitors and buyers. On sales prospects and the market outlook for 2022, 53% of respondents believed that overall sales would increase in the coming year – a significant increase on the 31% who expressed the same sentiment at the 2019 CENTRESTAGE – while 33% expected things to remain steady. Fifty-four per cent expected production or sourcing costs to increase while 40% expected they would remain unchanged. When asked how the pandemic has impacted the fashion business, respondents stated that a drop in sales/revenue (64%), rising sourcing and production costs (27%) and a decrease in the number of physical shops (26%) were the main consequences.

On fashion trends, 45% of those surveyed expected casual wear and city wear to be the most popular in 2022, followed by fashion accessories (24%) and sportswear (14%). Regarding their promotional strategies in the coming year, 70% either agreed or completely agreed that “seasonless” collections would be the most prevalent trend in the fashion industry next year, while 62% expected the “see now, buy now” model would also be popular.

The sixth CENTRESTAGE ran with “Chapter Infinity” as its central theme, encouraging those in the fashion industry to take creative approaches and reignite their design inspiration in the pandemic era, exploring the countless opportunities that lie ahead. ITOCHU Textile Prominent, the Hong Kong subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate ITOCHU, joined CENTRESTAGE for the first time. Celia Lo, Manager of ITOCHU Textile Prominent, said she identified two local designer brands for developing the company’s women’s casual wear business and will place orders averaging 1,000 pieces for each style.

CHEMRO, which operates fashion shops in Korea, also sourced at CENTRESTAGE. Danny Chau, Director of CHEMRO, said most of their customers are young people looking for new fashion styles. He said he found four new designer brands from Italy, Hong Kong and Mainland China, and expected that his company would place trial orders involving 1,000 pieces of each men’s, women’s and children’s style per colour.

Local designers shine, enhancing visibility of young fashion brands
More than 20 fashion shows were held during the exhibition. The spotlight opening gala show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, featured the global launch of the 2022 spring/summer collections from local designers Calvin Chan and Joyce Kun’s renowned brand The World Is Your Oyster, as well as acclaimed Korean designer Lee Mooyeol’s brand, YOUSER. Extended reality (XR) was used to boost the stage show, which attracted many industry professionals, celebrities and fashionistas. Augmented reality (AR) effects were employed to enhance the online viewing experience – click here to enjoy the show.

Another exciting catwalk show, Fashion Go Places, celebrated the international footprint of Hong Kong designers at international fashion weeks. METHODOLOGY Creative Director Glori Tsui said it was already the sixth year participating in CENTRESTAGE. The company showcased its latest casual collection for women, along with bags and jewellery, attracting a lot of attention and achieving positive results. Another brand, THAT’S CHONG, which specialises in wedding and bridal accessories, participated in CENTRESTAGE for the first time. Its director Boo Chong said a local exporter approached them to explore cooperation and introduce the company’s products to the overseas market. She also connected with a supplier selling Japanese ribbons and trimmings that could be used in their latest range of bridal accessories.

Websites:
– CENTRESTAGE: https://www.centrestage.com.hk
– Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC): https://www.fashionally.com
– CENTRESTAGE in Town: https://centrestage.hktdc.com/ex/centrestageintown/en
– Event video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5Fh9oiXn28
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3z6f43C

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4537, email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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 trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE conclude successfully

  • Fairs help exhibitors develop retail business
  • E-tailing brings new business opportunities

The 40th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the ninth Salon de TE, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries Ltd, drew to a successful conclusion today. This year, the twin fairs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre not only welcomed industry buyers but also opened their doors to the general public during the whole fair period for the first time. The five-day physical fairs attracted around 4,900 industry buyers and more than 23,600 public visitors to shop for timepieces.

The physical elements of the 40th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the ninth Salon de TE drew to a successful close today. World Brand Piazza presented 12 renowned international brands.
Experts shared their insights into industry prospects, trends and watch investment at the Hong Kong International Watch Forum, Asian Watch Conference and “Global Luxury Watch Investment and Market Outlook in Mainland China” seminar.

This year, online version of the watch fairs was launched for the first time and will run until 19 September. To date, more than 1,100 online business meetings have been arranged, enabling global watch and clock traders to engage in business discussions via video conferencing. As of 12 September, the online fairs had recorded more than 2,400 buyers browsing products and conducting business discussions online.

Fairs help exhibitors promote their brands and develop retail business
Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “The Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE returned as special editions this year to help generate business opportunities for industry players. Opening the five-day fairs to the public for the first time also provided an excellent opportunity for watch and clock traders to reach out to retail customers and boost the industry’s retail businesses. According to our on-site survey, public visitors who were interviewed spent an average of HK$1,059 per person at the fairs.”

