Everything from kitchens, bathrooms, home decor and Persian carpets to pet products will be on display and categorised in a number of special zones, namely the Hall of Elegance, Painting and Objets d'Art, Posh Corner, Health and Wellness, and a special highlight this year will be the World of Pet Supplies.

The World of Pet Supplies has been created in response to the rising trend of pet ownership and will feature grooming products, accessories and pet care items. It will host 70 exhibitors from the mainland, South Korea, India and Taiwan.

Raymond Yip, HKTDC's assistant executive director, said pet ownership was on the rise and there was growing demand for quality pet products. 'Our highlighted World of Pet Supplies [special zone] provides a good platform to source pet-related products and services,' he said

The Hall of Elegance will feature top-name brands and designers in an exclusive setting. 'Our long-established Hall of Elegance features the latest designs of 36 exhibitors. Buyers will also find various environmentally friendly houseware and kitchenware on display.'

To highlight the environmental theme, a seminar entitled 'Lifestyle Design: use of eco-smart materials and technology', by Atsuko Kato from Life Style Industry News in Japan, will take place today from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. The aim of the seminar is to encourage and advise businesses how to adopt eco-friendly products and practices.

Hong Kong exports of household goods were worth HK$199.15 billion last year, with the top five markets being the mainland, the United States, Japan, Germany and Britain. However, in the first two months of this year, the export of household goods decreased by 26.5 per cent, meaning local companies will be keen to meet buyers from across the globe. HKTDC has secured 84 buying missions from 39 countries and regions to attend the fair.

One company that has been coming to the fair for many years is Lynns Concepts, a ceramics design company. This year, its brand Loveramics will be exhibiting its wares.

'Loveramics has undertaken a rebranding, so this is the first time we will show the new image and brand identity to our customers. We want to strengthen our brand sales worldwide,' said Donathan Chan, senior brand manager.

Kin Hip Metal & Plastic Factory has exhibited its houseware collections for the past four years at the fair.

James Lau, sales and marketing manager, sees it as a great chance to show off new products. 'This is an opportunity to promote our brand and company image to our global clients. There are a number of new products to show off to our customers and this year we will expose one or two classified items,' he said.

Newcomers Go On Global, a group of companies that designs, markets and manufactures kitchenware and silicone items for children, will be hoping to create a buzz by unveiling new products.

Renowned chef Yeung Koon-yat will provide cooking demonstrations tomorrow in Hall 1, featuring kitchenware by Woll at 11am and by Bamix at 1pm. The presentations are named 'Mix your visions' and 'Hi-tech meets passion' respectively.

Go On Global marketing manager Kenneth Lau said that all the brands under its umbrella wanted to expand into the mainland and other Asian countries.

AB Gense, a Swedish flatware and cutlery brand under the Go On Global banner, believes the potential is huge for Swedish design to grow in popularity around this part of the world.

Julia Parker, export director, said the company was looking forward to introducing Scandinavian design and lifestyle to Hong Kong and the mainland. 'We believe that the consumer will appreciate the philosophy of the Scandinavian way of living, dining and decorating their homes with modern designs.'

Andre Woll, director of Norbert Woll, a German cast aluminium cookware and cutlery brand, sees huge potential in Asian markets. 'We believe that our patented detachable handles have a very big appeal to these markets as, in general, the kitchens in Asia are smaller. Space can be saved by removing the handle.'

To add a splash of fun and glamour to the opening day, there will be two mini pet parades today. The latest pet accessories and products will be showcased on the catwalk for 20 minutes at 10.20am and again at 4pm. The fair will open from 9am until 6.30pm today until Wednesday, and from 9am until 5pm on Thursday.

Fair information is available at the HKTDC Mobile Info Site - hktdc.com/wap. Use it to register for free admission.