'Mega' trade events to lure first-time visitors to HK

Seven 'mega' trade fairs set to kick off in Hong Kong next week will bring in thousands of exhibitors from around the world, including first-time participants from the Middle East and Central Asia. An executive councillor says that the organiser, Trade Development Council (TDC), has had to put some exhibitors on the waiting list, although some buyers are unable to attend this year because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Still, Jeffrey Lam expected buying volume to go up for the fairs, which cover a range of products from houseware, printing and packaging and fashion. "The number of buyers may not decrease, but the...actual attendance here may decrease, because some are using middlemen to buy in Hong Kong," he told RTHK. "I'm confident that there are needs in the Middle East as well. There are needs for good merchandise everywhere." Lam also urged authorities to work closely with airlines to boost services to emerging regions, and facilitate Hong Kong's role as a "Super Connector". "There aren't too many direct flights to mid-Asia, Africa; South America may be a bit too long," he said. Lam's sentiment was echoed by TDC Deputy Executive Director Jenny Koo, who acknowledged headwinds brought by the Middle East conflict but felt the city's outlook as a trade hub remained bright. "There must be impact. But our fair is running on a hybrid mode," she said. "We also allow our exhibitors and buyers to connect with each other online if they have difficulty in travelling to Hong Kong." The events kick off at the Convention and Exhibition Centre next Monday and run for four days. Edited by Raymond Yeung