Hong Kong is traditionally a major player in the global telecommunications field, a role that will grow in importance after the reunification with China, says Grant Johnson, of E. J. Krause & Associates (EJK), the organiser of Expo Comm Wireless Hong Kong '97.
EJK is a United States-based high and medium-technology exhibition organiser specialising in telecoms shows, specifically Expo Comm shows worldwide, but this is the first time that the company is organising a show in the territory.
'The timing is right, with so many changes going on in the telecommunications field,' said Mr Johnson, Krause's group show director (Asia-Pacific). 'In the past 18 months there has been increasing competition in Hong Kong between carriers in the telecoms market, with new wireless communications licences coming on line.
'Also, with the reunification of Hong Kong with China, the opportunity to explore the southern China market is improving. So there are many dynamic changes going on.' Mr Johnson said Expo Comm brought together a number of internationally known telecoms companies from Europe, the US and Asia. These firms want a piece of the action as understanding of wireless telecommunications increases in the region.
He said growth of the global communications village, with innovations such as the Internet, two-way paging and graphic services and faster computers, plus the rapid growth of mobile telephone use in Hong Kong, had also created a demand for the tools of these electronic communications processes.
'We offer an opportunity for market leaders in the industry to come to Hong Kong to show their products and perhaps get an idea of the direction the market is taking,' he said.
'Some of them may have offices in Hong Kong and China, but they are not reaching everyone in the potential market.