Many exhibitors agreed that the fairs had helped them tap into the retail market. Philip Lau, General Manager of Chit Tat Clock and Watch Company Limited, said he had met with five buyers from European and US buying offices in Hong Kong. His company offered wholesale prices to attract local consumers and received a better-than-expected response. “These consumers have high purchasing power and strong confidence in the quality of our watches. We estimate that our sales turnover at the fair will be around HK$200,000-300,000,” Mr Lau said.

Another exhibitor, Gary Ching, Co-founder of ANPASSA Watch Company, said that within just a few hours of the opening of the fairs, two watch retailers had expressed interest in ANPASSA’s watches and started discussing cooperation. “We also attracted the attention of many local consumers. We expect our on-site sales to reach HK$500,000-600,000, which demonstrates that our watches have great potential in the local market.”

Online trading builds business opportunities; smart watches grow in popularity
To gauge various trends in the watch and clock industry in 2022, the HKTDC conducted an on-site survey during the fairs, interviewing more than 540 exhibitors and buyers. The survey showed that the majority of respondents considered the recovering purchasing power of customers (42%) and e-tailing (35%) as presenting the biggest opportunities for their businesses. Additionally, 41% of the exhibitors surveyed said they were already engaged in e-tailing, while 47% said they intend to develop an e-tailing business in the next two years to capture more orders.

In addition, 50% of interviewed respondents were positive on the industry outlook and expected their overall sales to increase. In terms of different markets, 68% of respondents viewed the Mainland China market most favourably, followed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region (49%) and India (46%).

As for product trends, smart watches (50%) were expected to be the most popular watch category in 2022, followed by mechanical watches (16%), and digital analogue watches (12%).

The fairs attracted smart watch manufacturers to source for parts and components. Ricky Tsang, Managing Director of Eternal Keen Investment Limited, said his company specialises in the production of smart wearables, including smart watches. “I have found three potential suppliers at the fair. The value of my annual purchases of parts and components is US$20 million, and I plan to purchase parts and components worth US$1 million from new suppliers I met at the fair,” Mr Tsang said.

Fair websites:
– Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com
– Salon de TE: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com/te
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/38Y9wO7

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org

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.

Asia’s fashion showcase CENTRESTAGE opens today

Annual event opens to public visitors for first time

Asia’s premier fashion event CENTRESTAGE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, opened today. The three-day extravaganza features 30 fashion events at which brands and designers can showcase their creativity in the fashion arena. A number of Hong Kong designers presented their 2022 Spring/Summer collections today, attracting the attention of fashion buyers and fashionistas. For the first time, the show is open to public visitors for the entire duration. Visitors have a unique opportunity to check out the latest designs from leading local and overseas fashion brands, with most of the participating brands offering retail sales along with special offers.

CENTRESTAGE 2021 opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The three-day event (10 to 12 September) opens to public visitors for the first time.
The curtain-opening FASHIONALLY Collection #17 fashion show spotlighted emerging local talents and their brands.

Comprehensive fashion brand promotional platform

The sixth edition of CENTRESTAGE adopts “Chapter Infinity” as its central theme. The event features three thematic zones: ALLURE – representing craftsmanship, refinement and elegance; ICONIC – displaying avant-garde designs; and METRO – showcasing contemporary, minimalistic expressions of urban life. This year’s event hosts more than 200 fashion brands from 24 countries and regions. Multiple brands and industry organisations from outside Hong Kong have sent local representatives to participate in the event, including the Taiwan Textile Federation, Macau Productivity and Technology Transfer Center, Italian fashion promotion organisation Ente Moda Italia (EMI) and new joiners the Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce of the Royal Thai Government, and the Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Amalty from Kazakhstan.

In addition, fashion buyers such as Club 21, D-mop, Harvey Nichols, I.T, Lane Crawford and online fashion store Farfetch are joining the event. Over the three days, more than 700 video business meetings will be arranged to match exhibitors with major overseas buyers such as 3NY from the United States, Germany’s Encode Fashion, Korea’s Wonderplace and Vietnam’s Runway.

Exceptional fashion shows debut new collections
Today’s curtain-opening FASHIONALLY Collection #17 fashion show spotlighted emerging local talents and their brands. CENTRESTAGE will also present other Hong Kong brands at FASHIONALLY Presentations, combining a short fashion film with an onsite performance to showcase their 2022 Spring/Summer collections.

The spotlight opening gala show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, takes place this evening and will see the global launch of the 2022 Spring/Summer collections from local designers Calvin Chan and Joyce Kun’s renowned brand The World Is Your Oyster, as well as acclaimed Korean designer Lee Mooyeol’s brand, YOUSER. The show will not only be boosted by extended reality (XR) but will also be livestreamed through the CENTRESTAGE website and social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, employing augmented reality (AR) effects to enhance the online viewing experience. Celebrity singer and fashionista Hins Cheung will attend the event to give his support to the designers.

