Expanded Eco-friendly Vehicle Zone proved a major focal point.
Visitors hailed the fair an effective sourcing platform for eco products and technologies
Professional fringe events made the fair a leading arena for technology exchange in eco industry
The 5th Eco Expo Asia ended successfully on 6 November 2010 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. The 4-day event gathered 266 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions and received 8,011 visitors from 62 countries and regions. Among these 2,775 were from overseas. The top 10 visiting countries and regions by volume were the Chinese mainland, Canada, the US, Macau, Japan, Korea, Hungary, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines.
The fair was opened by the Secretary for the Environment of the Government of the HKSAR, the Honourable Edward Yau, JP on 3 November 2010. Attributing the international development of Eco Expo Asia to the territory’s green trading abilities, Mr Yau said: “A remarkable highlight of this year’s event is the sheer number of overseas exhibitors. Clearly this is a reflection of Hong Kong’s capacity as a trade platform for environmental and green enterprises.”
Exhibitors commended Eco Expo Asia an excellent channel for meeting quality buyers from around the world
Over the years, the scope of Eco Expo Asia has become increasingly more international. The fifth edition featured 10 national and regional pavilions from Foshan, France, Guangdong, Japan, Jiangmen, Kunming, Macau, Shenzhen, the UK and the US. Besides these, the Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Green Council organised local companies to form group pavilions. What’s more, over 40 buying missions representing more than 1,000 delegates visited the fair. Exhibitors were impressed by the quality and relevancy of the visitors.
First time Japanese exhibitor Sun Cubic Limited came to introduce their new solid fuel made from beer draft. Mr Koichi Okubo, Managing Director of Clifford Mary, plc, advisor of Sun Cubic, said: “The result is excellent. I am surprised to meet so many business visitors from a number of different countries and regions. Some of the visitors from South East Asia have already expressed interest in introducing our technology to their plants. We are very happy and will definitely come back next year. It is a good platform to introduce Japanese technology internationally.”
Another new exhibitor, Topanga Advanced Plasma Lighting from the US Pavilion, was also impressed. “The fair has surpassed our expectations. We’ve obtained solid business contacts not only from Asia, but surprisingly from Africa and the Americas,” said Mr Mehran Matloubian PhD, Chief Strategy Officer.
An air purifier manufacturer, Wah Mei Tat Environmental Electronics Technology Co Ltd, exhibited in the Jiangmen Pavilion. Their General Manager Mr Ricky Lee said: “This was our first time to exhibit and we have achieved very positive results, much better than expected. A Japanese filter manufacturer would like to cooperate with us as an OEM and export our proprietary air purifier back to Japan. A Swedish company would also like to cooperate with us too. We will come back again next year, bringing along our medical related eco products.”
Returned exhibitor Mr Ryan Kwok, Marketing Executive of Mitsubishi Chemical Hong Kong Ltd expressed, “Eco Expo Asia is the most important environmental industry fair in Asia. The visitors are relevant and genuine buyers coming from all over the world. The base of Hong Kong being an international business hub is the strongest. Our new 2010 products were well-received by international visitors.”
Expanded Eco-friendly Vehicle Zone proved a major focal point
The extended Eco-friendly Vehicle Zone was well-received and publicised by visitors and media. The exhibitors in this area were excited with the leads generated.
Occupying the largest stand in the fair, Volkswagen displayed for the first time in Hong Kong their Touareg Hybrid, Milano Taxi Concept and L1 Concept. Mr Samson Leung, PR Manager of Volkswagen Hong Kong Limited, said: “This has been a very good event. There are a lot of different exhibitors and products on show. It has been the right environment to present our new environmentally friendly electric and hybrid cars.”
Green Mobility Innovations Limited displayed their electric van and new electric bike at the fair. Mr Lawrence Ho, General Manager, was very happy. “We have done very well participating in Eco Expo Asia. This has been an exceptional platform not only to promote our unique electric vehicles and business model locally and internationally, but also to advocate our green concept to society at large. Through the synergy effect with the C40 Hong Kong Workshop, we managed to meet many government officials and mayors from China and other countries. I have already lined up meetings with potential local and overseas cooperation partners. I will definitely come back with bigger presence next year.”
Ms Angel K Y Cheung, Assistant General Manger, DAS Aviation Services Group, the official Hong Kong dealer of Green Wheel, was equally satisfied with trade achieved at the fair. “Business has been good. Interest in the Green Wheel electric vehicle was beyond our expectations. We have got a lot of serious leads to follow up once the fair is over.”
Professional fringe events made the fair a leading arena for technology exchange in eco industry
Visitors from near and afar were pleased to see a wide range of green products and services on display.
Returning to the fair for new eco products and eco applications the third consecutive year was 100% Concept Asia-Pacific Ltd, the Asian arm of French-based 100% Souvenirs and founder of Eco-Sys Action Foundation. Mr Christian Pilard, Managing Director said, “With more exhibitors presenting a wider range of products, you can really see how the fair is developing each year. I’ve only been here a short while and already I have spotted some interesting suppliers of toys and packaging materials. I’m confident I can get what I need from this event.”
Ms Anita Jha, Senior Vice President of Indian non-government aid agency, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, came to the fair for sanitation and water purification solutions. “Everything is well sign-posted and set out logically, I like the format of the show very much. I have found a possible supplier from the US for technology to purify water and from Hong Kong for waste management options quite easily, and will be following up with them on my return to India.”
Mr Ben Chan, General Manager of Hong Kong company, Yuen Fat International Limited said: “We want to start a new eco business. So we are here to see what opportunities are available relating to LED and roofing products. It is a good show. I have found what I want and have identified several potential partners.”
Mr Fred Ting, Associate Director of IEQ Global Pte Ltd from Singapore came to the show looking for indoor environmental solutions that are cost-effective and energy efficient. “This is a great show. We always find what we need here and this year proved no different. We’ve found a US firm that produces plasma lights which are 50% more energy efficient and four times longer lasting than anything else currently available. We will definitely be working closer with them in the future,” said Mr Ting.
Fringe events contributed to the overall success of the show
The Eco Asia Conference 2010 was the largest and most comprehensive to date. It included the Eco-UK Seminar, the Eco-US Seminar, the Nordic Panel Discussion and the Sino-French Seminar on Sustainable Development and sessions on Green Transportation and Waste Management & Recycling. Other fringe events held together with the fair and conference included the Round Table Meeting between Mainland Authorities and Corporations on Eco Projects, the Green Building Conference, “Low Carbon Activities in Hong Kong” Seminar and the Public Day Forum on Low Carbon Living.
“The exhibition was very inspiring with many exciting exhibits on show. There were also many excellent environmental seminars, conferences and business lunches to attend, which all contributed to the success of this very prestigious international trade fair on environmental protection,” said Dr Aileen Patricia Lothian, Director, Young SET Ambassadors, who took part in the show under the UK Pavilion.
Eco Expo Asia is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, and co-organised by the Environment Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The next edition will be held from 27 – 30 October 2011 at AsiaWorld-Expo. For further information, please click www.ecoexpoasia.com or email ecoexpo@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com or exhibitions@hktdc.org