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Tag: fair

  • Indonesia receives awards at South Africa Tourism Fair

    Indonesia receives awards at South Africa Tourism Fair

    Indonesia won two prestigious awards at the largest tourism market and exhibition, entitled “the Gateway Show”, in Johannesburg South Africa, which ran from September 23-25, 2016.

    Deputy Assistant of European, Middle East, America and Africa Market Development at the Ministry of Tourism, Nia Niscaya, said, here on Friday, that the two awards included the Best International Destination, building a booth modelled after a Phinisi traditional ship.

    The other award received by Indonesia was The Highest Award; the Spirit of Gateway 2016.

    “This award is expected to open the eyes of the international public, especially in Africa, about Indonesias tourism potentials,” Nia said.

    Also, Gateway Show organizers praised the Indonesian promotions team for its work at the exhibition, in which they presented a variety of attractions and delicious culinary treats.

    At the Gateway Show, the Wonderful Indonesia booth showcased Indonesia’s unique foods and coffee, offering samples to visitors.

    The sellers who participated in the Wonderful Indonesia Team were Nusa Dua Beach Hotel Bali, Holiday Inn Bandung, Maya Resort Bali, Bhara Tours Bandung, Singapore Airlines and a local travel agency, Afronesia Tours dan the Facets.

    The Gateway Show is an international tourism market and fair, participated in by industries, media, and visited by South Africans.

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  • Garuda targeting Rp386 billion transactions during travel fair

    Garuda targeting Rp386 billion transactions during travel fair

    PT Garuda Indonesia is targeting transactions of up to Rp386 billion in ticket sales during the Garuda Travel Fair (GATF) Phase II in 2016, to be held in 18 cities in Indonesia.

    Commercial Director of Garuda Indonesia A. Toni Soetirto said at a press conference here on Thursday that for Jakarta alone, the company targets sales transactions amounting to Rp225 billion and 80 thousand visitors.

    “The implementation of GATFs second phase provides an opportunity for service users to receive attractive offers,” he stated.

    In addition, he targeted a 3 to 4 percent increase in occupancy rate (load factor) compared with the off-season or low season.

    “In the third quarter, the interest of the public is higher,” he remarked.

    The overall target for transactions, he added, was higher than that of GATF Phase I, which raised Rp350 billion, and in Jakarta alone raised Rp179 billion, with 69 thousand visitors.

    Soetirto said GATF Phase II will be held in 18 major cities: Jakarta, Bandung, Medan, Lampung, Palembang, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Lombok, Kupang, Balikpapan, Makassar, Manado, Ambon, Timika, and Jayapura.

    “Through this travel fair, the customers get the best prices and attractive packages,” he stated.

    Soetirto said Garuda Indonesia is also working with its subsidiary, Citilink Indonesia, as well as a number of travel agents to participate in the exhibition being held at the Jakarta Convention Center for three days from October 7 to 9.

    For the seventh time, Garuda will collaborate with Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) as its bank partner in organizing the exhibition.

    On the same occasion, Director of Consumer Banking BNI Anggoro Eko Cahyo said BNI would offer a variety of promotions and convenient services for customers at the exhibition.

    Among them, BNI credit card holders will receive 600 cashback tickets per day with a value up to Rp1 million, while the banks debit card holders will have a similar offer.

    “We appreciate Garuda Indonesias invitation to partner with them again and share profits, values, and so on,” Cahyo noted.

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  • Over 20,000 Buyers Attended HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair

    Over 20,000 Buyers Attended HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair

    The 35th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair ended its five-day run (6-10 September) yesterday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). 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., the fair welcomed more than 20,000 buyers, up 2.4 per cent over the previous year. The fair saw good growth in buyer numbers from Asian markets such as India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, while growth from other regions including Australia, Sweden, Russia, Canada, the USA and Iran was also recorded.

    Smart and light-smart watches trending

    “Amidst the economic downturn, demand for luxury watches and clocks remains weak. We can see that the industry is shifting from traditional luxury brands to more mid-market brands, independent brands and even new smart watches in the market,” said HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau. “Since the smart and light-smart watch market is booming, more and more traditional watch companies are seeking to gain a share in the sector. I believe more varieties will be introduced into the market and offer more choices to buyers.”

    To match market demand trends, the fair this year introduced a new OEM Smart Watches zone to showcase the latest OEM watch designs. One of the exhibitors, Montrichard (HK) Ltd, has switched from manufacturing traditional watches to light-smart watches by adding smart features to traditional products over the past two years. Christine Pan, Product Manager of the company, noticed that fair exhibitors offering smart watches attracted many potential buyers from Europe and Asia. She believes that light-smart watches will be popular in 2017 and user-friendliness will be a major consideration for customers.

    The growing smart watch market attracted watch brands to develop that market segment. Matthieu Boileve, General Sales Manager of the local exhibitor Brasport HK Limited, said that in view of strong demand for smart watches and wearables, they had opened factories on the Chinese mainland and their sales of smart watch components doubled compared to two years ago and keeps growing fast. It is their second time to take part in the event. Mr Boileve believes that it is an international fair attended by buyers from all over the world, which helps to raise brand awareness and showcase their products. The company regards visitors to the fair as high-quality buyers, as about 60-70 per cent of their contacts are new.

    On the other hand, buyers were also eager to source smart watches. Franck Boudrie, President of Nouveaux Bijoutiers, which represents 170 retailers from France, was particularly interested in the brand Ringclock, which was exhibited at Salon de TE, as well as branded watches and smart watches. He foresees that half of the French population will be using smart watches, especially quartz watches with smart features in the next five to 10 years.

