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SCMP Reporter

WHEN the 11th International Building and Construction Exposition (IBEX) opens in Hong Kong tomorrow, it will be the landing point for an international invasion.

  A total of 27 countries will be represented at IBEX '94, which continues until Saturday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

  IBEX is Hong Kong's largest and longest-running building exhibition.

  Show organiser Reed Exhibition Co bills it as serving Hong Kong, Macau, southern China and Taiwan but, in recent years, it has begun to draw visitors from other countries.

  Surging building industries across Southeast Asia are driving demand for the latest in construction technology. And that demand is bringing building materials' producers here from around the globe.

  Bill Mahon, Australia's Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, will be leading a contingent of 28 Australian companies at the show.

  ''We've been regular exhibitors at IBEX for as long as I've been involved with Australia-Hong Kong trade. It's a good show because we meet not only people from the Hong Kong construction business, but visitors from China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam.''   Mr Mahon said Hong Kong was ''a good focal point for the region and the show has a lot of people coming through''.

  About half of the Austrade group would be repeat exhibitors.

  Mr Mahon said many from this group would be here in support of existing agents and looking for new representatives to add to their distribution networks in China.

  Regarding the newcomers, he added: ''What this means is that we'll be introducing quite a few new companies and their products to this market.''   Chris Lee, commercial officer for the Commission for Canada in Hong Kong, said Canadian companies would be at the trade show in force.

  He said IBEX acted as a doorway for Canadian firms looking for an introduction to the lucrative Hong Kong and China building markets.

  ''To put it simply, so far so effective,'' he said. ''From the responses of the repeat visitors, I would say the show is well worth their while.''    Canada's Senior Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, Scott Mullin, said trade potential between Canada and Hong Kong had only recently begun to materialise.

  For most of the 16 Canadian companies exhibiting under the commission's umbrella, the IBEX show will be their first exposure to business in the Pacific rim.

  ''Many of them are here for the first time and are interested in accessing China. They want to establish relations in Hong Kong as a starting point,'' said Mr Lee.

  He said the Hong Kong-Vancouver connection was often the impetus behind trade between Canada and Hong Kong.

  ''A lot of Hong Kong-Canadians who have returned here come to us inquiring about products they saw in Canada. This often leads to the creation of business relationships,'' he said.

  According to Mr Lee, his office had experienced a recent increase in interest from companies in Canada.

  ''We've seen a greater number of inquiries about information on trade with Hong Kong and we're anticipating a continuous increase in business activity between Hong Kong and Canada, especially in this sector.''   Interest in Canadian products has resulted in the need for the show's largest booth - 354 square metres - for the Canadian group.

  IBEX 94 has booked a total of 427 exhibitors for the four-day show. Two other national groupings, from Italy and Britain, have secured exhibition space.

  A number of exhibitors in the British delegation have a focus on things wet, running from site drainage and plumbing systems to hi-tech sensoring equipment to measure dampness problems in existing buildings and building materials such as concrete and wood before they are used on site.

  The new Protimeter Digital Condensator tells the inspector at the push of a button the extent of condensation in a building.

  The Polybau surface water drainage system meets the high loading standards of highway and airport projects and comes in a stainless-steel model for the hygiene requirements of hospitals and hotels.

 Other international exhibitors represent Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Switzerland and the United States.

  Exhibitors cover the full spectrum of building materials and technology, including retrofit and renovation materials, mechanical and electrical systems, building automation systems, furniture, finishes, plumbing, energy-saving products and construction equipment.



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