The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is running Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO) from 16 to 27 November,
featuring the latest products from different industries including electronics, houseware, lighting, outdoor lighting,
eco tech, gifts and premiums, toys, baby products, stationery, optical and watches and clocks. The virtual fair serves
as a one-stop online sourcing platform to keep small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) connected with global buyers
and help create business opportunities across various sectors.Autumn Sourcing Week | ONLINE (ASWO), which will open tomorrow (16 November), has attracted 2,600 exhibitors from 33
countries and regions, featuring 37 group pavilions and covering the latest products from 11 industries.
Benjamin Chau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed sourcing patterns and driven more
companies to go digital and promote their businesses through online channels, increasing the demand for online marketing
services. "The pandemic will eventually come to an end, but for now Hong Kong companies are taking a positive approach
to the new normal by making more use of online promotion platforms to capture online-to-offline (O2O) business
opportunities. The HKTDC has reacted to these changes swiftly, developing online exhibitions that can help SMEs attract
new buyers and gain new orders during this difficult time."
Under the theme "A New Connected World Beyond the New Normal", ASWO has attracted 2,600 exhibitors from 33 countries and
regions, featuring 37 group pavilions, including the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Korea Trade-Investment
Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA), Zhejiang, Chongqing and
Jiangsu provinces from Mainland China, Cyberport and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.New 3D virtual booth
A new 3D virtual booth has been introduced at ASWO to enable exhibitors to showcase their products and promote their
brands in a more attractive and effective way. The Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(HKSAR) is featuring an interactive "Hong Kong GO Green" virtual tour, showcasing the latest waste-reduction facilities
and applied technologies in three areas: "Community Recycling Network", "Recycling Facilities" and "Green High-Tech".
Cyberport is featuring 14 start-up companies at its virtual booth, highlighting innovative technologies in the areas of
consumer electronics, electronic health products, robotics and wearable devices. Eastcolight, a Hong Kong toy company,
is presenting its virtual booth as a theme park featuring electronic toys, DIY toys, STREAM (science, technology,
robotics, engineering, arts and maths) toys and more. In addition, exhibitors from the houseware, gifts and premiums,
baby products and optical sectors are presenting their latest products through their specially designed 3D booths.Intelligence Hub
More than 20 webinar sessions will be staged over the exhibition period with some 100 industry leaders sharing the
latest market trends, providing buyers and exhibitors with the latest information to help their future planning.
Highlights of the webinars include:"Symposium on Innovation & Technology - A New Connected World Beyond the New Normal" on 16 November. Among the speakers, Ricky Wong, Vice Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Television Network Limited, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Chair of Infectious
Diseases, Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Ray Liu from the University of Maryland,
Dr Adam Drobot from OpenTech Works, who is also a member of the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Technological
Advisory Council, together with representatives from Google, Amazon and KPMG will discuss how pivotal technologies
including artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and cloud technology will help combat the pandemic and create a better
post-pandemic world."Beyond Connection: Lighting as a Strategy" on 17 November invites Nicolas Rimbeau from British smart street lighting
and smart city application developer Telensa to talk about the importance of smart street lighting in future city
planning."Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference - Toys for the Future" on 18 November invites Kenny Sham from LEGO Group to share
consumer analysis and marketing strategies for the toy industry in the Greater China region."Hong Kong International Watch Forum" on 18 November will see industry representatives from Germany, France, Japan,
Korea and Mainland China share valuable insights into the watch industry's trading performance and manufacturing trends.The "Eco Asia Conference", powered by the Environment Bureau of the HKSAR, will take place on 19, 20 and 23 November,
featuring five thematic sessions. Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment, and representatives from the Department
of Ecology and Environment of Guangdong Province and Macao's Environmental Protection Bureau (DPSA) will give updates on
environmental work in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on 19 November. In addition, a representative from
the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China will share the latest green policies in
Mainland China.Anti-epidemic products draw attention
Various anti-epidemic products are available at the virtual exhibition, including some from local companies that are
looking for the opportunity to explore international markets. One Hong Kong start-up has developed a 5G AI-driven robot
that can measure body temperatures and is already used by several companies in Hong Kong. Other health-related products
being exhibited include a disinfectant spray, cotton mask for repeated use, a germicidal lamp and many more.
A wide range of new educational toys, houseware and lifestyle products are also being showcased at the virtual
exhibition. For example, well-known optical brands such as Laura Ashley, Big Horn and OSSII SOUND are showcasing new
designs, along with an Italian exhibitor featuring glasses with Venice-inspired designs. In the watches and clocks
section, special-edition watches will be introduced in the Korea and Taiwan pavilions. Elsewhere, buyers can find STREAM
toys for children learning at home along with a variety of baby strollers and baby gear from Europe.Click2Match AI-driven business matching platform
Buyers and exhibitors can make deals through the HKTDC's business matching platform, Click2Match, which uses AI
technologies to conduct automatic matching between potential business partners. The platform also helps participants to
schedule meetings, get together for video conferences, chat in real time and exchange e-business cards. In addition, the
HKTDC has mobilised its network of 50 offices worldwide to invite quality international buyers, arranging online
business matching meetings according to their sourcing needs to increase the chance of business collaboration.
Exhibitors are eligible for a three-month promotion on the upgraded hktdc.com Sourcing platform to help maintain business relationships with global buyers. The platform has brought together more
than 130,000 suppliers and 2 million buyers, facilitating 24 million business connections a year. It applies AI, machine
learning and image recognition technologies to provide a more effective and more personalised smart sourcing experience.