    International brands take advantage of the Hong Kong platform

    As the world’s largest timepiece trade fair, the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair attracts buyers from all over the world every year. To match Asian customers’ demand for top-quality Swiss watch brands, the Swiss Eminence at Salon de TE returned to the fair to showcase six premium Swiss brands. The Swiss Independent Watchmaking Pavilion (SIWP) also brought seven watch brands with exceptional craftsmanship. In total, Salon de TE featured close to 40 Swiss brands this year.

    Amarildo Pilo, President, Pilo & Co SA, and representative of SIWP, said that some of the brands offer value-for-money limited-edition watches with excellent quality, and it is important to set up SIWP to promote them. He was very happy to join the fair again this year where he could find potential new distributors. Despite recent global economic challenges and the potential impact on Swiss exports, he is not too concerned as he believes that buyers have a constant demand for Swiss watches, and business will pick up again as the economy stabilises over time. The SIWP brought seven Swiss brands to the fair this year, showcasing classic, elegant and sporty watches. Mr Pilo also said that he had met buyers from the Chinese mainland, Malaysia, Iran, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia, and would pursue negotiations with them.

    Olivier Chlous, World Sales Manager of the Monaco exhibitor, Ciribelli, joined the fair for the first time. He said that, as the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair attracts a lot of buyers from all over the world, it provides an ideal platform for promotion. He believes that since consumers on the mainland appreciate high-quality watches, the mainland is a niche market for them to develop. During the fair, they had met with potential distributors from the mainland, Iran and Japan.

    Orders from global buyers

    A first-time trade buyer, Alfred Gleiberman, Brand Development Director of US company Sterling Time LLC, said that he had met with potential suppliers and planned to source brand products to expand the market. He expects to place orders of US$100,000 and was particularly interested in two brands exhibiting at Salon de TE. He thinks that the fair is a business platform that offers a great variety of choices to buyers.

    Another first-time participant, Brian Kim, Manager-International Division of the Korean importer and distributor WOORIM FMG Ltd., met with brand suppliers from Denmark, Italy and Switzerland through the HKTDC’s business matching services. He was interested in their automatic watches and quartz watches and would enter into further negotiations after the fair.

    Jacob Juul, CEO, Bulbul ApS, from Denmark, found five new suppliers at the fair and would place an order worth US$200,000 of analogue watches with one of the suppliers in Hong Kong. They will also explore the possibility of cooperating with smart watch suppliers.

    Senthil Kumar.N, Manager – Procurement of Rivoli Group LLC from United Arab Emirates, said that sporty watches and fashion watches were selling well in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Countries) countries and each consumer had at least two to three watches to match clothing outfits. He visits the Watch & Clock Fair every year to look for new buyers and new brands, as it helps him monitor the industry and keep abreast of the latest technologies and design trends. He found three new suppliers at the fair and planned to place an order worth US$60,000-US$75,000.

    Fashionable and casual watches have best potential

    To understand fair visitors’ views on such issues as market outlook, product trends and Hong Kong suppliers, the HKTDC commissioned an independent research agency to conduct surveys on-site. The agency interviewed 834 buyers and exhibitors. The survey found that 58 per cent of respondents anticipate overall sales to remain unchanged in 2017, while 28 per cent anticipate an increase and 14 per cent expect a decrease. As for retail prices, 65 per cent of the respondents anticipate they will remain unchanged. Most of the responding industry players believe that the markets with growth prospects in the next two years are North America and Western Europe among the traditional markets, and the Chinese mainland and Middle East for emerging markets.

    For product and market trends, the respondents think that the most popular product category in the coming year will be smart watch (31%), digital analogue (26%) and automatic watches (15%), while the product category with the most growth potential are fashion watches (44%), casual watches (39%) and smart watches (38%). On product development strategies, watches interactable with smart devices (54%), collections that align with seasonal fashion trends (39%) and wearable technology with time functions (24%) will be the most prevalent in 2017.

    Fifty-eight per cent of responding buyers sourcing products from Hong Kong suppliers say they are most satisfied with compliance with safety regulations/standards, quality and function. Responding exhibitors, on the other hand, believe that the three strongest aspects of the Hong Kong watch and clock industry are quality, function and innovation.

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  • World’s Largest Watch & Clock Fair Opens in Hong Kong

    World’s Largest Watch & Clock Fair Opens in Hong Kong

    The 35th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, the world’s largest timepiece event of its kind, opened today and continues through 10 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Organised by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades and Industries Ltd, the fair features more than 800 exhibitors from 27 countries and regions, including first-time participating countries and brands from Australia, Hungary, Iran, Lithuania, Monaco, Thailand and Turkey.

    Gregory So, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government, was guest of honour at this morning’s opening ceremony. A highlight of the five-day fair is Salon de TE, a top-tier brand showcase for the trade that will also be open to public visitors (aged 12 or above) free of charge on the last day of the fair (10 September), with timepieces from more than 80 brands available for sale to the public.

    Premium watches at Salon de TE

    Salon de TE spotlights premium watch brands and unique watch designs, gathering 150 international brands at five thematic zones: World Brand Piazza, Chic & Trendy, Craft Treasure, Renaissance Moment and Wearable Tech. World Brand Piazza presents artisan masterpieces from 13 renowned international brands, including Blancpain, BOVET, Breguet, BVLGARI, Chopard, CORUM, DeWitt, FRANCK MULLER, Glashutte Original, H. Moser & Cie, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget and Zenith.