CENTRESTAGE ELITES will be followed by the Hong Kong Emerging Talents Show which features the latest collections from up-and-coming designer labels in town. Another exciting show, Fashion Go Places, celebrating the international footprint of Hong Kong designers at renowned fashion weeks, will be held tomorrow (11 September).

Popular fashion events return in physical format
A number of popular fashion events are returning in a physical format during CENTRESTAGE, including two highlighted events sponsored by CreateHK: Fashion Summit (Hong Kong) 2021, an international forum focused on sustainable development in the fashion industry, runs on 9 and 10 September, and the Grand Final of the Redress Design Award 2021, the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, takes place on 11 September.

Another highlight of this year’s CENTRESTAGE will be the final of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2021 (YDC) on 12 September. The VIP judges will be Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, founders of the menswear label BOTTER. The 10 shortlisted candidates will compete for four honours, namely overall champion, the Excellence Award, Best Visual Presentation Award and the My Favourite Collection Award. For the latter, members of the public can vote for their favourite collection online and stand the chance to win one of seven HK$2,000 Lee Gardens Area e-gift certificates sponsored by Hysan Development. Celebrities Denis Kwok (aka 193) and Bonnie Wong (aka Ah Jeng) will be the special guests at the show, demonstrating their support for up-and-coming Hong Kong fashion talents.

Weekend fashion events
For the first time, CENTRESTAGE is opening to public visitors for the entire duration. A series of exciting fashion events is being arranged over the weekend for the public, including a sharing session on styling tips by well-known fashion influencers Lilian Kan and Joey Sze, as well as the fashion designer behind CAR|2IE, Carrie Kwok, tomorrow (11 September), the Hong Kong Kids Fashion Show with celebrity guests Sherry Chen and Gloria Cheung, and the “LEGO x Hong Kong Designers Parade” on 12 September. CENTRESTAGE in Town features a series of fashion events beyond the CENTRESTAGE fairground, includes fashion exhibitions, workshops and promotions with shopping malls and restaurants. More details can be found on the fair website.

Websites:
– CENTRESTAGE: https://www.centrestage.com.hk
– Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest (YDC): https://www.fashionally.com
– CENTRESTAGE in Town: https://centrestage.hktdc.com/ex/centrestageintown/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3BSXaTM

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department
Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4537, email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

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

HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE open today

  • Five-day fairs open to public with various activities and offers

The special edition of the 40th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and ninth Salon de TE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries Ltd, officially open today, bringing together more than 160 exhibitors. The physical fairs run from 8 to 12 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), while the online version runs until 19 September, providing continued sourcing opportunities through both physical and online formats.

Officiating at today’s opening of the 40th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and ninth Salon de TE
Sponsored by Prince Jewellery & Watch for the 11th consecutive year, World Brand Piazza presents 12 renowned international brands including spectacular pieces from Piaget and Jacob & Co.
A series of public activities including watch parades, “Watch X Fashion” parades and product launches are being held throughout the fair period with models showcasing the latest designs.

The five-day fairs are open to the general public for the first time, offering visitors the opportunity to appreciate precious timepieces and shop for watches at discounted prices. Organised by the HKTDC, Asia’s premier fashion event CENTRESTAGE runs from 10 to 12 September at the HKCEC, presenting designer brands from around the world. The concurrent fairs create synergies and new business opportunities for participants from both the watch and fashion industries.

World Brand Piazza features exquisite international brands
Showcasing quality watches of different designs, Salon de TE comprises various thematic zones including World Brand Piazza, Craft Treasure, Chic & Trendy and Renaissance Moment. Sponsored by Prince Jewellery & Watch for the 11th consecutive year, World Brand Piazza presents 12 renowned international brands, including Blancpain, Breguet, Chopard, CORUM, FRANCK MULLER, Glashutte Original, Jacob & Co, Jaquet Droz, Juvenia, PARMIGIANI FLEURIER, Piaget and SARCAR Geneve.

A broad range of timepieces are under the spotlight, including the following:
Masterpieces showcase exquisite micro-engraving skills
– Memorigin highlights the Six Steeds in the Tang Dynasty tourbillon watch, its first manual-winding watch that possesses a central tourbillon with free sprung balances. Each piece involves 260 hours of craftsmanship to showcase the Yangtze River, Yellow River, mountains and 18k galloping gold horses on the 42mm-diameter watch. (Booth: 1D-A20)
– ANPASSA presents its Racing Tourbillon RXD31MCS with an 18k gold micro-engraved golden dragon featured on the tourbillon movement. The titanium case is set with rainbow-coloured gemstones, showcasing the talent of the watchmaker in creating three-dimensional visual art. (Booth: 1D-A17)

