Time for premier showcase

Massive regional display will push fashion links as well as business in the mainland

THE HONG KONG Watch and Clock Fair, from today until Sunday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, has drawn 760 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, up from last year's 720 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions.

Visitor numbers are also anticipated to exceed last year's more than 15,000.

'Total export of watches and clocks for the first six months of this year increased 8 per cent to $20.7 billion,' Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) senior exhibitions manager Anne Chick said.

'This is an indication that the number of buyers for this year's show will not be low.'

Co-organised by the TDC, the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries, the fair has established a reputation as the largest of its type in Asia since its inauguration 23 years ago.

Aiming to promote original designs, the show's Brand Name Gallery has grouped together 53 exhibitors representing 64 brands from 12 countries this year. Thirty-five are from Hong Kong and the rest from elsewhere in Asia and Europe.

Watch parades in different themes will be staged from today until Saturday to showcase all Brand Name Gallery watches.

The Business Matching Meeting, introduced in 2002 to help fashion brands launch into the watch design business, this year will matchmake three Hong Kong fashion labels - Lu Lu Cheung, Jackie Chan, Spy Henry Lau - and one Russian label - Enton - with watch manufacturers.

Representatives of these fashion brands will meet groups of exhibitors in designated time slots today and tomorrow to introduce their brands and explain their business needs in extending their brands into watches.

'It's like a blind date. TDC acts as the matchmaker. Whether the exhibitors will eventually 'get married' is up to them,' Ms Chick said.

The burgeoning China market, which is drawing the attention of global watch and clock traders, will be the focus of the Asia Watch Industry Conference tomorrow. Several topics will be packed into the half-day event.

Topics on China include the ranking criteria and marketing strategies of branded watches there, opportunities arising from the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement for the Hong Kong watch industry, and future challenges and opportunities of the watch market in the mainland. Other topics are recent developments in the Indian watch market, and intellectual property protection and management.