Two diverse trade fairs tapping Asia's booming markets - the HKTDC Hong Kong International Building and Decoration Materials & Hardware Fair, and Sports Source Asia - opened from October 27-29 at AsiaWorld-Expo. The sixth edition of the building fair featured 150 exhibitors from eight countries and regions: Austria, the Chinese mainland, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. Also included were two new group pavilions from Jiangmen and Xiamen.
Kitchen and Bath
New this year, the World of Kitchen & Bath, showcased bathroom fixtures, cabinets, ceramics and sanitary ware, as well as counter tops, green design, hardware, technology, wall and flooring materials and more. Other key product zones include Building & Decorative Hardware, Building Technology, Ceiling & Curtain Walls, Ceramics, Stone & Marble, Coating & Chemicals, Doors & Windows, Furniture, Green Building, Indoor Decorative Materials, and Testing, Inspection & Certification. A host of special events included seminars on "Green Building Standards & Certification" and "Design Trends on Kitchen & Bath Hardware," as well as a conference spotlighting the "Latest Building Design Trends and the Application of Green Building Materials."
Sporting Success
Organised with MMI Asia Pte Ltd (MMI), the fifth edition of Sports Source Asia had 180 exhibitors from eight countries and regions, along with group pavilions from India, Korea, Pakistan and Taiwan. Exhibitors showcase their products in several popular sourcing sectors: the Premium Zone, Fitness Zone, Sportswear & Shoes, Sports Equipment & Accessories, and Fabrics & Materials. In addition, the Outdoor Sports Zone showcased the most updated outdoor sporting goods and accessories.
Profitable Industries
Both industries are growing solidly, with Hong Kong's building materials exports (including hardware) reaching US$10.3 billion from January to August 2011, up 12 per cent over the same period last year. Sporting good exports, meanwhile, jumped five per cent, year-on-year, to US$3.6 billion, in the first eight months of 2011.
Concurrent Fairs
Eco Expo Asia took place from 26-29 October, at AsiaWorld-Expo, while the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) was held from 27-30 October, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The HKTDC Hong Kong International Building and Decoration Materials & Hardware Fair attracted international buyers, keen to see what the Chinese mainland market can offer.
Three seminars were held concurrently with the fair and well attended by members of the building industry
The seminar on October 27 was "Green Building Standards & Certifications" with Dr Thomas Tang of AECOM and Dr Eric T P Sze of Hong Kong Accreditation Service as speakers. The second topic was "Design Trends on Kitchen & Bath Hardware" by Daniele Prosdocimo of Valcucine and Sidney Cheung of KOHLER.
The second day seminar focused on "Latest Building Design Trends and the Application of Green Building Materials." The speakers were: Vision for LIFESTYLE environments by James Acuna of LWK & Partners; A unique approach for managing green buildings by Allen Liang of Jones Lang LaSalle and New green building materials – the architectural potentials presented by Christopher Law, Chairman of Environment & Sustainable Development Committee, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects.
