The 7th edition of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware and Toys will kick off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, with exhibitors optimistic about the fair's success.
'This year's fair is probably going to be better than 2008 and 2009. We can already see consumer confidence slowly returning after the economic crisis, [as buyers are showing more interest in the products],' says Dawn Chan, marketing manager at Masterwise, an exhibitor.
According to the Census and Statistics Department, exports in the show's two categories - gifts and houseware items - have risen compared with last year.
Hong Kong's total exports of gifts reached HK$54.55 billion from January to May this year, an 11 per cent rise compared with the same period last year. Exports of household goods have also risen by 20.6 per cent.
The show will run until Thursday, with more than 400 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, including the mainland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, Belgium, Malaysia and the British Virgin Islands.
Four pavilions will feature the Hong Kong Exporters' Association, the mainland, India and Taiwan, with more than 70 buying missions from 35 countries and regions, including more than 3,000 buyers attending.