Largest Show of Its Kind in the World -- Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair Continues to Grow Year on Year

Collaboration with industry associations creates many new opportunities for local businesses

HONG KONG, Oct. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- AsiaWorld-Expo, Asia's leading exhibition, convention and events venue, is pleased with the tremendous success of this year's record-breaking Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair organised by UBM Asia Ltd. in September.  This major event, which follows the innovative "One Fair, Two Venues" model of product sectorisation, is already the biggest fair of its kind in the world and continues to register strong annual growth.

"We are very pleased to witness the success of the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair," remarked Allen Ha, Chief Executive Officer, AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited.  "This mammoth Fair along with other exhibitions and conferences at AsiaWorld-Expo enabled the venue to make an economic contribution of some HK$13.4 billion in 2010, representing a 25% increase over 2009. It's very encouraging to see that our efforts along with the organiser's have paid off over the years. AsiaWorld-Expo offers exactly the right combination of facilities, international accessibility and services for today's discerning and fast-growing MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) industry."

Since the launch of the "One Fair, Two Venues" model for the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair in 2009, AsiaWorld-Expo, which is the venue for high-quality jewellery raw materials, has demonstrated that it has the scale, flexibility and accessibility to attract exhibitors and visitors alike.  At this year's event, a record number of 3,454 exhibitors from 46 countries and regions were in attendance, representing a 13% increase on 2009.  Of particular note, an increase of over 30% was recorded in the number of exhibitors at AsiaWorld-Expo.  This growth is also reflected in the size of the event, which increased from 120,000sqm in 2009 to 130,000sqm in 2011.  Most importantly, the event continues to assert itself as a dynamic platform for international and China business. 

The Fair ended on a high note with tens of thousands of visitors and is expected to surpass last year's visitor figure of 44,274 with a double-digit increase on last year.  In just the first two days alone, nearly 15,000 buyers visited AsiaWorld-Expo, an impressive 32% increase on the previous year.  The Fair also attracted a strong contingent from mainland China, which accounted for 32% of all attendees and for the first time has overtaken Hong Kong as the top visitor group.  The continuous growth of the Fair makes great economic contributions to Hong Kong's economy.

Creating new value through collaboration with local associations

The success of the Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair provides yet further confirmation that AsiaWorld-Expo is growing in international stature, reputation and influence, and demonstrates the winning formula of bringing together both quality buyers and exhibitors from around the world in a unique geographical location.

Looking ahead, the closer integration of Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region as presented by the national blueprint, "China's 12th 5-Year Plan", is set to make AsiaWorld-Expo the default hub for global business.  The completion of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2016 will further enhance the venue's accessibility as a proven springboard for Mainland enterprises wanting to venture into the global marketplace, and make AsiaWorld-Expo the undisputed gateway for international businesses wanting to make headway in the fast-growing mainland China market.  For exhibitors and visitors alike, this promises to make events at AsiaWorld-Expo an even more valuable experience.

In recognition of AsiaWorld-Expo's emerging role as the world's undisputed gateway to the economic powerhouse of the PRD, the venue has cooperated for the first time with Global Sources and The Hong Kong Exporters' Association to debut the "HKSME Isle of Creativity@HKEA" Pavilion at the October edition of the China Sourcing Fairs, including the Gifts & Premiums Fair, Home Products Fair, Christmas & Seasonal Products Fair, Baby & Children's Products Fair, and Medical & Health Products Fair, 20-23 October 2011.

"We are delighted to work closely with Global Sources and AsiaWorld-Expo to introduce the 'HKSME Isle of Creativity@HKEA' pavilion at the upcoming China Sourcing Fairs: Gifts & Premiums and Home Products this October.  This Pavilion is set to provide a trading platform for Hong Kong SMEs to showcase and promote their innovative products.  We hope that this collaboration will be extended to other fairs next year to foster the development of creativity and original design, and offer a good opportunity for Hong Kong SMEs to expand their business networks and tap into new opportunities," said Tom Tang, Chairman of The Hong Kong Exporters' Association.

To learn more about AsiaWorld-Expo and upcoming events, please visit www.asiaworld-expo.com.

About AsiaWorld-Expo

AsiaWorld-Expo is a public-private partnership between the Hong Kong SAR Government (majority shareholder) and a private sector consortium formed by Dragages Hong Kong Limited and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Asia) Limited, with the Airport Authority Hong Kong contributing the land.

AsiaWorld-Expo is offering over 70,000 square metres of rental space.  With 10 state-of-the-art, ground-level and column-free halls including the AsiaWorld-Arena - the biggest purpose-built indoor seated entertainment arena in Hong Kong with a maximum capacity of 14,000; the AsiaWorld-Summit - Hong Kong's largest indoor conference and banquet venue that seats 700 to 5,000 persons; the Runway 11 - the venue's latest conference and function hall for 500 to 3,800 guests, AsiaWorld-Expo is Asia's only column-free, ground-level exhibition, convention and events venue which is fully integrated with one of the World's Best Airports, Hong Kong International Airport (World Airport Survey by Skytrax). 

The complex is located at the centre of an extensive and efficient air, land, and marine transport network which connects Hong Kong to China's Pearl River Delta and the world's business capitals.  It is ideally suited to hosting world-class exhibitions, conventions, concerts, sports, and entertainment events.