HKTDC Autumn Fairs concludes: Played crucial role for trade development

Nearly 8,700 exhibitors and more than 200,000 global buyers took part in the eight trade fairs organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) up five per cent on 2012 totals over the same period. It’s estimated that the fairs brought over HK$1.4 billion to Hong Kong, not including trade orders.

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), electronic Asia, Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), Hong Kong Optical Fair, and the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, which were held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre; and Eco Expo Asia, Sports Source Asia and the Hong Kong International Building and Decoration Materials & Hardware Fair, held at AsiaWorld-Expo.

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau noted that more than 200,000 buyers from 163 countries and regions attended the fairs. Nearly 120,000 of them were overseas buyers, an increase of nearly six per cent over the previous year. “According to our statistics, each business traveller spent an average of HK$11,000 during their stay. Based on this figure, the total amount spent by overseas buyers and exhibitors during the fairs could amount to more than HK$1.4 billion, not including earnings from trade orders and related business services.”

Mr Chau said that the overall buyer attendance had returned to pre-financial-crisis levels. Buyers from such emerging markets as Brazil, the Chinese mainland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Poland and Ukraine recorded double-digit growth; attendance from traditional markets Australasia, France, Japan and Korea each rose at least four per cent.

“We think Hong Kong companies can diversify risks by expanding into new markets, taking small orders to widen their customer base and increasing the production of creative and eco-friendly products to improve their competitiveness,” Mr Chau added.

The HKTDC commissioned independent survey agency Ipsos to conduct interviews during the electronics and lighting fairs, seeking their views on market prospects, export outlook and product trends. Nearly 60 per cent of the 1,600 fairgoers interviewed expect market prospects to improve in 2014, while 33 per cent expect no change.