Sparkling designs grab attention
– Fouette presents the Le Petit Prince L’Etoile, which is produced in a limited quantity of just 100 pieces. The watch features 76 pieces of cubic zirconia on the bezel and eight pieces on the L’Etoile dial. It also includes a Le Petit Prince figurine in 925 sterling silver with luminous stars and hands – features that are all highly attractive to fans of the Little Prince. (Booth: 1D-B05)
– The Temporis “My” collection, inspired by the 12 zodiac constellations, has the watch case, bezel and crown set with 350 sparkling stones. The highlight of the piece is the constellation symbol rendered in black sparkling stones that provide a strong contrast to the silvery white background. (Booth: 1D-B07)

Artistic designs on trend
– The MONA LISA, Da Vinci @ Traveling Muzeum Collection Watch was designed by renowned fashion designer Vivienne Tam, and engineered by eminent scientist James Wong. The dial is decorated with 29 pieces of genuine topaz and features a crown set with valuable alexandrite. The watch, which also features a high-quality, shock-tolerant 316 S/S Swiss movement, is available for sale in a limited edition of 1,680 pieces. (Booth: 1D-B01)
– The Roulette Master Skeleton automatic model by Romago has a transparent case back showcasing an open-worked rotor. The watch is water resistant up to 50m. (Booth: 1D-B09)

Classic and trendy must-haves
– The Iza Collection C174RRD from Swiss brand COINWATCH showcases a stainless-steel case with 16 diamonds and a rose gold PVD bezel. The piece also features an interchangeable double-wrap leather strap. (Booth: 1D-A09)
– Empire Watch brings back a classic with a modern twist, featuring a metallic blue colour and a minimalist dial design. This quartz analogue watch is made from stainless steel with a mesh band safety lock, sapphire glass and a Japanese movement. (Booth: 1E-C35)

The Watch & Clock Fair also showcases parts and components. For example, the Japanese watch movement MIYOTA is introducing the Caliber 9029 at the fair, a new calibre that meets the latest trend for slimmer watch designs using its two-hand Premium Automatic movement. Other zones showcase complete watches, clocks, packaging and trade services.

Events, lucky draws and attractive shopping offers for public visitors
Various public activities are being held during the fairs including watch parades, “Watch X Fashion” parades and product launches, with the participation of local celebrities such as Cheung Tat-ming, Nelson Cheung, Derek Wong, Lilian Kan and Chan Wing-luk. Lucky draws will be organised during the fairs with prizes such as a tourbillon watch valued at HK$28,000, a one-carat moissanite diamond ring, jewellery pieces, fashion items and more. Visitors can also participate in Smart Bidding to bid for watches starting at 10% of the original price, including a tourbillon watch valued at HK$47,000. Visitors can download electronic coupons (https://bit.ly/2W7eWU7) to enjoy discounts of up to 40% when buying watches at the fairs. In addition, key opinion leaders are conducting livestreaming shows during the fairs to introduce selected watches at the onsite studio.

A watch craftsmanship workshop with the theme “Reminisce and Inherit: Locally-Made Tourbillion Demonstration” (12 September) will feature local watchmakers introducing Hong Kong-made tourbillons and demonstrating aspects of the manufacturing process. Visitors can take this chance to get a deeper understanding of the art of watchmaking.

Industry experts offer valuable insights on market prospects and trends

Industry participants should not miss a series of forums and seminars that provide first-hand market information and insights into the latest business trends. A seminar titled “Global Luxury Watch Investment and Market Outlook in Mainland China” (10 September) will invite John Ng, Horologer of Montres S.A. and known as the only Asian disciple of master horologer Philippe Dufour, Ho Sai-chu, Chairman of Chih Lo Lou Art Promotion (Non-Profit Making) Ltd, and watch experts and consultants from renowned auction houses such as Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips to share insights into global and Mainland Chinese luxury watch investment, the role of the younger generation in the watch industry and the watch industry outlook in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Watch Forum, broadcast online on 6 September, featured sharings by representatives of watch associations from Mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and Switzerland. In addition to the latest market insights, participants discussed the future direction for development in the global watch manufacturing sector. Video playback is available for viewing on the fair website. Under the theme “Redesigning the Future of Luxury Watches”, the Asian Watch Conference (9 September) will invite a representative from iClick Interactive to share her views on online and offline marketing strategies for luxury watch brands in the mainland, while Dayton Industrial’s representative will offer insights into the latest developments of the watch industry. Louis Chan, Principal Economist (Global Research) from HKTDC Research, will share future markets insights for the watch industry.

Click2Match enables business matching
The HKTDC has mobilised its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite overseas buyers to connect and maintain contact with exhibitors through video conferencing. The AI-powered online business matching platform Click2Match helps to bring exhibitors together with the most suitable buyers. Participants can also take advantage of functions such as a meeting planner, live chat and e-business card exchange, helping them to overcome barriers and build business connections around the world.