    Chic & Trendy gathers a wide range of stylish wrist watches. Craft Treasure showcases high-end functional mechanical watches and jewellery watches. Renaissance Moment presents classic European watches in various styles, including the Swiss Eminence pavilion showcasing six top-quality Swiss brands and the Swiss Independent Watchmaking pavilion showcasing seven Swiss independent watchmakers’ collections. Wearable Tech features watches that combine new technology and stylish design.

    Salon de TE and the Watch & Clock Fair gather a wide range of eye-catching wrist watches, including:

    – Piaget’s world’s slimmest mechanical jewellery wrist watch Altiplano, priced at over HK$1.4 million. (around US$181000) (Booth no.: 3E-WBP)

    – Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Cordonnet Duetto, featuring a double-dial design with a single movement driving both front and back dials to show time, valued at HK$1.9 million. (around US$245000) (Booth no.: 3E-WBP)

    – Boegli’s Grand Opera series musical watches are equipped with a musical module and mechanical movement, capable of producing 17 notes to play classical musical pieces. Only 99 pieces are available for this limited edition watch. (Booth no.: 3E-D44)

    – Kronsegler’s da Vinci automatic mechanical watch KS 745 combines art with function by featuring a rotating 24-dial of Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man with the figure’s head indicating the current time. (Booth No.: 3D-B43)

    – Memorigin’s Marco Fu watch series is themed around snooker with three black diamonds set at the 1, 4 and 7 dial markers, representing snooker player Mr Fu’s 147-point scoring record. (Booth No.: 3E-E18)

    – AKTEO’s finance-themed watch Wall Street 42, in which the hour hand shows the Wall Street Journal, the minute hand a US bank note, and the second hand a 999.9 gold bar. (Booth No.: 3D-A38)

    – FIYTA’s 3D Time, which emphasises 3D art, was awarded the Red Dot Academy Awards in industrial design in 2014. (Booth No.: 3E-E37)

    Smart watches as market spotlight

    Responding to the increasing popularity of smart watches, the industry is focused on creating more high-tech timepieces. Pure Performance Distribution Limited’s Garmin fenix(R) 3 HR multisport training GPS watch, with feature sets for fitness training and outdoor navigation, provides users with reliable fitness and GPS data for their daily life and for professional training. As such, this year’s fair introduces a new zone, OEM Smart Watches, showcasing the latest OEM designs. Among the exhibits, Montrichard (HK) Ltd’s smart watch Chronologia is capable of dual-time display and alarm, and can be connected to a smartphone to display lost-phone notification, SMS, fitness tips and more.

    Another dedicated zone, Pageant of Eternity returns this year to spotlight an endless range of complete watches. Other exhibiting categories consist of Complete Watches, Clocks, Machinery & Equipment, Packaging, Parts & Components and Trade Services.

    Over 70 buyer missions coming to do business

    During the fair period, the HKTDC has organised more than 70 buyer missions, comprising about 4,000 buyers from 50 countries and regions, including renowned watch and clock manufacturers, buyers and retailers, such as Rivoli Group from the Unite Arab Emirates, Abiste from Japan, Dakota Watch from the United States, Birks Group from Canada, Gmarket from South Korea, S Bacher & Co. from South Africa and Crystal Time from Singapore. Apart from Salon de TE, the popular hktdc.com Small Orders zone is featured in the lobby of Hall 1D with some 160 clock and watch showcases, targeting buyers looking to source products in minimum quantities of five to 1,000 pieces. Some of the items are also available for orders online. The award-winning entries of the 33rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Competition are also on display in the lobby of Hall 1B to showcase local designs to international buyers.

    More than 30 events, including seminars, networking events and watch parades will be organised during the fair period to facilitate exchange of market information among industry players. Highlighted events include the Hong Kong International Watch Forum held this afternoon while the Asian Watch Conference, to be held tomorrow afternoon, will look at developing trends related to the smart wearable tech sector and the Internet. Celebrities, including Alex Lee, Lisa Ch’ng, Derek Wong, Karena Ng, Wong You-nam, Ma Wing-shing and Marco Fu, will take part in product launches. On Public Day (10 September), visitors can take part in a series of entertaining activities as well as two lucky prize draws.

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  • HKTDC Food Expo, Tea Fair & Home Delights Expo Open

    HKTDC Food Expo, Tea Fair & Home Delights Expo Open

    Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), four concurrent fairs opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC); the 27th Food Expo, the eighth Hong Kong International Tea Fair, the third Home Delights Expo and the inaugural Beauty & Wellness Expo. Together, the fairs gather more than 1,800 exhibitors from around the world, bringing high-quality products and lifestyle solutions to consumers and trade buyers. The two-day International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM), which is jointly organised with the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association Ltd. (MCMIA), also opened today.

    “These concurrent events spotlight Hong Kong’s reputation as a business hub and lifestyle trendsetter in Asia. Together, they welcome a total of more than 1,800 exhibitors from around the world – each striving to help consumers enjoy a better and healthier lifestyle,” said Margaret Fong, Executive Director, HKTDC. “Now in its 27th year, the Food Expo presents a feast of business opportunities with a record of nearly 1,400 exhibitors from 26 countries and regions taking part. We expect to welcome some 20,000 trade buyers from around the world to the fair this year. Here, they can find trendy and quality products, gather the latest market intelligence and expand their business networks – all under one very large roof!”

