Hong Kong plays host to electronics & lighting fairs

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition), Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and the International ICT Expo, will kick off at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in April. The Lighting Fair will take place from 6 to 9 April, while the Electronics Fair and the concurrent International ICT Expo will be staged from 13 to 16 April.

The three fairs will gather a total of nearly 4,800 exhibitors from around the world to showcase a wide range of smart, green products and ICT solutions, as well as unique technology designs and ideas from start-ups.

“Start-ups and innovative technologies have been the driving force behind many industries in recent years,” said Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director, HKTDC. “The Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and ICT Expo, therefore, will launch the new Startup zone and Tech Hall to present innovative technologies and services created by local and overseas start-ups as well as high-tech electronics products, encouraging the industry to invest more in research and development. To cater to market needs, the Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) is also launching the Smart Lighting & Solutions zone to showcase the latest remote control and smart lighting systems and products, providing a quality and comprehensive business platform for the industry.”

230+ Buying missions

The three fairs attracted more than 110,000 buyers in 2016. This year, the HKTDC will organise a total of more than 230 buying missions comprising representatives from over 11,300 companies from around the world to visit the three fairs. The hktdc.com Small Orders zone will continue to serve as a convenient platform for buyers to source in smaller lots at the Lighting and Electronics Fairs, with about 300 showcases featuring close to 3,000 products available in the minimum order quantities of between five and 1,000 pieces.

Inaugural Startup zone to feature hottest tech products

The 14th edition of the Electronics Fair and ICT Expo will be held from 13 to 16 April, with close to 3,500 exhibitors showcasing the latest electronics products and ICT solutions. The number of Hong Kong-based start-ups has boomed in recent years. According to InvestHK’s report last year, there are more than 1,900 start-ups in Hong Kong. Many young entrepreneurs are bringing new ideas and unique products to the market using their creativity and technological expertise. The inaugural Startup zone will be staged at Hall 3FG Concourse, featuring more than 80 start-ups from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, India, Japan, the United States and Taiwan to present innovative products and services to global buyers.

During the fair period, a number of themed events will be arranged to provide a platform for start-ups to present their ideas. These include sharing sessions featuring the crowdfunding platform FringeBacker, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, successful start-ups and Angel Investment, pitching sessions and “Startup, Smart Launch” where start-ups can pitch solutions and project ideas to potential investors on the spot, as well as mentoring sessions where successful entrepreneurs such as Hong Kong Startup Council, start-up accelerators and incubators will help start-ups connect with potential partners. The APEC Startup Ecosystem Roundtable will be held on the last day of the fairs, when start-up accelerators, incubators and experienced entrepreneurs from various regions will discuss ways that start-ups can work together.

New Tech Hall showcases VR products

The Electronics Fair features about 2,900 exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, including first-time exhibitors from Singapore and Spain, making it the largest Spring electronics trading fair in Asia. Amidst increasing demand for innovative technology products, the HKTDC is establishing the Tech Hall at Halls 5FG, featuring four themed zones including the new Virtual Reality zone, along with Connected Home, Robotics & Unmanned Tech and Wearable Electronics to facilitate buyers sourcing for high-tech electronics.

The Virtual Reality zone will feature a range of VR headsets and related technology as well as VR video cameras. The Connected Home zone will present applications of Internet of Things (IoT) for home automation, such as an infrared remote control system for household appliances. Another highlight zone, Robotics & Unmanned Tech will showcase a number of new aerial cameras, electric scooters and industrial and household robots, while Wearable Electronics will feature smart watches and smart wristbands with healthcare and sports monitoring functions.

During the fair period, a series of discussions under the “2017 Tech Trends Symposium” will be organised, inviting industry experts and academics from local and overseas universities to speak about the latest technology trends such as wearable tech, smart home, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) and robotics. Besides, there will be Product Demo & Launch Pads, buyer forums and networking events for exhibitors and buyers to understand industry trends, share market insights and expand their business networks.

Hall of Fame to feature 570+ renowned brands

An annual highlight of the Electronics Fair, the Hall of Fame will feature more than 570 international leading brands, including Intel and Motorola from the US, Bigben from France, Leplus from Japan, Desay from the Chinese mainland as well as local brands such as GP Batteries.

The electronics industry is Hong Kong’s largest merchandise export earner, accounting for 65 per cent of Hong Kong’s total exports in 2016 totaling HK$2.35 trillion, up 2.5 per cent over last year. A substantial portion of such exports are high-tech products, especially those related to telecommunications equipment, semiconductors and computer items.