HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair

contents

asia

The second edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, which is scheduled for 4-6 November 2009, will open up new markets in Asia and beyond for exhibitors. "For producers and distributors, this fair represents an enormous opportunity, " said Mr. Raymond Yip, Assistant Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which is organising the event. In 2009, the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair will coincide with the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, a carnival event aiming to nurture wine appreciation of the public and visitors.

"Appreciation of wine, both for consumption and as an investment, is really taking off in Asia and Hong Kong has emerged as the international wine trading hub for the region." Mr. Yip pointed out that Hong Kong is the only major economy in the world to impose no duty, no VAT and no sales tax on wine. "The fair attracts premier wine producers and distributors from all over the world, giving them the chance to expand their portfolio of wines and to meet a multitude of potential new customers. This will boost sales in the region even higher."

Mr. Yip cited growth projections which will see Asian wine imports, excluding Japan, rising to US$1.5 billion by 2017. Growth projections show Asian wine consumption, excluding Japan, will double by 2017, reaching US$27 billion. Most recent figures - January to April, 2009 - show Asian imports soaring by 57% over the same period in 2008.

In its first edition last year, the fair attracted 240 exhibitors from 25 countries & regions. The 2008 fair provided the opportunity for these exhibitors to meet with 8,758 trade buyers from 55 countries & regions. Present indications are that the 2009 fair will feature around 400 exhibitors from 30 countries & regions. The fair is open to trade buyers only on the first two days. Exhibitors have the opportunity to test products in the local market on the fair's single 'open day' on 6 Nov. In 2008, over 10,000 members of the public flocked to the fair.

The 2009 Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair builds on the success of the inaugural event. An exciting initiative is The Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (HKIWSC). It will be organised by the prestigious London-based International Wine & Spirit Competition, which has been an international standard-setter for 40 years. The judging panel is equally prestigious, being composed of the foremost Asian-based experts in the field. A unique feature of the competition, will be the pairing of wines with Chinese cuisine.

A new zone, Friends of Wine, will feature a variety of fine foods and gourmet products. As well as enabling producers and distributors of wine and spirits to reach out to new markets, the fair offers equally rewarding opportunities to related companies, such as manufacturers of glassware and accessories, logistics handling firms, promoters of wine tourism and suppliers of bottling equipment and materials.

As a measure of the event's effectiveness, over 90% of exhibitors and buyers expressed satisfaction in 2008 and said they would return in 2009. Its success has been one indication of Hong Kong's growing role in the trade of wine and spirits in Asia. A number of overseas companies have now chosen Hong Kong as their Asian headquarters while internationally reputed auction houses such as Acker Merrall & Condit, Bonham, Christie's, Sotheby's and Zachys have begun conducting important wine auctions in Hong Kong.

write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Exhibition News :: home page