Hong Kong Trade Fairs Offer Opportunities for Overseas Companies to Expand International Market

Ms Clare Wong

The advantages of Hong Kong as a commercial partner and trading hub brings many business opportunities for companies around the world. Adding to the city’s enduring advantages, Hong Kong’s year-round trade events give a timely opportunity for overseas buyers and suppliers to further develop their business activities in the emerging and in particular Chinese mainland market.

Ms Clare Wong, the Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) said “As one of the world’s lowest and simplest taxation systems with no sales tax and no import tariff on most goods, Hong Kong provides a favourable business environment for overseas companies.”

“What’s more, its unique relation with the Chinese mainland makes Hong Kong an important two-way platform for doing business in and out of the region. In 2011 total number of tourists from abroad (including Chinese mainland and overseas) reached 42 million, representing a 16% growth over 2010. 67% of which (28 million) came from the Chinese mainland, an increase of 24% over 2010” Ms Wong urged overseas countries companies to capitalise on the business opportunity the Chinese mainland has to offer.“The 200-million-middle-class population is growing at an exciting speed. According to a report by the Minister of Department of Commerce of China,

Hong Kong

Chinese mainland will become the world’s largest market of luxury goods such as wine by 2014. Moreover, China will be the main driver in the food and beverage markets growth. We are expecting 172% remarkable growth from 2010 to 2015 in the country’s consumption of health food. For the Spanish wine export to China, we witnessed 2-fold jump to EUR 78 million in 2011. It ranked as the second largest wine export country to China in terms of volume and the fourth in terms of value. The growth will keep surging along Chinese growing understanding in the New World wine.”

 

Ever Expanding Trade Opportunities

The HKTDC organises more than 30 world-class international trade fairs in Hong Kong each year, 10 are the largest in Asia, and 3 are the largest of their kind in the world.

Supported by a good combination of international quality exhibitors and buyers, the HKTDC fairs are not only one-stop sourcing platforms, they also represent golden opportunities for traders to gather the latest market intelligence, and most important of all, form partnerships and develop business in the region and beyond.

Given the economic crisis in Europe and the mild recovery in the US, Ms Wong noted that more and more businesses are looking for opportunities in the emerging markets including the Far East and the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, Chinese mainland and South Africa).

“The HKTDC fairs have proven to be the chosen platform for emerging market buyers. Among the 632,700-plus buyers from 191 countries and regions in our 2011 fairs, the number of emerging markets buyers recorded a 4% increase over 2010. China, having over 146,200 quality buyers, showed a remarkable double-digit growth (15%). These fairs are thus the perfect place for our exhibitors to capture the rising consumption power in China and other emerging markets.”

The Hong Kong Food Expo (16-18 August 2012) and Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Fair (8 – 10 November 2012) of special interest to overseas enterprises.

Other HKTDC trade shows include the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) (13-16 April 2012), Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair (27-30 April 2012), Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) (13-16 October 2012), Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) (27-30 October 2012), and Hong Kong International Jewellery Show (5-9 March 2013). All of these fairs assist overseas companies to access to the Far East and in particular the Chinese mainland market.

HKTDC

Ms Wong added, “Exhibitors and buyers alike will also experience the added advantages to be brought at our coming fairs. The ‘Small Order Zone’, a newly initiative at our April fairs, will facilitate small order trading and open up new business opportunities aligning to the changing trading environment. Our visitors will also benefit from the up-to-date technologies, including the Quick Response (QR) technology which connects exhibitors and buyers simply by scanning the QR codes at the booths with smartphones or tablets, the free-of-charge HKTDC smartphone app, and the HKTDC Product Appgazine.”

Ms Wong concludes that with all Hong Kong’s advantages, there is no question that it offers overseas companies the perfect environment for growth, both regionally and globally.

 

Fair Websites

Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair: www.hktdc.com/hkwinefair

Hong Kong Food Expo: www.hktdc.com/hkfoodexpo

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition): www.hktdc.com/hkelectronicsfairse

Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair: www.hktdc.com/hkgiftspremiumfair

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition): www.hktdc.com/hkelectronicsfairae

Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition): www.hktdc.com/hklightingfairae

Hong Kong International Jewellery Show: www.hktdc.com/hkjewelleryshow