    More than 100 buying missions from over 20 countries and regions will visit the Food Expo and Tea Fair this year, to source top-quality products and discover new business opportunities. A selection of local retailers and agents, including 759 Store, Sun Wah Japanese Food Ltd, Cafe Deco Group and DCH Logistics Co Ltd have set up buyers’ booths at the fairground for pre-arranged business matching meetings with exhibitors. This gives exhibitors the chance to connect with high-quality buyers and increase product exposure, while buyers are able to source products more efficiently.

    Foodies paradise spotlights international and green cuisine

    The Food Expo welcomes nearly 1,400 exhibitors and features delicacies from 26 countries and regions, including those of first-time participants from Croatia, Finland and Iceland. The Expo comprises three dedicated areas including Trade Hall, Gourmet Zone and Public Hall.

    Open to public ticket-holders until 14 August, the Gourmet Zone at Hall 3B spotlights flavours from around the globe. More than 70 exhibitors are presenting Asian and Western quality food products and specialty desserts. Responding to the increasing demand for healthy eating, this year the zone adopts a new “Green Palate” theme to place stronger focus on organic and green food.

    The Trade Hall is designed to serve up business opportunities for industry players. Among the thematic zones are the Halal Food Zone, which made a successful debut at the fair last year, and the new Chinese Medicine Zone held in association with the ICMCM. The Trade Hall is open to industry representatives on 11 and 12 August, before opening its doors to public ticket-holders as well on its last day (13 August).

    The Premium Food Zone is the highlight of the Public Hall at Hall 1A-E, featuring more than 30 famous food and beverage brands, including Kee Wah Bakery, On Kee Dry Seafood, Tai Pan, Maxim’s Caterers, Nissin and Tung Chun. Group pavilions from Canada, the Chinese mainland, Japan, Korea and the Philippines are also set up at the Public Hall to offer international culinary sensations.

    During the fair, a series of events including cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs such as Michelin 3-star chef Alvin Leung, Esther Au who is known as the “Truffle Queen” and also the owner of Dolce Dolce Kitchen & Gourmet, Gabriel Choy who is Topgrade (Holding) Limited Executive Chef and Advisor, and Sze Chiu Kwan, Head Chef of Dong Lai Shun at The Royal Garden. Other events include sharing sessions by famous food critics, the launch of the 2016-2017 Wan Chai a La Carte food map, La Commanderie des Cordons Bleus de France and GHM Recommendation Restaurant Award Ceremony 2016, Q-Mark Selfie – Food Styling Competition with TV Stars, as well as seminars on “Hong Kong Green Purchasing – Food and Beverage Sector” and “Explore the Latest Trend in Food Sustainability”.

    Homemaking expo delights visitors

    Since its launch in 2014, the Home Delights Expo has enjoyed growing popularity. This year, the fair features 150 exhibitors showcasing innovative home appliances and kitchen utensils as well as kitchenware, tableware, household items and home security devices. The Avenue of Delights features about 40 exhibitors presenting a range of premium lifestyle brands such as CLP, Dyson, German Pool, Kenwood, Ladyship, OGAWA, OTO, Philips, STAUB, Towngas, WMF and ZWILLING J.A. Henckels.

    At Hall 3FG, visitors can bid for selected household appliances and products at crowd-pleasing Smart Bidding events. Other activities include lucky draws, product demonstrations, sharing health tips and cooking demonstrations by Cloudland Chinese Cuisine Executive Chef Paul Wong, Lai Sun F&B Management Group Executive Chef (Chinese Division) Albert Au, Media Chef Christy Lai of Zhu Fan Zai, and registered dietitian and author Gloria Tsang.

    Looking good & feeling great are key to quality lifestyle

    With demand for beauty and wellness-related products on the rise, the HKTDC has launched its brand new Beauty & Wellness Expo this year, gathering more than 60 exhibitors from across Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan. A wide range of cosmetics, skincare, hair care and massage products, nail polish and fitness equipment is on show during the fair.

    Standout displays include a skincare product line using Tibetan water collected from an altitude of 5,100 metres, a smart abs toning belt, a series of Taiwanese protective lotions with added hyaluronic acid that is new to the Hong Kong market and easy-to-use nail polish appliques from the US.

    During the fair, well-known beauty blogger Yoko Tsang and Chinese Medicine practitioner Roy Tsui are sharing tips on beauty trends and how to lead a healthy life. Other must-see events include make-up, hairstyle and nail-art demonstrations that are sure to wow fair visitors.

    Tea fair presents global business platform

    The Hong Kong International Tea Fair gathers more than 240 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and the US to present high-quality tea and related products. The three-day fair is open exclusively to trade buyers on 11 and 12 August and also welcomes public ticket-holders on 13 August.

    An array of exquisite teas is being showcased during the fair, including one of the classics in pu’er tea “88 Yunnan Pu’er Cake”, pu’er tea powder made with tea leaves from aged arbor tea trees that are over 500 years old, as well as French dessert tea that combines organic tea and dried fruits. Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has returned this year with a group pavilion featuring 16 exhibitors including companies from green tea producing areas such as Kyushu and Kagoshima. The fair also presents a wide range of tea ware to promote tea culture.

    This year, the International Tea Competition continues to attract elite exhibiting brands, with a panel of professional judges reviewing the entries through blind tasting. Other special events include international tea tasting sessions, international cup warming, international tea arts performances and a seminar on marketing in the digital age.