Design competition to promote local creativity
To nurture budding local designers, the HKTDC joined together with the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd to organise the 38th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Competition. The theme of the Open Group was “Minimalism” and the winning design, “SPACE BAR” by Tam Kwok-tung, presents an empty transparent container in which the hands are hidden under the wheels. The student group’s theme was “Live Fully” and the first prize went to Yip Tsz-yan from the Hong Kong Design Institute for her “Insight” design, which took inspiration from the optical arts. The winning and finalist entries from the competition are on display at Hall 1D Concourse during the fair, showcasing the best of Hong Kong’s creativity to buyers and the public.

Websites:
– Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com
– Salon de TE: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com/te
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3l3krM0

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

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org

Sixth Belt and Road Summit draws to successful close

Government and business leaders foster trade and investment

The sixth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), drew to a successful close yesterday (2 September). In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s summit was changed to an online event. The virtual platform helped to overcome geographical boundaries, with more than 17,000 viewers from about 80 countries and regions attending the summit.

Under the theme “Driving Growth through Fostering Regional and International Trade”, the sixth Belt and Road Summit brought together more than 17,000 participants from about 80 countries and regions.
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), spoke at a session titled “Belt and Road and RCEP: Enhancing Regional Business Connectivity”.
Teresa Cheng, Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR, highlighted the “incredible opportunities” afforded to Hong Kong’s legal sector by the 14th Five-Year Plan and Greater Bay Area Outline Development Plan.

Under the theme “Driving Growth through Fostering Regional and International Trade”, the two-day summit featured more than 80 government and business leaders from countries and regions along the Belt and Road, along with investors from Mainland China, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and Africa as well as project owners and professional investment advisers. They all came together to discuss the latest developments driven by the Belt and Road Initiative.

Investment projects drive geographical connections
Holding the conference virtually presented no barrier to meaningful exchanges among participants. In addition to various breakout discussion sessions, the 2021 summit featured one-to-one business matching meetings and project pitching sessions that proved popular among both project owners and participants. The summit received over 260 investment projects from 42 countries and regions along the Belt and Road and beyond, including the Greater Bay Area, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Italy, Egypt, UAE, Djibouti and others, focusing on four major areas – (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities; (2) innovation and technology; (3) urban development; and (4) transport and logistics infrastructure.

Belt and Road and RCEP foster global growth
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has become a key milestone in regional cooperation, developing significant synergies with the Belt and Road Initiative. In a plenary session titled “Belt and Road and RCEP: Enhancing Regional Business Connectivity”, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, remarked that Hong Kong’s strategic location makes the city a gateway for trade, investment and business between Mainland China and other RCEP economies, particularly countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “Hong Kong’s trade in goods with the 15 RCEP economies last year totalled US$772 billion, accounting for about 73% of our total merchandise trade. In 2019, our trade in services with the RCEP was worth US$103 billion, accounting for nearly 60% of our services trade. China’s 14th Five-Year plan supports Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, transport and trade centre, and it encourages our continuing cooperation and exchanges with countries and regions around the world,” Mr Chan said.

Huang Zhaohui, CEO and Chairman of the Management Committee, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), stated that the RCEP covered about one-third of the world’s total population and accounted for one-third of global GDP, making it the world’s largest free trade agreement. He believes the RCEP will bring great benefits to regional trade and investment. “The RCEP will deepen trade and economic connections between leading countries in the region through tariff reductions. We expect that China-Japan trade tariffs will be significantly reduced while China and Korea will further promote trade facilitation in key areas. This in turn will effectively increase the volume of trade between member countries and enhance regional economic vitality and competitiveness. At CICC we have decided to increase our overseas deployment, especially in Belt and Road countries. We are looking forward to long-term investment, leveraging our financial capabilities to assist the economic and capital market development of these countries.”

Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, added that Hong Kong has been striving to expand its economic and trade network worldwide through regional cooperation. “While we are seeing some backpedalling in certain areas of the global economy, there are sufficient incentives and also momentum to move towards to more regional cooperation. Hong Kong stands ready, as always, to be the platform and also the conduit for freer trade, not just in our part of the region, but also in the wider sense of the global economy.”

Opportunities abound in Greater Bay Area
The 14th Five-Year Plan highlighted how the development of the Greater Bay Area will lead to boundless opportunities. This year’s summit included the new GBA Track thematic series that featured plenary and panel discussion sessions, thematic breakout sessions and a virtual exhibition, covering a wide range of topics, including capital raising, green finance, digital technology applications and start-ups. Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive, Bank of China (Hong Kong) noted, “Infrastructure construction is the key to success of the Belt and Road Initiative, as infrastructure construction has a strong correlation with GDP growth. The tremendous demand for infrastructure investments along the Belt and Road has presented new business opportunities for commercial banks. Hong Kong commercial banks can take up the role as the project financing advisor and solutions provider. Through collaboration with policy banks, insurance companies, law firms and business consultants, they can build a financial services ecosystem, and make good use of market-oriented mechanism to provide systematic, diversified and innovative solutions, as well as financing support for suitable infrastructure projects.”

