Second edition of trade keeps pace with building and construction industry growth

The Hong Kong International Building Materials & Construction Equipment Fair 2007 successfully concluded its second edition at AsiaWorld-Expo on 30 October. The fair was jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and CIEC Exhibition Company (HK) Limited.

After the success of the inaugural event in 2006, expectations were high for the 2007 fair. These were amply fulfilled by a visitor attendance of over 7,700 from 113 countries & regions. This was an increase of 34% over 2006, indicating that the word is quickly spreading throughout the industry that this is a fair of great value and enormous potential.

Exhibitor numbers, too, increased from the first edition, when 230 exhibitors took part. In 2007, 242 exhibitors came from six countries & regions: Hong Kong, Belgium, the Chinese mainland, Italy, Indonesia and Taiwan. Among the Hong Kong companies taking part were Comtec Technology Asia Ltd, Citygrow Technology Company Limited, Goldergate Fibreglass Company Ltd, Kaba Ltd, Hilti (Hong Kong) Limited and Hongkong Kin Long Construction Hardware (Group) Co Ltd.

The Chinese mainland building and construction industry looks to this fair to reach out to international markets. Among the important mainland companies exhibiting were Hangzhou Beach Sanitary Equipment Co., Ltd, Guangzhou Goodsense Decorative Building Materials Co., Ltd, Xishi Group Development Co., Ltd, Qingdao Blue Ocean New High Technology Co., Ltd and Cosco (J.M) Aluminium Developments Co., Ltd.

Exhibitors showed a range of products including indoor decorative materials, building materials, building technology, construction equipment, building engineering and services.

For 2007, the trade fair was given an extra dimension of value by the inclusion of a new Building Ceramics and Sanitary Ware Zone, with 37 exhibitors from the Chinese mainland. Within the zone were exhibitors of sanitary ware, shower rooms, shower equipment, sauna rooms, shower heads, basins & accessories, bath tubs and accessories, toilet bowls & accessories and bathroom hardware. Building ceramics included polished tiles, anti-slip tiles, mosaic tiles, anti-abrasion tiles, wall tiles and glazed tiles.

Exhibitors commented favourably on the second edition. Yudhian Fantoni, of Pt Swabina Karya Indonesia, Indonesia, said, "This is our first attendance at the Hong Kong International Building Materials & Construction Equipment Fair. By the second day of the fair, we had already had a very favourable response from buyers. This is a good opportunity for us to introduce our products to a wider market."

Alex Cheung, Marketing Manager, of Kaba Limited, Hong Kong, commented, "Our participation enables us to meet with industry key players such as architects, property developers, engineers, surveyors and interior designers who are our target clients. We are pleased to have serious inquiries from buyers from the Chinese mainland, the Middle East, Europe and North America who have shown great interest in our security products."

The organisers promoted the fair on an international basis and also organised buying missions composed of representatives of prominent companies and trade organisations from markets of potential. There were 45 buying missions from 28 countries & regions. Among the major sourcing houses and developers on the buying missions were Wilson Homes, Home Depot, Global Power Enterprise Ltd. and Garrad Group.

Among the buyers who were impressed by the fair and its organisation was Minoru Fujii, President & Chairman, SK Kaken Co Ltd, Japan. "I am glad to meet with many key industry players from different parts of the world with whom I can establish contacts for future business opportunities. I am also very impressed that this fair is very well-organised."

The range and variety of products were important to all buyers. Mohammad Azzam, Procurement Manager, Drake and Scull International, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, remarked, "I am interested in seeing more new ideas and new designs. We look for quality products and this fair gives me the confidence of assured quality."

The opportunities for trading were many but there was also time for deepening knowledge of the industry through educational events. Mr. Kenneth Ko, Chairman, Kenneth Ko Designs Ltd., presented a seminar on "A Fusion of Lifestyle and Commercial Popularity". Dr. Ronald Lu, President, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, spoke on "Sustainable Development: From Architectural Design to Architectural Products".

The fair takes place in the context of enormous growth in the region with development in the Asia Pacific region spurred on by economic prosperity, a rising middle class, the growth of tourism and important Chinese mainland construction projects related to big international events such as the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and the Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010.

For the Hong Kong industry, this has meant a boost to the exports of Hong Kong's building products, which reached US$9.5 billion (HK$74.4 billion) in the first nine months of 2007, an increase of 7.7% over the same period in 2006. The Chinese mainland is Hong Kong's biggest export market for building materials & related products, recording double digit growth of 19.5% in the January to September 2007 period. Hong Kong's other top markets are the US, Japan, Germany and Macau SAR.

For enquiries, please call (852) 1830668

Email: exhibitions@tdc.org.hk

For more information, please visit http://www.hkbuildingmaterialsfair.com

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For trade press enquiries, please contact Ms Judy Ko, Exhibitions, HKTDC, Tel: (852) 22404071 or Fax: (852) 28240026 or email: judy.ko@tdc.org.hk

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