Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TCD), the Asia’s largest electronics show attracted close to 2,500 exhibitors (over 3,600 booths) from 29 countries and regions, a marginal increase of 0.2% from last year.  Participating countries and regions were Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Chinese mainland, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK and US.  Austria participated in the event for the first time. 

Adding to the international flavor of the show were group pavilions from the Chinese mainland, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.  Buyers were able to source for the latest electronics products and technology from various parts of the world.

The presence of international visitors was strong.  The show saw an excellent turnout of 58,391 trade attendees from more than 150 countries and regions, about 1% increase over the previous year.  Top 10 visiting countries outside Hong Kong included mainland China, Taiwan, USA, Korea, Japan, Germany, UK, Australia, India and France.

MEGA SHOW, MEGA SUCCESS

Buyers were enthralled by the breath and scope of the products presented at the show.  Taking center stage was the prestigious Hall of Fame, home to the best brands in the industry.  Now in its fifth year, the Hall of Fame showcased over 190 world-class exhibitors in exclusive setting.  This year, more than 180 leading brands including Haier, Midea, TCL, Hisense, OTO, Olevia, Vivitar, Microdia, SVA, Hyundai and Valera were featured.  “This event is widely celebrated for the creativity of its exhibits the extraordinary success of the Hall of Fame makes this clear,” said Dr. Roy Chung, Chairman, HKTDC Electronics/Electrical Appliances Industry Advisory Committee.

Two specialized zones, Digital World and Home Tech, made their return in Expo Drive Hall following their successful debut last year.  Digital World hosted an international mix of 166 exhibitors and all manner of digital products, from entertainment, imaging and communications, to multimedia, computer products and high-tech gadgets.  At Home Tech, 152 exhibitors were showcasing a wide range of intelligent home appliances, home security products and healthcare electronics.

Some of Hong Kong’s finest minds were showcasing tomorrow’s ideas and products at the Technology Exchange Zone, where universities and incubates show breakthrough research projects and exciting prototypes.  Among the institutes from HK Science & Technology Parks participating in 2007 were University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the newly joined Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Tsing Yi).

Another fair highlight was a seminar spotlighting the latest rules and regulations in the European Union and the Chinese mainland.

Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) continues to draw a large number of buying missions from leading companies from around the world.  One important reason for the fair’s success is the buyer recruitment program of the TDC, the fair organizer.  Aimed at companies with strong buying power, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) has attracted 92 missions, representing 3,702 companies or 6,446 buyers from 62 countries and regions.

EXCITING TIMES AHEAD

The expansion project of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has already commenced.  The Hong Kong Electronics Fair will be able to grow even larger into the world’s number one electronics fair when the expansion completes in 2009.  “As the HKCEC expands so, too, will the fair grow.  By 2009, when the HKCEC expansion comes on stream, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair is on target to become the biggest show of its kind in the world,” said new TDC Chairman Jack So at the opening ceremony.  The exhibition space will increase by 40 percent, to 66,000 square meters, when the project is complete.

Running alongside the fair was electronicAsia, which featured 556 exhibitors (700 booths) from 17 countries and regions.  Jointly organized by MMI-Munich International Trade Fairs Pte Ltd and the TDC, electronicAsia has developed into the region’s important sourcing hub for

components, assemblies, electronics production and display technologies.  Mr. Klaus Dittrich, Managing Director, Munich International Trade Fairs Group, said, “By bringing together all the sector’s big-name companies, electronicAsia provides a diverse offering of state-of-the-art electronics components and is the perfect opportunity to meet new suppliers and second-source partners.”

This year the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) yet again provided exhibitors with the stage and buyers with the show for unequalled business opportunity.  The impressive performance over the past 27 years has helped the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) reaffirm its status as Asia’s leading event of its kind.  And in two years’s time, the completion of the expansion project of the HKCEC will make the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) the biggest show in the world.

Jeanny Lim is Editor-in-Chief of SecurityWorld INT’L.  Send your comments to swied@infothe.com.