To meet the region's growing demand for trendy consumer products, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is organising the fifth Lifestyle Expo in Dubai this month.

Jointly organised with the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, the Expo will connect about 110 Hong Kong and Chinese mainland suppliers with buyers from the Middle East and Africa.

Offerings include consumer electronics, information and communications technology (ICT) products, household products and electrical appliances, fashion and fashion accessories, gifts and premiums, as well as watches and clocks.

About 1,300 importers, distributors, mass retailers, mail-order houses, department stores and specialty stores from the UAE, Iran and Africa are expected to attend the event. Lifestyle Expo in Dubai will also feature business-matching and networking events as well as seminars.

Highlighting Hong Kong's position as Asia's lifestyle trendsetter, the Lifestyle Expo is among the HKTDC's signature international promotion events with a successful track record in fostering trade between companies from Hong Kong and emerging markets worldwide, including Russia, Poland, Turkey, India and Indonesia.

Hub-to-hub strategy

"Hong Kong and the UAE are both hubs for key markets - Asia, and the Middle East and Africa region, respectively," said HKTDC regional director for Middle East and Africa Perry Fung at a press conference yesterday.

"Lifestyle Expo provides the perfect setting for realising the hub-to-hub synergy and potential business opportunities that exist between the UAE and Hong Kong," he added.

The third Hub-to-Hub Business Meeting will be held during the Expo to connect exhibitors from Hong Kong and the mainland with Middle East and African buyers for business collaboration. The HKTDC Frequent Buyer Awards 2017 will also be presented during the Expo.

Sourcing opportunities

Buyers from the Middle East and Africa can take advantage of customised one-to-one business-matching services available at the Expo to connect with exhibitors from Hong Kong and the mainland.

Products from about 11 exhibitors will be spotlighted at the hktdc.com Small Orders showcase, where buyers can place orders of between five and 1,000 pieces.

Belt and Road opportunities

The Lifestyle Expo in Dubai will also highlight the enormous business opportunities emerging from China's Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect markets spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. With strategic locations and sophisticated economies, both Hong Kong and the UAE are well-positioned to benefit from the Initiative.

"The HKTDC is committed to exploring business opportunities in the Middle East for Hong Kong SMEs while helping those from the Middle East and Africa to expand their business in Asia through the Hong Kong platform," said Fung.

Reinforcing Hong Kong-UAE trade links

The UAE is Hong Kong's largest export market in the Middle East, and trade between the two economies presents an excellent opportunity to build new B2B (business-to-business) links along the Belt and Road.

Hong Kong's exports to the UAE grew 13 per cent to $6.8 billion last year, led by exports of pearls, precious and semi-precious stones (40.6 per cent of total, up 32.1 per cent), telecom equipment and parts (32.3 per cent of total, up 23.8 per cent), and jewellery (5 per cent of total, up 36.5 per cent).

The Lifestyle Expo will take place at the Hyatt Regency Dubai from September 25-26. - TradeArabia News Service