HONG KONG, Dec 4, 2019 - (ACN Newswire) - Organised by the Hong
Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the third edition of the
HKTDC SmartBiz Expo, the third Asian E-tailing Summit and fifth
HKTDC Hong Kong International Franchising Show opened today and run
concurrently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
(HKCEC). The three events have attracted more than 570 exhibitors
from Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas along with over 150
notable speakers. Focusing on creative technologies, e-business
solutions and franchising opportunities, the events bring together
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them to
strengthen business prospects and build useful connections amid a
challenging business environment.
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In her remarks at the joint
opening ceremony for the HKTDC SmartBiz Expo and Asian E-tailing
Summit, HKTDC Executive Director Margaret Fong said that both
events are very much focused on the changes brought about by
innovations and new technologies, and on how businesses can keep up
to speed with the latest developments. |
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The SmartBiz Expo has
attracted more than 400 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions,
supporting SMEs to enhance productivity through innovative
technologies. The event runs until this Friday (6
December). |
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The one-and-a-half-day Asian
E-tailing Summit at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
(HKCEC) begins today, serving as a one-stop platform for
participants to explore the latest strategies and prospects in the
e-tailing industry across Asia. |
A ceremony to mark the joint inauguration of the SmartBiz Expo and
Asian E-tailing Summit was held this morning, with Paul Chan,
Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR), as the officiating guest.
In her opening remarks at the event, HKTDC Executive Director
Margaret Fong said: "The world around us is changing at a rapid
pace - and much of that change is being driven by the introduction
of new and ever-evolving technological solutions. Both the SmartBiz
Expo and Asian E-tailing Summit are very much focused on the
changes brought about by innovations and new technologies, and on
how businesses can keep up to speed with the latest developments.
The SmartBiz Expo will address the challenges in today's
ultra-competitive and fast-changing business environment while more
than 1,200 delegates have gathered at the Asian E-tailing Summit to
gain insights on the fast-growing e-tailing industry."
SmartBiz Expo: boosting productivity through innovative
solutions
The SmartBiz Expo runs from 4 to 6 December under the theme "Smart
Tech Makes Great Business", with free admission for trade visitors.
It provides SMEs with wide-ranging support, from technological
innovations and operational optimisation to productivity
enhancement. The expo is attended by over 400 exhibitors from more
than 30 countries and regions. It also features a series of
seminars at which international experts will explore three key
business areas - Smart City, Smart Living and Smart Commerce.
Smart City focuses on the ability of innovative technologies to
improve lives, highlighting business opportunities in areas such as
mobile communications, the Internet of Things (IoT), automated
solutions and environmentally friendly technologies. Exhibitors are
showcasing a wide range of smart products, applications and
solutions, while industry leaders are invited to analyse how
technology can improve quality of life and share insights on smart
city topics, including innovative property and office management,
smart offices and home reimagination. Representatives from the
Smart Government Innovation Laboratory are sharing their
innovations for improving the quality and efficiency of public
services.
Smart Living focuses on up-and-coming hot topics such as esports,
health technology, virtual reality and augmented reality. In
addition to exhibiting a wide range of personal and commercially
relevant high-tech products, including concealed eco-friendly smart
locks and smart luggage with worldwide GPS tracking, the conference
also hosts a series of seminars over the three-day expo. Star
speakers from the financial insurance, telecommunications,
logistics and supply chains, medical care, and esports industries
are providing in-depth insights into how SMEs can explore new
business opportunities through the latest technologies.
Smart Commerce covers topics such as e-commerce, fintech and supply
chain management, helping SMEs to transform digitally and seize
multiple global opportunities. International experts are sharing
the disruptions and opportunities presented by innovative
technologies across all stages of the business chain, from research
and development to production, marketing and management, discussing
how new technologies such as virtual technology, artificial
intelligence and big data can resolve various pain points of
traditional businesses. A series of business management seminars
will further explore how innovation can improve operational
efficiency.
With increased integration and cooperation resulting from the
development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Hong
Kong is poised to further strengthen its position as a key trading
hub. To support enterprises in leveraging on this advantage, the
expo featured the establishment of the Greater Bay Area Portal
Launch today, a joint collaboration with the Department of Commerce
of Guangdong Province and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion
Institute. A seminar on "Innovation and Collaboration in the
Greater Bay Area" was held to introduce the latest economic
information and ongoing trade and investment updates, together with
the 9th World SME Summit to further promote cross-border
development.
Asian E-tailing Summit: exploring new e-commerce opportunities
The Asian E-tailing Summit runs today and tomorrow (4-5 December)
with a focus on e-commerce prospects and trends in the region. It
serves as a one-stop platform for industry participants to create
new business opportunities in Hong Kong, Mainland China and across
Asia, with contributions from more than 60 renowned guests and
speakers.