Teresa Cheng, Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR, delivered a welcome speech in a session titled “Fostering Trade and Resolving Disputes in the Post-COVID Era – Hong Kong’s Legal and Dispute Resolution Services”. She mentioned the business opportunities and unique advantages of Hong Kong under “one country, two systems”, explaining that the 14th Five-Year Plan and Greater Bay Area Outline Development Plan explicitly support Hong Kong as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. “These two national policies have afforded incredible opportunities to the legal sector and therefore the businesses that utilise our legal and dispute resolution services,” she said.

China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the Strategic Partner of the sixth Belt and Road Summit; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd as the Regional Banking Partner; China Merchants Group as the Sapphire Sponsor; China Taiping Insurance Group as the Affiliated Insurance Partner; and China Mobile International Limited as the Platinum Sponsor.

Websites
– Belt and Road Summit website: https://www.beltandroadsummit.hk/en
– HKTDC Belt and Road Portal: http://beltandroad.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3tgRVdG

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

Media enquiries:
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org

Sixth Belt and Road Summit opens today

Connecting government and business leaders online to foster trade

The sixth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today. The two-day event is being held online this year under the theme Driving Growth through Fostering Regional and International Trade. The summit will explore opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) through a variety of activities, including policy dialogue and plenary sessions, thematic breakout sessions, one-to-one project matching and project pitching sessions and a virtual exhibition. More than 6,000 participants from over 80 countries and regions registered for the summit.

In his welcome remarks, Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said the summit will continue to provide a quality online platform to network and share insights.
The sixth Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the HKTDC, opened today under the theme
During the summit, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce on enhancing co-operation in promoting the development of the mainland’s overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones.

This morning’s opening session was joined by Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; Gao Yunlong, Vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce; Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC; Wang Wentao, Minister, Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Republic of China; Hao Peng, Chairman, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), the People’s Republic of China; Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman, National Development and Reform Commission, the People’s Republic of China; Liu Guangyuan, Commissioner, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the HKSAR; and Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum.

Values of multilateralism have never been more vital – Carrie Lam
Delivering the opening address, Carrie Lam said: “Today, amid the continuing spread of protectionism, the values of multilateralism have never been more vital. It’s why this year’s Belt and Road Summit is focused on regional and international trade, with particular attention given to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP. These two immensely promising developments are destined to work hand-in-hand with the Belt and Road Initiative to boost the manifold benefits of multilateralism.”

Addressing the opening session in his keynote speech, Gao Yunlong said: “Hong Kong is an important platform for the development of the Belt and Road. Over the years, Hong Kong has made full use of its advantages in international finance, trade and professional services to play an important role as a super-connector for developing the Belt and Road. The 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035 support Hong Kong to build a functional platform for developing the Belt and Road. This fully reflects the Central Government’s trust and support for Hong Kong. We believe that as an important facilitator of the ‘dual circulation’, Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient, will become even more brilliant in the future.”

Leveraging Hong Kong’s advantages to maximise potential – Dr Peter K N Lam
In his welcome remarks, Dr Peter K N Lam said: “The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Driving Growth through Fostering Regional and International Trade’. Leading experts and leaders are sharing insights on how businesses can leverage developments such as the RCEP and Greater Bay Area to capture new opportunities along the Belt and Road and beyond. Participants can also catch up on the latest developments in Hong Kong which can help them to maximise this potential. The summit continues to provide a powerful online platform to make connections and share ideas.”

Giving the perspective of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab mentioned that as the world faces the pandemic and its economic fallout, and we experience the transformative impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there is a greater need for more regional and global cooperation, mainly in four areas: digital trade and governance, tackling the COVID pandemic, investment in green infrastructure and global supply chains.

Policy Dialogue session explores impact of economic policies
Following the opening session, the Policy Dialogue session helped businesses to understand the policies of different countries and regions to give them a head start in capturing Belt and Road opportunities. Moderated by Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, the session explored the development trends resulting from various economic policies, featuring officials from countries and regions along the Belt and Road. Speakers included Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN; Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei Darussalam; Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, the Kingdom of Cambodia; Jerry Sambuaga, Vice Minister of Trade, Indonesia; Ramon Lopez, Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippines; Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Republic of Singapore; Sansern Samalapa, Vice Minister of Commerce, Thailand; and Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, United Arab Emirates.

