The Hong Kong January International Jewellery & Watch Show (January 17-20) is an inaugural event organised by World Trade Fair. The company was founded by B.K. Chow, former general manager of the Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association, which produces the December Hong Kong International Jewelry Manufacturers' Exhibition. The show requires professional identification for admission registration to ensure all buyers are bona fide trade visitors. Mr Chow expects 230 exhibitors from 18 regions and more than 7,000 visitors at the inaugural event. China Sourcing Fairs are scheduled for April and October, at the height of the buying season, giving international buyers access to a range of products from all over Greater China. The Electronics and Components fair and the Fashion Accessories fair will be held concurrently from April 15 to 18 and from October 11 to 14. The former will present new products and designs in computers and networking products, consumer electronics, electronic components, security and safety products and telecoms products. The latter will showcase casual and fashion handbags, special purpose bags such as backpacks, beach bags and coin purses, and hosiery, footwear and fashion accessories. The Gift and Home Products fair and the Practical World Hong Kong show are scheduled for April 22-25 and October 19-22. The former exhibits gifts, premiums and toys, Christmas and holiday products, stationery and office products, health and beauty products, sporting and leisure products, home decor, kitchen and household products, glassware and tableware, and home textiles. The Practical World Hong Kong show features hardware, home improvement, tools and DIY supplies. The Gift and Home fair will take up all 10 halls of the AWE, which can accommodate 3,500 exhibitors. The Electronics and Components fair will take up eight halls, and the Fashion Accessories fair will cover one hall. Global Sources Exhibitions general manager Chuck Armitage expected the fair to attract more than 40,000 buyers. Last October's China Sourcing Fair in Shanghai attracted more than 37,000 buyers from 136 countries. Air and Port Security Expo Asia 2006 (June 13-14), organised by British-based The Simply Group, is in its fourth year. It is the biggest event of its kind dedicated to airport, port and supply chain for passenger, cargo and terminal security. The programme includes a two-day aviation security conference, a two-day maritime security conference and a two-day new technologies seminar. Event director Peter Jones said the last APS Asia, in 2004, was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. 'We are experimenting with the new venue as it is next to the airport, which should be very convenient for our international visitors,' he said. PATA Travel Mart (September 12-15), organised by Pacific Asia Travel Association, is the region's premier travel trade event for Asia-Pacific players to make contact with travel industry buyers. Last year's event, held in Kuala Lumpur, attracted 307 seller organisations from 37 countries on hand to meet 375 buyer delegates from 54 countries. The organiser expects the mart and the PATA board of directors meeting to bring about 1,350 visitors to Hong Kong. These would include 720 seller delegates representing 350 exhibiting companies and 400 buyers and trade visitors. ITU Telecom World 2006 (December 4-8) is recognised as the Olympics of the international telecommunications industry. The high-profile event will provide a platform for leading figures across the industry - from government and regulators to operators, service providers and vendors - to come together, meet, network, do business and help shape the future of the world's information and communication technology industry. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialised agency of the United Nations and a worldwide organisation that brings governments and industry together to co-ordinate global telecoms networks and services. It is responsible for standardisation, co-ordination and development of international telecoms, including radio communications and the harmonising of national policies. The first ITU Telecom World event was held in 1971. The event typically attracts about 14,500 visitors daily, with about 1,000 exhibitors from across the globe and across the spectrum of the ICT industry. The last ITU Telecom World, held in 2003 in Geneva, was attended by 911 exhibitors representing 51 countries. It featured 26 pavilions organised by governments and telecoms associations to enable small and medium-sized companies to take part.