    Public ticket-holders are welcome to visit on the last day of the fair (13 August), when experts will share tea therapy insights, explore tea appreciation techniques and analyse Pu’er tea and cheese pairing. Another spotlight event of the fair is the International KamCha Competition 2016 (Hong Kong-Style Milk Tea). The International Final will also be held on 13 August. Regional champions from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Melbourne and Toronto will compete for the title. The Final for Yuanyang will also be held on the same day.

    Traditional Chinese Medicine opportunities under the microscope

    The ICMCM takes place today and tomorrow with 18 prominent speakers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Thailand, the Chinese mainland, Macau and Hong Kong, sharing their views on the opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative, the quality of herbal products in Europe, the globalisation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, regulations and registration strategies for Chinese herbal health food, as well as the latest research and development findings. The ICMCM is an ideal platform for industry players to exchange ideas on the development of Chinese medicine.

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  • Record Numbers Attend 27th Hong Kong Book Fair

    Record Numbers Attend 27th Hong Kong Book Fair

    The 27th Hong Kong Book Fair ended today, after drawing record attendance of close to 1.02 million visitors. The week-long literary and cultural extravaganza, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, featured an extensive selection of literary works, renowned international authors and diverse cultural activities. An on-site survey found that visitors spent an average of HK$902 at the fair, comparable to last year. And, fiction and literature were the most popular categories.

    “This year, the Hong Kong Book Fair continued to enjoy the public’s widespread support, with attendance breaking the one million mark for the third consecutive year. This is a reflection of Hong Kong people’s love of reading and fondness for cultural activities,” said HKTDC Acting Executive Director Benjamin Chau. “Apart from buying a wide selection of books from 640 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions, visitors also had the chance to join seminars hosted by their favourite authors.

    “Many of the seminars saw packed houses, including those by Ye Yong Lie, Cao Wen Xuan, Lung Ying Tai, Sisy Chen, Ma Ka Fai, Woon Swee Oan, Chua Lam and Jasper Tsang, and the English-literature focused Open Public Forum, hosted by Sir David Tang. The exhibitions and performances at the Art Gallery likewise attracted many visitors. All these turned the Book Fair into a true cultural feast.”

    Cultural events attract more than 300,000 attendees

    Some 360 cultural activities were staged during the fair, including seminars, new book parades and readings. At the Art Gallery, visitors were treated to martial arts demonstrations and traditional song and dance from Shaanxi and India. On-site cultural activities and more than 260 citywide events held under month-long “Cultural July” campaign, which aims to promote the joy of reading, culture and art to the Hong Kong public, have drawn more than 300,000 attendees so far. Visitors who missed their favourite seminars at the Book Fair can visit the Hong Kong Book Fair website (https://hkbookfair.hktdc.com/en/Events/Videos.html) to review approximately 90 seminars.

    Survey: 11% of fair visitors planned to spend more this year

    The HKTDC commissioned an independent market research agency to conduct an on-site survey during the Book Fair in order to better understand the interests and purchasing habits of visitors. About 800 visitors were interviewed. The survey found that most respondents were drawn to the Book Fair by new releases, followed by discounted items and cultural activities.

    In terms of genre, fiction topped the list (54%), followed by literature (33%), travel books (28%) and self-improvement books (19%). The survey also found that 11 per cent of visitors had planned to spend more this year, while 84 per cent said their budgets were similar to that of last year’s Book Fair. The average per capita spending at the Book Fair was found to be HK$902.

    As for reading habits, almost all respondents (99%) said they had read a printed book in the past month, spending on average 24 hours reading. Some 60 per cent of respondents reported reading an e-book in the past month, spending on average 14 hours. According to the survey, the average spending on printed books in the past year was HK$1,855, up four per cent year-on-year. The most popular genres were fiction, literature, travel books and self-improvement books. The survey also found that approximately 10 per cent of respondents were overseas visitors.

    Chinese martial arts literature

    The Book Fair adopted an overarching theme “Chinese Martial Arts Literature” for the first time this year. The Chinese Martial Arts Literature exhibition and The Literary Giant – Jin Yong and Louis Cha exhibition, which was jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, were set up at the Art Gallery, featuring manuscripts, first editions and comic books and movies adapted from well-known martial arts literature.

    The exhibitions were well-received and attracted a large number of visitors. Three renowned Chinese martial arts novelists, Woon Swee Oan, Jozev Lau and Zheng Feng, met with readers at the Book Fair and shared the inspiration behind their stories and the development of martial arts literature.

    ‘A Journey to “Silk Road”: Shaanxi and India’ display proved popular with visitors. It showcased an array of precious artefacts that included bronze works dating back to the Western Zhou dynasty, bricks from the Qin dynasty, tiles from the Han dynasty, Tang Sancai and Silk Road coins from Xi’an, as well as paintings, ethnic costumes, agar wood, tea and traditional decorations from India.

    Book donations and waste recycling

    Book donation sites were set up on the last day of the Book Fair for exhibitors to donate books they no longer wanted. The books would be collected by non-profit organisations, such as Christian Action and Chu Kong Plan, to be redistributed to individuals or organisations in need. The measure addresses concerns about environmental protection, while also enabling more people in need to enjoy reading. Large recycling bins were also set up at the venue to collect unwanted books and goods for recycling.