Two plenary sessions were held this morning. As online shopping
continues to mature, the first session explored how IoT can assist
e-tailers to process data more efficiently and create unique
customer experiences. Speakers included Mike Shapaker, Chief
Marketing Officer, ChannelAdvisor; Khalid Al Thawadi, CEO, Digital
Wave; Joseph Lee, Executive Vice President of Sales - APAC, Mirakl
Inc; TJ Wu, Director of Centre of Excellence, SAP Customer
Experience, Greater China; and Matt Warren, Founder and CEO,
Veeqo.
The second session assessed how a thriving common online market
will be shaped by Southeast Asia's increasingly affluent middle
class with the pioneering Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) e-commerce agreement now in place. Joining the discussion
were Terry Iu, Head of Digital Natives, Facebook; Cheong Chia Chou,
Chief Executive Officer, PrestoMall; Desey Muharlina Bungsu, Vice
President, Fashion, PT Global Digital Niaga (Blibli.com); Michio
Takahashi, Vice General Manager, Cross Border Trading Business
Department, Rakuten, Inc; and Arun Verma, Country Manager -
Singapore, HK and China, Shopify.
Industry breakout discussions on the second day of the summit will
focus on two key industries: fashion and toys. Fashion's share of
e-commerce sales is set to grow from 20% currently to 25% of all
transactions by next year. Riding on this trend, fashion brands
need to have a solid online marketing strategy. Prominent online
retailers LIFESTYLE ACCENT INC, Love, Bonito, Close to Clothes and
OnTheList will share successful tips for online fashion retailing
models. The popularity of e-tailing has also increased the range of
toys and games available to consumers. In the second session,
well-established brands such as CarrieSoft, Catch Group, Gracepak
Ventures, Toys World and Shopee will discuss why consumers want the
best of both the online and offline worlds when buying toys.
Following the success of the first edition of ASEAN Roundtable in
2018, the event returned this year with the addition of the Greater
Bay Area Roundtable, bringing together e-commerce associations and
industry representatives from Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Singapore, the
Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar to discuss the
development prospects for e-commerce in the two regions. The second
Asia's Best E-tailing Awards, with the HKTDC as a strategic
partner, also concluded today.
International Franchising Show: identifying business partners to
develop new markets
Held concurrently with the SmartBiz Expo, the Hong Kong
International Franchising Show has attracted more than 100
exhibitors from 14 countries and regions. Two major zones, the
F&B Zone and Lifestyle Zone, provide a platform for enterprises
to connect with new business partners and explore potential market
opportunities. Participating brands include TechBob Academy, Kung
Fu Tea, Pineapple Canteen, Mr Arita, Water Laundry, Food Channels,
KeePer Pro SHOP, the Hong Kong Startup Consultancy and more. In
addition, industry experts will lead various seminars to share
their experiences and insights into successful franchising.
Concurrent events help SMEs improve their competitive edge
The HKTDC is hosting five industry-leading events at the HKCEC this
week, including the Asian E-tailing Summit (4-5 December), SmartBiz
Expo (4-6 December), Hong Kong International Franchising Show (4-6
December), Business of IP Asia Forum (5-6 December) and
DesignInspire (5-7 December). The events focus on new technologies
across research and development, design, production, sales, and
business expansion, supporting SMEs to explore opportunities and
embrace the challenges presented by innovation and change.
SmartBiz Expo & Hong Kong International Franchising Show
(HKIFS)
4-5 December - 9:30am-6pm; 6 December - 10am-6pm
Venues: Hall 1B-E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
(HKCEC)
Admission: SmartBiz Expo - free admission for trade visitors
HKIFS will be open to the public on 6 December (aged 12 and above
only)
Asian E-tailing Summit
4 December - 9am-6pm; 5 December - 10:30am-1pm
Venues: Hall 1A, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
(HKCEC)
Websites
SmartBiz Expo: http://www.hktdc.com/fair/smartbizexpo-en/
Asian E-tailing Summit:
http://www.hktdc.com/ncs/aes2019/en/main/index.html
Hong Kong International Franchising Show:
http://www.hktdc.com/fair/hkifs-en/
Photo download: https://bit.ly/2qkDc5p
About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body
established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's
trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China,
the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and
business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions,
conferences and business missions to create business opportunities
for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also
provides up-to-date market insights and product information via
trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For
more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on
Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.
Source: HKTDC
Contact:
HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4116, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Ruder Finn Asia:
Ivy Chan, Tel: +852 2201 6475 / 6686 9106, Email: Chani@RuderFinnAsia.com
Winky Chow, Tel: +852 2201 6474 / 9485 5148, Email: Choww@RuderFinnAsia.com
Charlene Wan, Tel: +852 2201 6438 / 6189 9495, Email: Wanc@RuderFinnAsia.com
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