Plenty of room for small exhibits

Officials in Hong Kong are especially proud of the perfect transport connections to AsiaWorld-Expo, which will soon be housing lots of watch, jewellery and fashion fairs.

The big capital goods shows, however, have yet to put in an appearance. There was once talk of leaving the metropoliss consumer goods shows in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre - the idea being that fairs with big, bulky exhibits could spread their wings at the new site by the airport. Ultimately, the walkable distances and uncomplicated logistics convinced even most of the critics of the extra capacities. Before year's end the new, state-of-the-art AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) exhibition venue will open for business. "We are the only exhibition centre connected directly to an airport and with an on-site railway station. By Airport Express, it takes just one minute to get to our halls from the airport," Nicolas Borit, the facility's general manager, proudly reports. The new AWE company and its partners are said to have sunk a total of 40 million into the project, while the government has contributed 219.5 million plus the land. The private investors include Dragages Hong Kong Ltd, an affiliate of France’s Bouygues group, and Yu Ming Investments Ltd. The first stage of construction - an extension is already on the horizon - provides the fairs already announced with ten clear-span halls featuring exhibition space of 77,000 m2 in all. In the new complex exhibitors will find modern IT and telecommunications services. Seating 13,500, the AsiaWorld-Arena is now also ready; and, in addition to the excellent bus connection, as from 2007 a ferry terminal is scheduled to go into operation on the fairground. Bulky exhibits, if they do not arrive in large cargo planes, will then be able to dock conveniently - once, that is, the much sought-after capital goods shows that have so far failed to materialise for Hong Kong fill the halls.AsiaWorld-Expo's baptism of fire comes from January 10 to 13, 2006 in the shape of the Hong Kong Spring Fair organised by Kenfair International (Holdings) Ltd., Hong Kong. A second consumer fair is already slated for January, the International Jewellery and Watch Show from organisers World Trade Fair, Hong Kong. Another watch and accessories fair by Global Trade Promotions Ltd. will take place from March 7 to 10 and Prime Source - International Apparel Sourcing Trade Show organised by APLF Ltd. occupying the newly created areas from March 29 to 31. Then it will be the turn of Mobile Leisure - Hong Kong International Auto, Boat and Leisure Show organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council from April 8 to 11, running concurrently with the International Auto Parts Fair. Global Sources is organising China Sourcing Fairs (April 15 to 18) in the new complex for electronics and components as well as for fashion accessories. The sourcing show for Gifts and Home Products takes place at a later date (April 22 to 25) together with Koelnmesse’s Practical World Hong Kong - International Hardware Fair for the hardware and DIY industry. October looks very similar for exhibitions in the new venue.

m+a report Nr.8 / 2005 vom 08.12.2005
m+a report vom 8. Dezember 2005