    Cultural July – The joy of reading continues

    While the 27th edition of the Book Fair ended today, the “Cultural July” campaign, which is in its fifth year, will continue to run until the end of this month. Cultural activities to look out for include cultural markets, interactive storytelling and education programmes for children and historical seminars and exhibitions. For details, please visit the “Cultural July” website.

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  • Jakarta Fair 2016 begins June 10, will coincide with Ramadan

    Jakarta Fair 2016 begins June 10, will coincide with Ramadan

    The Jakarta Fair, an festival and exhibition, will be held at JIExpo Kemayoran from June 10 to July 17, coinciding with Ramadan, the fasting month and Eid.

    “Jakarta Fair coincides with fasting month and the Eid break, something that happens once every 3 years. It opens many opportunities for all the businessmen involved,” said PT JIExpo Marketing Director, Ralph Scheunemann, during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday.

    The exhibition that will be opened by President Joko Widodo has a target to attract 5 million visitors and at least Rp5 trillion in transaction value within 38 days of execution.

    Being organized under the slogan, “Lets celebrate Eid together at Jakarta Fair,” the organizers hope that the event offers an alternative to those wishing to spend their Eid holiday away from the usual tourism destinations in Jakarta.

    Even though most residents from the capital city will be going back to their hometowns during Eid, PT JIExpo organizers were confident that visitors number would not fall.

    “Only about 30 percent of the residents are expected to return home, which means approximately 5-6 million people will remain in the city from among its 9 million residents,” explained Ralph.

    Also, many people residing elsewhere are most likely to return to Jakarta.

    This year, the organizers are also preparing new rides, such as an ice skating rink, a snow playground and a vicious prison.

    The Jakarta Fair will open its doors everyday during Ramadan from 3.30 PM to 10 PM, Monday through Friday, and 10 AM to 11 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

    Visitors will be able to enjoy the festivities at the Jakarta Fair 2016 by paying an admission fee of 20,000 rupiah on Mondays, 25,000 rupiah Tuesday through Thursday, and 30,000 rupiah Friday through Sunday and on national holidays.

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  • Indonesia sells 35 containers of kerupuk at Thaifex 2016

    Indonesia sells 35 containers of kerupuk at Thaifex 2016

    Indonesia’s traditional kerupuk (crackers) have become the star among other food commodities displayed at the Indonesian booth during Asia Thaifex 2016 in Bangkok, which is known as Asia’s biggest food and beverage expo.

    The snacks registered total orders of 35 containers worth Rp 12.9 billion ( US$950,000 ) at the event held from May 25 to 29, said an Indonesian trade attaché member in Bangkok, Rita Tri Mutiawati. The Trade Ministry and Industry Ministry collaborated on sponsoring Indonesian companies joining the event.

    “Thanks to the sponsorship of the Central Java administration’s trade and industry service center, Indonesia Selamat Sejahtera booked orders from China for 15 containers of prawn crackers, and South Korea also ordered 20 containers of fish crackers,” she said.

    Aside from kerupuk, Rita further said Indonesian seafood products manufactured by Fresh On Time were able to gain international buyers from the US, Mexico, and the European Union ( EU ) while similar products by Medan Tropical sealed a distribution agent in Thailand and the EU.

    From the 41 Indonesian companies who joined Thaifex, 21 were sponsored by the Industry Ministry, 10 were sponsored by the trade attaché and four were sponsored by the Central Java administration. Only six companies joining the event were without government sponsorship.

    The companies showcased their products ranging from seafood, instant seasonings, confectionaries, hot sauces, coffees, herbal medicines, biscuits, snacks, wafers, green tea, to cashew nuts. Indonesia’s representatives competed with 964 other companies in the event.

    “Thaifex is the door to export food and beverages products to other countries. Indonesian food and beverage manufacturers should not miss this opportunity,” Rita said, adding that there were one-to-one business matchings being made between Indonesian firms with other countries’ firms.

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  • Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair Attract 64000+ Visitors

    Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair Attract 64000+ Visitors

    Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 31st Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair concluded today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The concurrent 11th Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair (27-30 April) also came to a close at AsiaWorld-Expo. The twin fairs together attracted more than 64,000 buyers from 134 countries and regions. Around 50,000 buyers visited the Gifts Fair, while over 14,000 buyers attended the Printing & Packaging Fair. Markets such as the Chinese mainland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Italy and Indonesia saw growth.

    “In the face of a fluctuating global market, suppliers should promote their brands and products even more proactively, while distributors and retailers should seek out new competitive products,” said Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director. “Showcasing top-quality items and providing a diverse range of choices, the two fairs are the ideal platform for both promoting and sourcing products.”

    The HKTDC organised a total of 171 buying missions from 75 countries and regions for the two fairs, comprising more than 13,200 buyers. At the fairground, business matching services were also provided to foster business opportunities and partnership-building. Moreover, in view of the keen demand for small order sourcing, the hktdc.com Small Orders display at the Gifts Fair featured over 360 showcases offering more than 2,500 products available for orders of between five and 1,000 units. A total of 23,000 business connections were generated during the four-day fair.

    Mr Chau also noted that, during the Gifts Fair the HKTDC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thailand, a key ASEAN country, to strengthen business promotion and cooperation between Hong Kong and Thailand. This includes offering a top-quality promotion platform for Thai products through the HKTDC’s fairs and online promotion services, covering sectors such as garments, fashion accessories, textiles, food and agricultural products.

