Bangkok--13 Jun--DC Consultants and Marketing Communications The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is holding its Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware and Toys on July 2-5 and the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2009 on July 8-10. Both fairs will offer great opportunities for buyers from around the world, and Thai SMEs are sure to find business opportunities that will boost trade between Hong Kong and Thailand. “This will be the fifth year of the HKTDC Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware and Toys,” said Loretta Wan, HKTDC Regional Director, South East Asia & India. “It follows on from the big success we had last year, with more than 20,000 buyers from 96 countries. “The show offers a huge variety of gifts, houseware and toys for buyers from around the world, and there are thousands of manufacturers waiting to do business with them. It’s like the arena for buyers, producers and suppliers to meet and match their requirements, and HKTDC is especially keen to persuade Thai SMEs to take part. They’ll be able to choose best quality products from reliable manufacturers.” The council will also host the HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2009 on 8-9-10 July. The title is “Diversity in Action”, and it will not only be an important sourcing platform for the global fashion industry, but also a showcase for design excellence. “Diversity in Action” projects the creative image of Hong Kong’s fashion and lifestyle designers. The mood is young, energetic and sportive, reflecting the forthcoming Beijing Olympics in August. The talents of many impressive Hong Kong designers will be on display in the fashion show. They include past winners of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designer Contest and Hong Kong New Collection Award, both design competitions organized by HKTDC. The show will help up-and-coming designers gain recognition and put them in contact with many different clothing enterprises, while highlighting Hong Kong’s design excellence and diversity. In addition to the enormous business opportunities offered by the fashion show, Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2009 will be a first class information exchange for the fashion industry. There will be wide range of informative seminars whose topics include upcoming fashion trends as well as market intelligence. Highlights are the seminars “Made in Italy — a Brand Label in Department Stores” and “Ecotextiles — what brand and retailers want -- and how to deliver.” Nares Rungrattanaprasert, Managing Director of Thai Dumrong Marketing Co, Ltd, an importer of toys from Hong Kong for 10 years, was impressed by the visit he made in 2007. “There was a wide range of products and I found many items of interest,” he said. “Besides toys, I am interested in the innovative packaging you see in many collections here. I have to thank HKTDC for making it easier for Thai and Hong Kong businessmen to work together. And we know we won’t be cheated by dishonest suppliers.” He said that Thai entrepreneurs could participate as both importers and exporters as Hong Kong is one of the world’s important markets. Its economy is largely dependent on international trade which accounts for 340 per cent of its GDP. About 30 per cent of its imports and exports are from China, for which Hong Kong is a valuable gateway for goods. Thailand is Hong Kong’s 14th largest export market and the 8th largest import source. In 2007, Hong Kong ran a trade deficit with Thailand amounting to US$3.7 billion (1.22 trillion baht). Hong Kong’s imports from Thailand increased by 8.1% year-on-year to US$ 7.4 billion in 2007, over 18% of which were locally consumed with the rest re-exported. Total exports to Thailand reached US$3.7 billion in 2007, increasing by 15.9% year-on-year. Major export items included parts and accessories of office machines/computer (19.9%), telecommunications equipment (13.0%), electrical apparatus and electrical circuits (8.4%0, semi-conductors (6.9%) and pearls and precious stones (6.0%). Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s HKTDC Summer Sourcing Show for Gifts, Houseware and Toys will be held on July 2-3-4-5, and HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2009 July 8-9-10 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. For further information please visit . For more information, please contact: DC Consultants and Marketing Communications Ltd. Pimpakarn Chaisung / Chanida Apphathornkul Tel: 0-2610-2383 Fax: 0-2610-2345 Hong Kong Trade Development Council Phennapa Bundhurat Tel: 0-2343 9000, 081-843- 1114 Fax: 02-343 9029 E-mail:[email protected]