Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC Sophia Chong Suk-fan (right) and Chairman of the Organizing Committee Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung meet the media after a preview tour of the seven creative lifestyle and licensing events held by the HKTDC on April 19. (LI XIAOYUN / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) rolled out seven creative lifestyle and licensing events on April 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, attracting more than 4,100 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions.

Sophia Chong Suk-fan, deputy executive director of HKTDC, and Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, chairman of the Organizing Committee, attended the fairs to experience the cutting-edge products on display and to conduct in-depth exchanges with exhibitors from around the world. As Hong Kong is now on a steady path of economic recovery, Lam said, the series of exhibitions is conducive to increasing tax revenue and improving the government’s deficit.

The event brings seven exhibitions under one roof for the first time since the resumption of normal international business travel and commercial activities following the COVID-19 pandemic. Fairs featuring products and designs from the fashion, packaging and furnishing industries will run from April 19 to 22, while the Hong Kong International Licensing Show exhibition and the Asian Licensing Conference will run from April 19 to 21.

Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC Sophia Chong Suk-fan (right) and Chairman of the Organizing Committee Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung at the Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair which opened on April 19. (LI XIAOYUN / CHINA DAILY)

“As one of the world’s most recognized cities for meetings, exhibitions, incentive and business travel, Hong Kong attracts high-quality exhibitors and buyers from around the globe. We believe this year’s events will create greater synergies and will open up more business opportunities across industries and disciplines,” Chong said during a media tour on April 19.

A major breakthrough at this year’s exhibitions is that around 70 percent of the exhibitors are non-local, and include provincial and municipal delegations from the Chinese mainland, Chong added.

A porcelain exhibitor from Italy said he was pleased to return to Hong Kong, as most of his buyers are from the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia. He also said that Hong Kong is a place where cultures meet and is a good platform for exhibitors to introduce their designs and ideas.

One of the highlights of the event is the introduction of an online and offline hybrid model, EXHIBITION+, extending business negotiations until April 29 through Click2Match, a smart business matching platform.

Cultural and Creative Corner is making its debut at the Gifts Fair and Home InStyle, and has been catching buyers’ eyes with products with cultural characteristics and novel designs. The event also serves as a platform for cultural exchanges, with a Chinese mainland pavilion making its debut, showcasing traditional handicrafts such as paper-cut lamps and bamboo carvings.