World SME Expo and Inno Design Tech Expo Open

	Queen Mathilde of Belgium officiated at the opening, today, of the Belgian Pavilion at Inno Design Tech Expo. The fair’s Partner Country this year, Belgium is showcasing product and services excellence under the theme “Belgian Spirit”
	The Hong Kong Creative Force pavilion, at Inspiration Hall, features more than 90 innovative offerings from Hong Kong designers, including furniture products created from reclaimed bicycle parts
	World SME Expo, which opened today and continues through 7 December, has attracted more than 360 exhibitors from Hong Kong and around the world
	More than 30 seminars are taking place during the World SME Expo, spotlighting business opportunities on the mainland and emerging markets, mobile commerce, social-media marketing, entrepreneurship and more

5 December 2013 – More than 730 exhibitors from all over the world are taking part in HKTDC World SME Expo and HKTDC Inno Design Tech Expo (IDT Expo), which opened today and continue through 7 December at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The twin fairs offer buyers and sellers alike the latest services and business solutions, as well as market intelligence, innovative ideas, networking events and myriad business opportunities for SMEs.

Franchising Hall
Under the theme, “Transforming Business for Tomorrow,” some 360 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions are taking part in World SME Expo.

The fair offers visitors three central halls, including the new Franchising Hall, featuring more than 60 brands. Two-thirds of them are from outside Hong Kong, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Solutions Hall’s 101 exhibitors range from services providers to government departments and public organisations, as well as local SME associations. At Opportunities Hall, the China Market zone presents nearly 100 mainland exhibitors. The Hall’s Overseas Market area is showcasing international chambers, as well as trade-promotion organisations and trade commissions, many from emerging markets, including: Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Poland, Romania, Russia and Vietnam.

Seminars and Forums
This year’s expo counts nearly 40 seminars and forums spotlighting a great range of issues and opportunities. They include social-media marketing and mobile commerce, SME upgrading, China sales strategies and franchising prospects. Today’s Franchising Summit looks at overseas and mainland opportunities. Business-matching sessions are also available for those interested in the franchising business. Highlights tomorrow include the Greater China SME Forum and a seminar on e-tailing in Asia.

Belgian Spirit
In its ninth year, Inno Design Tech Expo welcomes Belgium as Partner Country. The Belgian pavilion features product and services excellence under the theme “Belgian Spirit.” Pavilion highlights include “Tales of Heroes,” an exhibition of 45 contemporary and classic Belgian objects.

Global Creativity
There’s more global creativity at the Expo’s Inspiration Hall. Under the theme, “Must-have-from-Poland,” the Polish pavilion presents nearly 40 companies offering a smart range of furniture, toys and books, while Hangzhou hosts the first design pavilion from the Chinese mainland, showcasing bamboo offerings in a mix of traditional and contemporary design. Germany is back, this time with industrial design and brand consultancies from the state of Bavaria.

The Hong Kong Creative Force pavilion features more than 90 innovative offerings from Hong Kong designers, including furniture products created from reclaimed bicycle parts.

The expo’s Trade Hall presents design, branding strategies and the latest technology, from mobile apps to 3D printing. The Korea Institute of Design Promotion returns with a range of household products, while the Spanish Inventors Club, with 11 exhibitors, is at the expo for the first time. The Hong Kong Science & Technology Park and the Hong Kong Invention Association, along with exhibitors from the mainland, Canada and Thailand, are also at Trade Hall, as is the IP Trading and R&D zone and its more than 90 exhibitors.

IP Forum
More IP opportunities are available today and tomorrow at the Business of IP Asia Forum, on at the HKCEC. Over 1,600 intellectual property buyers and sellers, R&D professionals, finance and legal intermediaries and design and technology practitioners from 25 countries and regions are taking part in the two-day forum.

Fair Websites
HKTDC Inno Design Tech Expo: http://www.hktdc.com/innodesigntechexpo
HKTDC World SME Expo: http://www.hktdc.com/worldsmeexpo
Business of IP Asia Forum: http://www.bipasiaforum.com

Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Corporate Communication Department:
Joe Kainz                              Tel: (852) 2584 4216          Email: Joe.Kainz@hktdc.org

About the HKTDC
A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 12 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com.