Plenary session examines how Belt and Road and RCEP can foster global growth
One of the plenary sessions held this morning ran under the title “Belt and Road and RCEP: Enhancing Regional Business Connectivity”. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, delivered the welcome remarks. The session featured industry leaders from Hong Kong, Mainland China and the RCEP market, including Victor Chu, Chairman & CEO, First Eastern Investment Group; Sean Chiao, Asia Chairman and Global Business Line Chief Executive, Buildings and Places, AECOM; Huang Zhaohui, CEO and Chairman of Management Committee, China International Capital Corporation Limited; Wang Cuijun, Director, China Merchants Group Limited; Suroj Lamsam, CEO & President, LOXLEY Public Company Limited in Thailand; and Michael Tan, President & Chief Operating Officer, LT Group in the Philippines. The speakers provided insights and analysis on how the RCEP, signed last November, and the Belt and Road Initiative can contribute to growth, cooperation and development as the global economy begins to show signs of recovery following the pandemic.

Breakout sessions explore hot-button issues on first day of summit
Five thematic breakout sessions were held this afternoon covering topics including “RCEP: Fostering Post-pandemic International Infrastructure Cooperation along the Belt and Road”, “Fostering Trade and Resolving Disputes in the Post-COVID Era – Hong Kong’s Legal and Dispute Resolution Services”, “‘Greener’ Bay Area: through the Sustainable Finance Lens”, “Belt and Road Opportunities for SMEs”, and “Supporting the National Strategy of Dual Circulation through Captives and Reinsurance”. Project owners are also invited to attend project pitching sessions to explore potential investment projects in the areas of energy, natural resources and public utilities. More thematic breakout sessions and project pitching sessions will be held tomorrow – details of the programme, speakers and partner organisations can be found at https://www.beltandroadsummit.hk/tc/programme/programme.

GBA Track series focuses on opportunities in Greater Bay Area
The 14th Five-Year Plan highlighted how the development of the Greater Bay Area will lead to boundless opportunities. This year’s summit features the new GBA Track thematic series that features plenary and panel discussion sessions, thematic breakout sessions and a virtual exhibition. One of the highlights will be a plenary session held tomorrow under the theme “Connecting the Belt and Road & Greater Bay Area through Hong Kong”. Moderated by Victor Fung, Group Chairman, Fung Group, the session will feature speakers including Dato’ Seri Cheah Cheng Hye, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer, Value Partners Group Limited; Jack So, Chairman, Airport Authority Hong Kong; Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive, Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; and Wang Shi, Honorary Chairman & Founder, Vanke Co., Ltd and Chairman, Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation. Panel discussion sessions and thematic breakout sessions being held under GBA Track will cover a wide range of topics, including capital raising, green finance, digital technology applications and start-ups, all of which are of interest to enterprises interested in exploring the Greater Bay Area market.

One-to-one project matching and project pitching sessions
In addition to the plenary sessions, the HKTDC continues to arrange one-to-one project matching sessions and project pitching sessions as part of the summit to promote concrete cooperation and exchange. Continuing the success at previous summits, this year’s one-to-one project matching sessions will promote direct dialogue between project owners, investors and service providers to discuss cooperation plans according to their specific business and investment needs. The project pitching sessions are focusing on four key areas: (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities, (2) innovation and technology, (3) urban development, and (4) transport and logistics infrastructure.

Another key feature of the summit is the virtual exhibition, which has doubled in scale from the previous event to showcase more than 60 exhibitors. The Global Investment Zone and Hong Kong Zone will once again feature Hong Kong’s world-class professional services that are valuable for success along the Belt and Road, as well as numerous investment projects and other opportunities worldwide. The new GBA Tech Zone will showcase the latest technology and related opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

MOUs promote multilateral cooperation
Two important memoranda of cooperation are being signed at the summit, both of which will help to promote development related to the Belt and Road. During the summit today, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce on enhancing co-operation in promoting the development of the mainland’s overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones. A Hong Kong enterprise signed another MOU related to cooperation on advanced medical equipment and research with its Kazakhstani counterpart. The MOU was signed online by Edmond Yau, Founder and CEO of Hong Kong firm Koln 3D Technology (Medical) Limited, and Dilyara Kaidarova, Board Chairperson of the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (KazIOR).

China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the Strategic Partner of the sixth Belt and Road Summit; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd as the Regional Banking Partner; China Merchants Group as the Sapphire Sponsor; China Taiping Insurance Group as the Affiliated Insurance Partner; and China Mobile International Limited as the Platinum Sponsor.

The Sixth Belt and Road Summit
Date: 1-2 September 2021 (Wednesday and Thursday)
Details
– Belt and Road Summit programme:
https://www.beltandroadsummit.hk/en/programme/programme
– Belt and Road Summit speaker list:
https://www.beltandroadsummit.hk/en/speaker/speakers
Venue: Virtual platform

Websites
– Belt and Road Summit: https://www.beltandroadsummit.hk
– HKTDC Belt and Road Portal: http://www.beltandroad.hk
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3DyDtCl

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.

