HONG KONG, Jan 6, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - The first round of Hong Kong Trade Development Council's trade fairs for 2020
kicked off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, organised by the HKTDC, and the Hong Kong International Stationery
Fair, organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, run concurrently until 9 January. The fairs feature about
2,950 global exhibitors and showcase a broad selection of smart toys, quality baby products and creative stationery.
Margaret Fong, HKTDC Executive Director, said: "Under the influence of the Sino-US trade friction, the global economy
continues to experience a slowdown. However, there has been some good news in recent days, with a phase one trade deal
set to be signed between the United States and Mainland China and overseas markets experiencing a satisfactory retail
performance over the festive season. We may see a boost for the short-term exports of Hong Kong products such as toys,
while the three fairs highlight the fact that manufacturers are developing smart products and strengthening
environmental elements in their products to match market needs. We believe this will help attract more attention from
buyers."
Ms Fong said the HKTDC continues to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face up to the current challenges.
Extra resources have been allocated to the three fairs to attract new buyers, with more than 200 buying missions
bringing 12,000 international buyers to source in Hong Kong, including Toys"R"Us (Hong Kong), Target Australia
(Australia) and Kid's Brasil (Brazil).
Smart products in focus at Asia's largest toys fair
The 46th edition of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair features more than 2,100 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, making it the largest event of its kind
in Asia, and the second-largest in the world. Six group pavilions, including the mainland, Korea, Spain, Taiwan and the
United Kingdom - as well as the "World of Toys" pavilion featuring mainly European exhibitors - showcase the latest toys
and games from around the world.
Thematic zones facilitate buyers' sourcing. The highlight Brand Name Gallery features more than 240 renowned brands,
including 4M, B. Duck, Eastcolight, Hape, Intex, Kinsmart, Masterkidz, Rastar, Tiny and Welly. Viking Toys, an exhibitor
from Sweden, showcases a toy car made from sugar cane, aligning with growing market demand for environmentally friendly
concepts. Buyers sourcing smart products can visit the Smart-Tech Toys zone featuring toys and games that incorporate
innovative technologies, including the first remote-control building-block Hong Kong Tram from Playable Creation
Limited. As educational toys continue to gain in popularity, the fair includes a STREAM Toys Product Display
highlighting toys related to science, technology, robotics, engineering, arts and mathematics. The Kidult World
highlighted zone showcases toys for grown-ups such as magic items, hobby goods and war-game items, as well as models and
figurines.
Toys Industry Conference: retail leaders examine global sales focus
The Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2020 will be held tomorrow (7 January) under the theme "Get Powered Up -
Opportunities in the Toys Industry". A representative from leading toy retailer Hamleys will share the industry's global
sales focus in 2021. A representative from a veteran US toy maker will discuss opportunities in production relocation,
while an industry expert from Toy Industries of Europe will talk about product and industry trends in the continent.
Other seminars include "Toys Compliance, Testing & Certification", "Toy Safety & Regulations Updates" and "Sneak Peek: Baby Products Trends 20/21".
Baby Products and Stationery Fairs highlight green trend
The 11th Hong Kong Baby Products Fair has attracted over 610 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions, including those
featured at group pavilions from Korea and the Hong Kong Children, Babies, Maternity Industries Association. The Brand
Name Gallery presents quality environmental baby products from about 40 well-known quality brands, including a
sustainable lightweight stroller from Dutch exhibitor Greentom Operations BV and Italian-made 100% natural baby food
from Plasmon Baby Food. Exhibitors at the Baby Tech zone display products in the "Health and Safety" category, while
Natural Made, a Hong Kong exhibitor in the Feeding, Nursery and Healthcare Products zone, showcases an environmental
baby cup made from corn-based polylactic acid (PLA) - a biodegradable plastic that is 100% safe for babies.
The 20th Hong Kong International Stationery Fair welcomes about 220 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions. In line
with rising environmental awareness within the industry, a seminar titled "From Green Business to Win Business" will
feature Steven Choi, Head of Certification (Hong Kong Green Label Scheme) of the Green Council, who will share tips on
ecolabels as an effective marketing tool, while Jason Lau, Consultant, Corporate Sustainability of the Hong Kong
Productivity Council, will discuss sustainable approaches through green procurement.
The three fairs are held concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong International Licensing Show (6-8 January) to provide a
one-stop sourcing platform for buyers, creating more cross-sector business opportunities. The fairs also continue to
feature the hktdc.com Small Orders zone with its online transaction platform (http://smallorders.hktdc.com), and an on-site business-matching service to facilitate business partnerships and sourcing.