17 April 2015 – The four-day run of the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and the HKTDC International ICT Expo concluded yesterday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Event organiser, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) commissioned an independent onsite survey, interviewing more than 800 buyers and exhibitors about their views on market prospects. According to the survey, over 90 per cent of buyers and exhibitors expect overall sales to improve or remain the same in 2015, compared to last year.
Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “We saw vibrant trading momentum on the fairground. From the survey results, the prospects for wearable electronic products would be positive. The interviewees expect that smart watches, smart wristbands, and earphones or headphones that are compatible with mobile devices will have the highest potential in next two years.”
Dressed For Success
Wearable electronics is the hot trend worldwide and the debut Wearable Electronics zone received good feedback from the buyers. Hong Kong exhibitor Pure Performance Distribution Limited joined the fair to promote its new smart watches that are equipped with built-in GPS and exercise-monitoring functions. The watches were very well received by buyers at the fair, according to the company’s Sales and Operations Director, Timothy Hui. He said the Spring Electronics Fair was an excellent platform to present new products and promote the brand, adding that the company was in talks with many customers from emerging markets such as India, the Middle East and Egypt, and he was confident that some of the orders would be finalised within the month.
Brands On Show
This year’s Spring Electronics Fair and ICT Expo featured internationally renowned tech giants and brands, such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Motorola and Softlayer, an IBM Company. Leading US semi-conductor manufacturing company, Intel Corporation offers silicon, turnkey solutions, basic reference designs and marketing support to more than 30 partner companies in Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland. Stephanie Hallford, Director, Business Development and Customer Marketing, Mobile Communications Group, Intel Corporation, said: “The fair provides a great place for our partner companies to show their products and OEM capabilities to buyers from all over the world. It is a big show which makes deals happen. Our booth has been very busy. Many buyers including those from Europe and Latin America are interested in our products.”
Another US tech giant, Microsoft Corporation, was at the Spring Electronics Fair for the first time, showcasing its Windows 10 to buyers. Jack Huang, Senior Director, OEM Local Device Sales, Microsoft Corporation, said: “In the past, we did this kind of event every six months; but now it’s two months or three months because the cycle is getting shorter. Hong Kong is so close to Shenzhen and is part of the China technology ecosystem. We have lots of investments and resources in Shenzhen, and our partners are close to Hong Kong so it’s easy for them to carry all the devices here and meet with all the customers.”
Rio Branco is Brazil’s second-largest distributor of computer accessories and electronics and network products. The company’s Purchase Manager, Rafael Montello, has visited the Electronics Fair many times. He said the fair’s wide range of products and suppliers inspires him to develop new products for his company’s brands. Mr Montello said he had found 60 new suppliers at the fair and had bought US$500,000 worth of DVD players, portable sound systems, car radios and tablets from new suppliers. He had also placed orders worth US$800,000 with existing suppliers at the fair.
Tech Showcase
Held concurrently with the Spring Electronics Fair, the International ICT Expo is a signature event of the Asian ICT industry. This year’s show included pavilions from Australia, Canada, the Chinese mainland, India, Korea and New Zealand. Ian Burchett, Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong & Macao, said 13 Canadian companies were featured at the Canadian pavilion of the Expo this year, offering innovative products and services in the areas of data analytics, electronic document management, mobile security, wireless technology and cloud-based IT solutions. “ICT Expo remains the longest running trade show for this sector in Hong Kong. Repeatedly, Canadian companies have found this event a great venue to identify business partnerships and to learn more about the market potential for their products and services, for the neighbouring Asian markets as well as other worldwide regions.”
Mohammed Sajid Ali, Senior Divisional Manager, Al Rostamani Communications LLC, from the United Arab Emirates, said: “I’ve identified more than 10 exhibitors for the provision of ICT solutions and smart devices. One of them is an Indian company providing various transportation, warehouse management and logistics and data centre solutions. We will introduce these solutions to customers in the UAE. Negotiation is also under way with a New Zealand exhibitor distributing its data centre management solution.” He said the Indian and New Zealand exhibitors will visit Dubai next month to conclude details worth a total of at least US$1 million per annum.
The twin technology-focused events welcomed around 92,000 buyers from 150 countries and regions. Around 62,000 buyers visited the Electronics Fair which is the largest Spring electronics show in Asia, while nearly 30,000 visitors attended the ICT Expo. Attendance from some developed markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Korea recorded growth. Specific emerging markets such as India, Israel and Argentina also recorded increased attendance.
Fair Websites
Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition): http://www.hktdc.com/hkelectronicsfairse
International ICT Expo: http://www.hktdc.com/ictexpo
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Joe Kainz
Tel: (852) 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
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