Magazines Archives - 2009 August

HK’s Summer Sourcing Show draws new as well as quality buyers
Story 2 - Review

“The Russians are coming ... and so are buyers from Eastern Europe, South America, the Middle East and Africa as well as South-east Asia and mainland China,” said Raymond Yip, assistant executive director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the organiser of the Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware & Toys 2009.

Indeed, at every function and product demonstration held during the four-day trade show in July there were groups of Russians and buyers from other emerging markets.

Yip explained that over the years Hong Kong exhibitors have been meeting buyers from the mature markets such as North America, Western Europe, as well as Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. “Exhibitors at HKTDC trade events want to meet new buyers, make new contacts, expand their markets. Moreover, in a tough economic situation, some regular buyers with budget constraints prefer to simply communicate with their suppliers via e-mails.”

Yip added: “In a financial tsunami, it’s even more important to bring buyers to exhibitors. We mounted more than 140 overseas missions to woo buyers to our shows.

“Our buyers programme is working well. From internal reserves, HKTDC has set aside HK$120 million (US$15.5 million) to assist buyers and exhibitors to participate in our trade fairs. Of this amount, HK$80 million is for sponsoring buyers to come to Hong Kong; our focus is now on wooing new and lapsed buyers.

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