HKTDC gives incentives to participate in trade fair

17 Oct '09

2 min read

Sri Lankan buyers and exhibitors are going to benefit from a sponsorship package for the first time. Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will offer US $10.3 million as a buyer sponsorship package to the Sri Lankan companies, said Ms Peggie Liu, HKTDC Exhibition Manager.

Hong Kong is the 13th largest trade economy in the world that conducts international trade fairs periodically to expand existing markets, explore new markets and capture potential markets. Such exhibitions act as a platform to build and enhance trade relations.

Sri Lankan buyers who were participating in a trade fair for the first time, were also provided opportunities to build trade relations under the sponsorship package, she added. More than 99 percent of the participants can generate satisfactory business through the trade fairs; hence trade fairs are still effective channels to enhance trade.

Participation in trade fairs would help the country to expand and capture markets in various sectors such as tea that has potential market, besides house ware, apparel, jewelry and food sectors. Moreover, the fairs in Hong Kong will facilitate Sri Lankan companies to sell and source quality products, get market intelligence, establish alliances and trade contacts for expansion and also to move into new markets, said Ms. Liu.

The HKTDC has a data base of around 700,000 buyers, while Sri Lanka is the 48th biggest trading partner of Hong Kong where the tax and custom system is simple and can help attracting potential traders. So, Sri Lanka would be benefited by the package, as a whole, through which it can also exhibit its products and services internationally, she added.

Apparel products, telecommunication equipment and base metal are among the top 10 goods imported to Hong Kong from Sri Lanka, while the products that have been exported from Sri Lanka to Hong Kong include tea, electrical machinery, textile fabric, sea food, pearls, precious and semi precious gems.
In coming months the council will organize international trade fairs to assist buyers towards expanding business opportunities.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India