Spring Electronics, ICT and Lighting fairs open in April

HONG KONG: More than 4,400 exhibitors are expected to take part in three trade fairs next month at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The fairs will feature the latest products and services in the electronics, ICT and lighting industries.

The HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and HKTDC International ICT Expo, 13-16 April, will welcome some 3,300 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions.

New product zones

The Hong Kong Electronics Fair, Asia's largest spring electronics fair, will feature the latest audio-visual, healthcare, electronics and eco-friendly products.

Fair highlights will include new thematic zones: 3D Printing and i-World, offering the latest 3D printers, smart devices and accessories, including wearable electronics items. The fair's Hall of Fame returns with more than 500 leading brands, from such newcomers as Bigben, Ford and Intel, to returning brands Coway, Haier, Otic, Polaroid and Telefunken. Also back is the Invention Zone, featuring intellectual property registered or registration-pending products from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Korea and Taiwan.

A series of seminars will showcase developments and trends in LED performance (13 April), 3D printing (13 April), China's tech ecosystem, by Intel (14 April), the product carbon footprint, by the HKEIA (15 April), the Internet of things, by the FHKI (15 April), and testing and certification services in Hong Kong (16 April).

ICT highlights

This year's ICT Expo includes eight pavilions, from Australia, Canada, the mainland, India, Korea, New Zealand, Russia and Taiwan.

Two new zones are also being offered, the Telecom, Network & Data Centre, and Mobile & Digital Marketing, with exhibitors such as Hutchison Global Communications Ltd, Google and SINA Hong Kong Ltd.

Returning are the Apps zone, presenting the latest mobile applications from industry experts and academia, and the SME IT Clinic, which offers free IT consultancy services. Other theme zones include Enterprise Solutions & IT Outsourcing, E-Logistics & Retail Technologies, and Business Apps on Cloud and Mobile.

Google, Sina Weibo, spotlights

A variety of forums, conferences and seminars will examine such topical industry issues as data centre solutions and technologies, e-payment via social networks and mobile devices, copyright in the cloud era, and retail innovation. In addition, Google and Sina Weibo will conduct seminars on digital marketing tools for expanding overseas and mainland markets.

International IT fest

ICT Expo is one of 38 ICT events taking place, 7-20 April, in Hong Kong under the International IT Fest umbrella. The festival is being organised by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), in collaboration with the local ICT industry. The OGCIO will feature an ICT Award Pavilion at ICT Expo, presenting the winners of the Hong Kong ICT Awards 2014, as well as a daily Open Forum.

Lighting inspiration

The sixth Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) opens 6 April and continues through 9 April at the HKCEC. The four-day event is expected to attract nearly 1,100 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, a new exhibitor record. First-time exhibitors will come from Australia, the British Virgin Islands, Canada, Italy, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Fair highlights include a new zone, Avenue of Inspiration, showcasing the offerings of design start-ups. Returning product areas include the World of LED & Green Lighting, featuring nearly 470 exhibitors, and the Hall of Aurora, displaying nearly 170 brands, including Fulham, Gentos, Philips, TCL and Viribright.

Global trends

The day-long Asian Lighting Forum, 6 April, will spotlight global market trends in the morning and LED technology advances in the afternoon.

The fair will also offer seminars examining lighting design trends and testing and certification services.

Small-order zone

The Small-Order Zone will be featured at both the lighting and electronics fairs. At each fair, some 400 showcases offering about 4,000 products will be on display, in quantities ranging from five pieces to 1,000.