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Chris Davis

There are more exhibitors this year and organisers expect a rise in visitor numbers

HONG KONG'S GIFTS  & Premium Fair 2005, Asia's biggest trade fair and the third largest of its kind in the world, looks set to celebrate its 20th anniversary with a record number of exhibitors and visitors.

More than 3,500 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions have registered for the four-day event, which starts today,  a 2 per cent increase over last year's record-breaking fair.

The fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) in co-operation with the Hong Kong Exporters' Association, is held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

TDC senior exhibitions manager Anne Chick  said the Hong Kong Gifts & Premium Fair would again present buyers with novelty ideas, creative products and lucrative business opportunities.

'This is the fair that lets visitors feel the pulse of the gift and premium products industry by checking out new products and identifying the latest trends. Judging by the attendances at other fairs we have organised this year, we will not be surprised if visitor numbers exceed the almost 57,000 that attended last year,' she said.

The importance and international reputation of the fair is supported by the attendance at the event of some 80 trade missions from Asia Pacific, the mainland, Japan, the Middle East, North America, central and South America and many parts of Europe.

The fair will also feature 14 group pavilions from various countries and regions, and a pavilion for the Hong Kong Exporters' Association.

With all of the Convention and Exhibition Centre's 64,000 square metres of exhibition space fully booked, more than 2,000 local and international exhibitors who wanted to take part in the fair were put on a waiting list.

Ms Chick said the fair would showcase an incomparable line-up of products and services.

Products on display include advertising gifts and premiums, ceramic gifts, consumer electronics, corporate gifts, fashion jewellery and accessories, paper and packaging, party and Christmas decorations, pictures and photo frames, silverware, stationery, toys and sporting goods, travel goods, umbrellas, and watches and clocks.

The Hall of Fine Designs is once again an important feature of the event. Since its inception it has been a focal point for buyers seeking outstanding quality and innovative design.

This year the Hall of Fine Designs has expanded once again and encompasses branded goods and designer collections from 47 companies from countries and regions including Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy and Switzerland.

Ms Chick said the fair offered a competitive edge in providing innovative and price-competitive giftware products, further supplemented by the customer services and facilities available on site.

She said Hong Kong was a world-renowned sourcing centre for giftware, with a wide spectrum of industries producing everything from basics to more sophisticated, higher-valued goods.

While Hong Kong companies generally offer a range of price-competitive products, many mid-range and high-end gifts are available. Hong Kong companies have also developed a strong design capability, though they also manufacture on an original equipment manufacturing basis according to customers' requirements.

The TDC has invited industry experts to share their knowledge and market insights at three seminars.

They will cover successful receivables management for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), implementation of corporate social responsibility in the business world and how to get assistance from the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department to combat counterfeiting.

The gift fair has always been important to the growth of SMEs. Christian Tilard, managing director of 100 Percent Concept Asia-Pacific, a 10-year-old small trading firm, hopes that the fair will help the firm meet more US clients.

'The economy of European countries such as Germany, France and Britain is not very good at the moment, so we are hoping to shift more of our business to the United States market.

'We have been visiting the US in the past few months and have invited buyers from companies there to visit our booth. We are looking forward to meeting more US buyers at the fair.'

Mr Tilard said his company had exhibited in the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair for four years and it had always been an effective medium for meeting clients.

This year his company will feature a carton structure in its booth.

Taking centre stage will be Oxtail, a cartoon character with many products under its name. Mr Tilard hopes to find companies who are interested in licensing Oxtail.



Huge event on course to break all records