    Cautiously optimistic on sales prospects; decorative gifts & figurines to lead market growth

    The HKTDC commissioned an independent onsite survey during the Gifts Fair, interviewing some 920 buyers and exhibitors about their views on market prospects and product trends. The survey found that the industry is cautiously optimistic about the gifts market this year. Close to half of the respondents expect overall sales to remain the same in the coming year with 20 per cent expecting sales to improve. Thirty-seven per cent of respondents expect production costs and sourcing costs to increase. More than 60 per cent of respondents, however, do not expect to raise FOB selling prices or retail prices, suggesting that they will not transfer increasing costs to customers. As for the market with the highest growth potential, most respondents pointed to the Chinese mainland, followed by Hong Kong and Korea.

    The survey also analysed product trends in the gifts and premium market. Most respondents said they expect decorative gifts and figurines to have the strongest growth potential this year, followed by tech gifts and advertising gifts and premium. As for products, the industry generally believes that consumers are increasingly focused on product practicality and quality, followed by their pricing and cosmetic design.

    Ideal platform for exploring business opportunities & promotion

    Tian Guofeng, Director, Exhibition Department, China International Center for Economic & Technical Exchanges, Ministry of Commerce, said this was the first time that the Ministry had organised a delegation to the Gifts Fair, comprising 10 companies from Yunnan Province. “As the Hong Kong fair is not only the world’s largest gifts and premium fair but also the most influential show of its kind, it will help Yunnan manufacturers develop overseas markets,” said Mr Tian. “Exhibitors from Yunnan Province are showcasing a wide variety of high-end products such as metal ware, silverware, wooden gifts, pottery, stone carvings and gunny handbags. Responses from buyers have been very encouraging.”

    Shosuke Fukushima, Director of Japan Pavilion, Business Guide-Sha, Inc., said that Japanese exhibitors achieved very good results at last year’s fair, so they returned this year with 17 companies joining the Japan Pavilion, the largest-ever such delegation. “Japanese exhibitors are here showcasing all kinds of trendy products such as cosmetics, garments, stationery, toys and video games. The Hong Kong fair is an international trade fair where Japanese exhibitors can talk to many buyers and learn more about the market needs. More importantly, Hong Kong is a key gateway for Japanese companies to look for distributors and retailers from all over the world. We’ll continue to organise the Japan Pavilion next year.”

    Hong Kong exhibitor Phoebe Wong, Director of Eco Concepts, said it was their fifth time to participate in the fair. The company produces various green products with PLA (polylactic acid). “Through business matching services provided by the HKTDC, we have met with more buyers from Europe, probably because our products can meet their strict requirements in terms of environmental protection. On the first day of the fair, we have already got an order worth US$9,000 from a Thai buyer,” said Ms Wong.

    Another Hong Kong exhibitor, Gianna Company Ltd., strives to inject new design elements into products. The company’s Managing Director Lawrence Tong said the market trend towards innovative designs is prevalent. “We received onsite orders worth over HK$2 million in total from long-time clients. We have also established contacts with many potential buyers from various countries at the fair,” said Mr Tong.

    Meanwhile, at the Printing & Packaging Fair, Hong Kong exhibitor Tommy Yu, Senior Manager of VersaTech Energy Innovation Limited, and Environmental Consultant of The Hong Kong Printers Association, noted cleaner production is the way forward amid growing environmental concerns. The Hong Kong Printers Association made good use of the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair to promote new technology for cleaner production. “Many large-sized printers have taken the task seriously and we want to encourage more SMEs to join the wave through the exhibition. In the first few hours of exhibition, about 50 visitors including printing-related companies from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, the Philippines and Taiwan approached us. They showed keen interest in how new technology in cleaner production can work for printers.”

    New products and onsite orders

    Sia Yew Ming, Senior Corporate and Trade Marketing Manager, Mediacorp TV Singapore Pte Ltd, was a first-time visitor to the Gifts Fair. She came looking to develop products that are related to their TV programmes with a view to selling them to consumers through convenience stores and book shops in Singapore. She said that, with so many suppliers at the fair, there was a great variety of products at competitive prices. She said she placed an order of 500 units of USBs and 500 units of power banks on the second day of the fair. “I have found a lot of new ideas and new products here. I have found 10 potential suppliers and will follow up after the show,” she said.

    Barama is an importer and wholesaler of stationery, paper products, school bags and toys in Argentina. This year was their seventh visit to the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair. Alex Leibovich, Manager of Barama, said they were looking for school products and new suppliers. “So far, we have identified three new suppliers of paper products and punchers at the fair, and we have already placed onsite orders for US$20,000 worth of paper products and US$13,000 worth of punchers.”

    B. Food Product International from Thailand sells food products domestically as well as to different markets worldwide including Asia and Europe under two major brands S-Pure and BETAGRO. Sakhorn Jullarat, the company’s Product and Process Development Director, said, “We put strong emphasis on the quality and safety of the food we produce every day. This is our first visit to the Hong Kong International Printing & Packaging Fair. We’ve already found five potential suppliers for packaging items that will be used for our frozen and chilled food products. We can find a lot of interesting packaging products and ideas here. We would like to visit the fair again next year.”

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  • Garuda Indonesia Holds Travel Fair on April 29

    Garuda Indonesia Holds Travel Fair on April 29

    Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will hold the Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair (GATF) event starting from April 29 until May 1, 2016 at the Jakarta Convention Center. The event will be held in cooperation with Bank Nasional Indonesia (BNI).

