The preeminent exhibition for green-tech business in Asia, Eco Expo Asia, closed its 2014 edition on a high note. Organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, and co-organised by the Environment Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the show saw its strongest global presence yet. In attendance were 308 exhibitors representing 22 countries and regions.
These industry experts gathered at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong from 29 October – 1 November to showcase a wide spectrum of truly innovative green products and solutions. By covering everything from energy efficiency and green building solutions to waste management and air purification technologies, the fair offered both trade professionals and the general public ways to facilitate sustainable development.
The fair’s international environment was further bolstered by 10,817 visitors from 89 countries and regions. Visitors targeting location-specific exhibitors took advantage of various pavilions to streamline sourcing. Clustered by country, returning pavilions included Canada, Japan, Russia and Switzerland, as well as Chinese mainland pavilions for Foshan, Guangdong, Guangzhou, Macau and Shenzhen. Sweden made its debut participation, along with the Netherlands and Korea pavilions.
Officiating the 2014 opening ceremony was Mr Wong Kam-sing, Secretary for the Environment of the HKSAR. Mr Wong said: “Eco Expo Asia has unfaltering support from the industry, government associations and eco-conscious individuals. The show continues to prove itself as a first-choice platform for green solutions, backed by engaging forums and seminars led by the experts. It is an honour for the Environment Bureau to be a co-organiser of the fair again.”
Fair’s position reinforced as a holistic business platform for green-tech sector
Exhibitors in waste management echoed similar sentiment. Mr Juan Chui, Senior Operation Manager at Baguio Waste Management and Recycling Ltd in Hong Kong, mentioned: “We joined Eco Expo Asia to promote our integrated waste management solutions that can be tailor-made to clients’ needs. The fair is an effective platform for us to interact with property management companies that are now paying more attention to environmental protection. We have gained numerous leads from Hong Kong, Chinese mainland and global enterprises. Our future plans are to expand the business overseas and the show is helping us to accomplish that.”
Mr Urs Heutschi, CEO of Swissenviro.ch, the organiser of Switzerland Pavilion, is no stranger to the fair. Mr Heutschi commented: “Eco Expo Asia is very international, as it always is. I brought six companies and they were able to meet their target customers from Asia, America and Europe. The show is an occasion where not only local visitors, but also international buyers attend. It is a remarkable platform to promote our brands and technologies, as well as to expand our network. Here, suppliers from Switzerland promote state-of-the-art environmental protection technologies, and connect with the government officials and buyers in Asia. All the exhibitors at the Switzerland Pavilion are happy with their results and we would definitely recommend the show to industry peers.”
Diversity of solutions and show scale praised by visitors
At this ninth edition of the fair, trade-focused and casual visitors alike were greeted by a wealth of options to meet their ecocentric demands. The show’s growth in scale and product range has not gone unnoticed.
Mr Yasuhisa Shimura, General Manager of Procurement Strategy and Planning Department at Shimizu Corporation, one of the top five contractors in Japan, was a returning visitor. Mr Shimura noted: “I can tell the organisation and scale of the show have grown a lot. I have met suppliers based in Hong Kong who manufacture materials in the Chinese mainland. Costs are relatively low while the quality seems high. I will bring samples back to Japan for further quality testing with the hopes of importing them.”
First-time visitor Mr Bosco Ng is an Assistant Waste Reduction Officer in the Waste Reduction and Recycling Division at the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR. Mr Ng said: “I came to learn about new waste reduction and recycling technologies. The Buyers’ Briefing Session was the first thing I attended. There, I learned about refrigerator recycling, which is very new to me. It affirmed that many new recycling solutions are available at the fairground.”
Next year marks the 10th edition of Eco Expo Asia. This milestone event will be held from 28 – 31 October 2015 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. For more information, please email ecoexpo@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com or exhibitions@hktdc.org, or visit www.ecoexpoasia.com.
*Preliminary Figures (2014)
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
Messe Frankfurt is one of the world’s leading trade fair organisers, generating around €550* million in sales and employing more than 2200* people worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries and around 50 international Sales Partners, allowing it to serve its customers on location in more than 160 countries. Messe Frankfurt events take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2014, Messe Frankfurt organised a total of 120* trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.
Comprising an area of 578,000 square metres, Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds are home to ten exhibition halls. The company also operates two congress centres. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent. For more information, please visit our website at www.messefrankfurt.com.
Media contact:
Ivy Wong
Tel +852 2238 9985
Fax +852 2598 7919
ivy.wong@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com
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