Hong Kong lures African traders with incentive packages

Hong Kong Trade Developments Exhibitions Planning and Marketing Director, Lawrence Yipp, discusses with Kenyan Media about the various openings available for Kenyan Traders in Hong Kong.

“African businesses can use Hong Kong as a business platform to explore more trade opportunities. Over 4400 African buyers visited HKTDC fairs in three consecutive years from 2006,” said Lawrence Yipp, Director, Exhibitions Planning & Marketing of HKTDC.

The incentive includes various subsidized packages of air tickets and hotel stay for international buyers to trade fairs organised by HKTDC. The offer lasts until March 2010. HKTDC is staging several major international trade fairs in the coming months some of which are expected to be the largest of their kind in Asia. The largest of these events include the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition).

Yipp also announced the debut of Hong Kong International Tea Fair to emphasize international tea trade for African tea producers. The exhibition will be held from August 13 to 15 as a platform for tea producers to deepen their penetration into the international markets. World tea production reached 3.87 million tons in 2007 and tea consumption is expected to grow as the health benefits of tea drinking become more widely known. The highest tea consumers located in Asia who have a long history of tea drinking culture.

“With the participation of key tea producers and importers, it strengthens Hong Kong's position as a tea trading hub in Asia and encourages tea trade in the world,” said Yipp. To enhance business networking for tea industry players, the fair will run an international tea industry conference, a series of tea forums ranging from tea history, tea drinking to tea investment and several sessions of tea culture showcase. The vent will be held in tandem with the HKTDC Food Expo and both events are expected to give participants additional exposure to international food and beverage market, create synergy and maximise business.

In 2008, the total trade between Hong Kong and Africa reached US$3,654m with Nigeria and Kenya as major trading partners of Hong Kong. Nigeria was the 52nd trading partner of Hong Kong and total trade value grew 43% to US$348m. Kenya, ranking 69th, recorded a total trade value with Hong Kong of US$160 million, up 29% from 2007.