As global sourcing becomes increasingly digitalised in the wake of the pandemic, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is debuting the HKTDC International Sourcing Show (ISS), a trade exhibition held in both online and physical formats, to help businesses adjust to the new hybrid model under new normal.
Under the theme Your Source of Inspiration, The online section of the show began on 17 March and will enable buyers and suppliers to engage through a dedicated online exhibition platform that also features business matching and video conferencing tools. Once the pandemic situation eases, businesses can join the physical show at HKCEC from 26 to 29 July to explore further opportunities.
The HKTDC flexible and innovative approach strengthened its online services and migrated to physical fairs online. It also launched an upgraded hktdc.com Sourcing platform that has won the support of suppliers and buyers alike.
Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, noted, we believe that international trade exhibitions will continue to be held online through the first half of 2021. Even when the pandemic eases, we expect a hybrid model of online and offline sourcing to become a dominant trend. To help Hong Kong businesses adapt to an increasingly digitalised sourcing model, HKTDC has set up quality online platforms and support services and has leveraged e-commerce capabilities and new technologies to provide a seamless online-to-offline (O2O) experience for suppliers and buyers. The online-and-offline model of the ISS will create synergy between the two exhibition formats. We will also mobilise the HKTDC’s network of 50 offices worldwide to help exhibitors and buyers make the best possible preparations.
Four themed categories: With the theme “Your Source of Inspiration”, the show integrates the seven HKTDC trade fairs that were originally scheduled to run in spring 2021. From tomorrow 17 March to 29 July, the show will highlight a broad range of quality lifestyle products and solutions under four main categories:
- Smart Home: Featuring an extensive selection of houseware, home textiles and furnishings, including household and furniture items.
- Smart Play: Showcasing a range of baby products and toys and games, spanning baby care, nursery products and interactive and educational games.
- Smart Style: Highlighting an eclectic mix of fashion products, gifts and premiums as well as printing and packaging solutions.
- Smart Tech: Displaying a wide variety of tech products, including electronics, lighting and medical and healthcare products employing the latest technologies.
Show specifics
- More than 1,400 companies from 20 countries and regions are exhibiting at the show.
- Businesses are offered new product video production service.
- Webinars to help enhance marketing skills.
- More than 60 industry luminaries have been invited to share their insights in 17 webinars. A number of highlighted webinars will be held during the online show that includes “International Sourcing Outlook”, “Survive and Thrive. This arrangement will allow buyers and exhibitors more time to focus on business matching on subsequent days of the online show (that is, from 22 to 31 March).
- To help SMEs gear up for the new O2O hybrid sourcing model, the HKTDC is also launching the “Let’s Go Phygital: Power Up for the New Normal” seminar series with the support of AsiaWorld-Expo and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
- Click2Match, an AI-powered online business matching platform. Buyers and suppliers can use the tool to enjoy functions such as a meeting planner, video meetings, live chat and e-business card exchange, helping them to overcome barriers under the pandemic and build business connections around the world.