Media enquiries
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Five HKTDC August fairs and ICMCM draw to a close

  • More than 370,000 visitors attend Food Expo and concurrent events

The HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition), HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair, HKTDC Home Delights Expo and HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), as well as the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association, have all drawn to a successful close. The five public fairs brought together over 900 exhibitors and attracted more than 370,000 visitors.

The Food Expo, Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition), Hong Kong International Tea Fair, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo drew to a close today, attracting more than 370,000 visitors.
The Gourmet Zone at the Food Expo showcased exquisite high-end food products. Various star chefs demonstrated
Pavilions and exhibitors from overseas participated at the Food Expo through local representatives to promote speciality foods and beverages. Mainland China, Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Thailand and Vietnam were among the countries and regions taking part.

Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “The Food Expo and concurrent fairs welcomed more than 370,000 visitors, showing that people are willing to spend and keen to use their consumption vouchers even though food and beverage sampling was not allowed in the fairground due to the pandemic. We were also encouraged to see a number of group pavilions participating through their local representatives to grasp business opportunities, confirming Hong Kong as an important trading platform.”

Purchases through e-payment become popular
The HKTDC interviewed more than 1,400 visitors during the fairs through random sampling. A positive appetite for consumption was reported, with 44% of the respondents spending HK$1,000 or more and the average per capita spending reaching HK$1,273. With 85% of exhibitors at the fairs accepting at least one consumption voucher payment method, the survey showed that nearly 80% of visitors made purchases at the fairs using electronic payment methods, while more than half of the respondents used their consumption vouchers, highlighting the growing popularity of e-payment services.

The Hong Kong & Kowloon Provisions, Wine & Spirit Dealers’ Association Limited (PWSA) and Nam Pak Hong Association set up a pavilion at the Food Expo for the first time, bringing about 20 food companies to promote their alcoholic beverages, canned foods, snacks, fruits and other food items. PWSA Director Michael Li said: “All our exhibitors adopted e-payment services to create a seamless shopping experience for customers. During the expo, around 80% of our sales were transacted through e-payment platforms. The Consumption Voucher Scheme has certainly helped to stimulate consumption and our sales result was better than expected. We plan to expand our participation at next year’s expo.”

Special temptations attract customers and boost sales
With great food and wine pairings in mind, some of the exhibitors at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition) said that running the fair in conjunction with the Food Expo had boosted exhibitors’ sales performance. John Lee, Director at Everrise International Trading Co Ltd and spokesperson for Wuliangye International (HK) Limited, said: “To engage more customers, we offered discount vouchers during the fair period which can be used when they make purchases at our stores at a later date. Our eye-catching booth also attracted many customers to visit. We expect our onsite sales turnover to reach HK$1 million.”

At the Home Delights Expo, exhibitor Bingo Leung, Customer Service Assistant at Smartech International Marketing Limited, Hong Kong, said the company’s participation in the expo over the years had helped promote its brand and new products to consumers. This year, Smartech launched new promotion plans tailored to the Consumption Voucher Scheme. “We provided discount offers, free gifts and four e-payment methods to tempt consumers to use their consumption vouchers for purchases. Our bestsellers included handheld vacuum cleaners, robotic vacuum cleaners and dehumidifiers. We are very satisfied with the results and expect the five-day expo to generate HK$500,000 in sales turnover.”

Since the Beauty & Wellness Expo debuted in 2016, Beauty Sensation Co Ltd, Hong Kong has participated as an exhibitor every year. Marketing Director Kin Wong expressed strong confidence in the company’s sales performance at this year’s event. “The expo provides an effective platform to raise brand awareness and promote our Australian skincare products to both existing and new customers,” he said. “Visitors were particularly interested in our organic skincare products this year and we expect our onsite sales turnover to exceed HK$1 million.”

Global traders view Hong Kong as an important trading platform
Despite the ongoing travel restrictions, numerous group pavilions participated at the Food Expo through local representatives, including the Ministry of Agriculture Trade Promotion Center, Shandong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing City from Mainland China which joined Japan, Korea and Poland to offer their food specialities to local shoppers. The Tea Fair also featured the Guizhou Pavilion to promote famous teas from the province. In addition to organising local buying missions, the HKTDC arranged nearly 200 virtual business matching meetings to enable global traders to stay connected and forge new deals.

Blanka Golebiowska, Deputy Consul-General at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong, said the Food Expo had given them the chance to connect with local importers to explore further cooperation. “The expo is a great place for us to promote Polish food products and test the market. We really appreciate the HKTDC’s efforts in organising virtual business matching meetings to enable potential business development,” Ms Golebiowska said.

For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit: https://bit.ly/3g4N8Xc
Websites:
– HKTDC Food Expo: https://hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition): https://hkwinefairaugust2021.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://hkteafair.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://homedelights.hktdc.com
– HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
– The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM): https://icmcm.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3AKzJLX

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

Media enquiries:
HKTDC Communication & Public Affairs Department
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org