    “Garuda wants to help passengers prepare their trips with an affordable price,” said A. Toni Soetirto, Garuda Indonesia Commerce Director at Plaza Arcadia Senayan on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.

    Toni said that the GATF will also be held to support the government’s effort in promoting Indonesia’s tourism sector by providing flights to newly developed tourism destination.

    Selfie Dewiyanti, Garuda Indonesia’s Marketing Vice President said that all flight routes will be made available throughout the event. “We guarantee that ticket prices sold in the exhibition will have the best price throughout the year,” Selfie said.

    In addition to Jakarta, the GATF event will be held simultaneously in 14 other cities, including Bandung, Medan, Pekanbaru, Jambi, Semarang, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Manado, Timika and Jayapura.

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  • Suzhou selected to host China Retail Trade Fair

    Suzhou selected to host China Retail Trade Fair

    The China Retail Trade Fair, more commonly known as CHINASHOP, the benchmark and barometer of China’s retail industry, announced that following voting by exhibitors and followers, Suzhou International Expo Center, the convention and exhibition venue owned and operated by Suzhou Culture and Expo Center Co., Ltd., has been selected to host 18th edition of the event, CHINASHOP 2016, with 41% of votes.

    CHINASHOP rolled out a voting campaign on December 11, 2015, inviting exhibitors and followers to select the host venue for the 18th CHINASHOP by choosing between five cities: Haikou , Qingdao , Nanjing , Suzhou and Chongqing .

    Suzhou outrivaled other cities with 41 per cent of votes. Following a wide-ranging consultation with exhibitors and on-site investigation of the venue, the organizers announced that the event will be held at Suzhou International Expo Center between the 3rd and the 5th of November 2016.

    With the approval and support of China’s Ministry of Commerce, CHINASHOP is organized by China Chain Store & Franchise Association and Beijing Zhihe Lianchuang Exhibition Co., Ltd. With a 16-year track record under its belt, CHINASHOP has become China’s largest and the world’s second largest retail industry event and is regarded by retailers worldwide as a key annual gathering.

    The city’s unique advantages lend to Suzhou International Expo Center’s popularity

    Suzhou, located in the fast-growing Yangtze River Delta, is in close proximity to major commercial centers including Shanghai , Nanjing and Zhejiang and is, itself, a city which is seeing a rapid expansion in its commercial activities. Recent statistics show that dozens of large shopping malls and supermarkets opened their doors here in 2015 and that the local retail industry has been on the fast growth track.
    At the same time, Suzhou and the nearby cities of Shanghai , Wuxi and Kunshan are all home to China’s leading manufacturers of commercial shelves, logos and signs. CHINASHOP 2016 in Suzhou will not only allow purchasers to visit and inspect suppliers, but also reduce exhibitors’ labor and transportation costs. Jiangsu province is also a very active hub in terms of the development of China’s online businesses, giving exhibitors an opportunity to enter into face-to-face conversations with China’s leading Internet companies and further explore how to best be a part of the transformation of the traditional retail industry in the new consumption environment.

    Suzhou International Expo Center is located in Suzhou Industrial Park. The center has available 60 conference rooms of varying sizes, occupying a combined area of 50,000 square meters, as well as 100,000 square meters of indoor exhibition space and 60,000 square meters of outdoor space. Its 8,000 square meter column-free luxury banquet hall is among the best in Asia . Based in Suzhou, a city with deep historical and cultural roots, the center has a full range of support facilities in immediate proximity including hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and entertainment venues. At the same time, the center is conveniently located in terms of transportation, with proximity to airports and high-speed railway stations in Shanghai and Wuxi, facilitating access for exhibitors and visitors.

    “We are honored to provide the venue for CHINASHOP 2016,” said Yin Weidong , chairman of Suzhou International Expo Center. “We sincerely invite all to the center between November 3 and 5, 2016 , when we will offer exhibitors and visitors all over the world an international expo with the most advanced exhibition facilities, the most comprehensive support services and the most professional exhibition team.”

  • Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair opens doors on 2015 showcase

    Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair opens doors on 2015 showcase

    The Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair opened its doors yesterday (October 22), offering more than 100,000 pieces of fine jewellery from a number of exhibitors.

    The four-day event, which is now in its third year, is open to casual shoppers, serious investors and trade buyers.

    As the most significant fine jewellery exhibition in the region, the event covers a space equivalent to 200 tennis courts. Around 100,000 pieces of fine jewellery will be on display across 10 product-themed and country pavilions.

    International fine jewellery exhibitors include manufacturers and wholesalers from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the US.

    The event is exclusively endorsed by the Singapore Jewellers Association (SJA) and the Diamond Exchange of Singapore (DES).

    The Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair 2015 is open from October 22-25 at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Halls A & B. Admission is free.

  • Bangli holds Balinese Jewelry Fair

    Bangli holds Balinese Jewelry Fair

    The district of Bangli, Bali Province, is holding a Balinese jewelry fair at the Taman Budaya (Cultural Park), here, during the 37th Bali Art Festival being organized from June 13 to July 11, 2015.

    “We display hundreds of Balinese traditional jewelry to introduce them to the public. Bali has various kinds of unique and attractive jewelry,” Ni Wayan Rusmiati, a Balinese jewelry businesswoman, said here, Sunday.

    The price range of Balinese jewelry being offered during the festival is from Rp35 thousand to Rp1.5 million.

    She, however, complained that most visitors to the jewelry fair were just window-shopping.