Special supplement: Industry expos under way in HK

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), organized by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened yesterday and will run until April 17.

Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the fair is a microcosm of global industry trends as well as a sourcing hub for many thousands of electrical and electronics products.

Running concurrently, the HKTDC International ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Expo offers the opportunity to access vital technology and products.

The spring Hong Kong Electronics Fair is an important event on the international sourcing circuit. More than 51,400 buyers from 153 countries and regions attended the fair last year. The 2008 event is set to build on this strong foundation. Over 2,400 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions present their innovative products.

Specialist zones make the fair easy to navigate. The Hall of Fame is the most pre-eminent, showcasing brand names and designer collections. The surroundings of this domain are appropriately refined, offering inspiration to buyers as well as providing a professional environment in which to conduct serious business.

A Lighting Section has been designed for the convenience of those electronics buyers who are also in the market for lighting products and systems. Presenting the latest styles, it reflects today's approach to lighting that is as much about fashion as function.

Last year marked the debut of zones for Vision and Sound products, as well as Home Tech, and both are back in 2008. Vision and Sound offers state-of-the-art home entertainment systems, while Home Tech focuses on home appliances, home security products and personal care electronics.

Other well-established zones include Digital Imaging, Electronic Manufacturing Services and Healthcare Electronics.

The Metal Parts and Components Pavilion is another integral part of the show allowing member companies of the Hong Kong Metals Manufacturers Association to promote their expertise in metal items as well as precision parts.

International ICT Expo

The International ICT Expo, the concurrent event with the spring Electronics Fair, features business solutions providers with particular value for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This year, over 580 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions present the latest offerings by leading information technology suppliers and software applications developers.

Five emerging trends in the ICT industry are being highlighted - Embedded Software, IT Outsourcing, Retail Technologies, Wi-Fi, RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) and Multimedia, and Sector-specific Applications for Finance and Tourism.

Thematic zones representing important industry sectors include Enterprise Solutions, Network and Mobility, Digital Living and Multimedia, Homegrown Innovations, IT Outsourcing, E-logistics and Retail Technologies, Open Source and Embedded Software and Trade Related Services.

To assist the SMEs to further develop their business, a free consulting service - SME IT Clinic is available at the fairground.

In 2007, the International ICT Expo attracted more than 22,760 buyers from 124 countries and regions.

The two events are being held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wanchai, downtown Hong Kong.

(China Daily 04/15/2008 page15)