Hong Kong Trade Development Council director of exhibitions Lee Chi-sang said he was optimistic the gifts and houseware trade would generate more export orders this year.
'Looking at the toys and fashion fairs in January and [this month's] jewellery show, order placing was good, so we're optimistic about the end market this year,' Mr Lee said.
'The approach of the millennium should, I believe, bring more business to the gifts and premium trades,' Mr Lee added.
The chairman of the gift fair's organising committee, Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, said yesterday: 'We are confident total volume of gifts and houseware export will grow [this year].' Mr Lam said consumer spending in the United States - the largest market for SAR giftware - remained high whereas Europe, South America and Southeast Asia were expected to remain on a par with last year.
He said the value of exports dropped last year, due mainly to reduced prices even though volume did not record a drop.
The total exports of gifts and houseware dropped 6 per cent to $2.82 billion from $2.99 billion a year ago.