SMEs gather at their window to the world (hktdc.com)


	Business people from around the world rely on Hong Kong’s World SME Expo to explore new partnerships and build their brands

About 30,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from around the world are expected to attend the World SME Expo in Hong Kong. The city has about 300,000 SMEs, accounting for over 98 per cent of Hong Kong’s business - so it is an ideal venue for hosting a global gathering of SMEs.

About 300 exhibitors including 90 overseas exhibitors from 43 countries will take part in this year’s World SME Expo (29 November – 1 December), which has evolved into the region’s premier event for international business matching and networking. Participants include private enterprises, foreign trade promotion organisations, consulates, trade commissions, international chambers, industry associations as well as other SME-related service and solution providers.

“The World SME Expo is designed to help SMEs strengthen their competitiveness and tap world markets more effectively,” said C.H Lai, Head of Customer Service, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC), the organiser of the event.

China opportunities

Over ten overseas delegations from the US, France, Canada, Japan, Iran, Singapore, India, Brazil, New Mexico, UK and Spain will be at the expo to explore business opportunities in the global market and specifically, the booming China market. They will hear first hand from Chinese mainland officials on market opportunities and the development of major industries in the world’s largest market. One-on-one specialised advisory sessions on China trade with industry experts are also available.

Anyone participating at the Expo can fix business matching appointments to meet with Hong Kong SMEs and explore partnership opportunities or learn how to build successful brands through practical workshop sessions.

International focus
Three other international events are held concurrently with the World SME Expo. They are:
* Innovation & Design Expo, which comprises an exhibition and a series of international conferences focusing on the newest technologies and design solutions for SMEs
* Business of Design Week, Asia’s leading conference on design, brand and innovation. The elite of the global design world are expected to attend. Canadian industrial designer Karim Rashid and John Sorrell, the originator of the London Design Week, will launch the event.
* Hong Kong Forum, jointly organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide and TDC. It features a series of high-level panel discussions on Hong Kong, China and Asia-wide business issues.