Spotlight on Innovation & Enterprise Development Solutions for
SMEs
|
Speaking at the joint opening ceremony for the SmartBiz Expo
and Asian E-tailing Summit, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
(HKTDC) Executive Director Margaret Fong says the SmartBiz Expo
aims to get companies up to speed with the latest business
solutions, creative ideas and cutting-edge technologies - helping
companies to seek out new opportunities and drive their businesses
forward. |
|
The Smartbiz Expo has attracted more than 520 exhibitors
from 40 countries and regions to provide a range of business
solutions and innovative business ideas. The expo runs from 5-7
Dec. |
|
The Pathfinder zone gathers exhibitors from 30 countries and
regions to foster opportunities and includes the Guangdong-Hong
Kong-Macao Bay Area Pavilion. |
HONG KONG, Dec 5, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) -
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the
second edition of the SmartBiz Expo and the fourth Hong Kong
International Franchising Show both opened today at the Hong Kong
Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The twin events, which
run from 5-7 Dec, have attracted more than 650 local, Mainland
Chinese and overseas exhibitors to offer enterprise development
solutions and innovations that can help to upgrade businesses,
improve profitability and enhance franchising opportunities.
Various seminars are being held during the event where industry
experts will cover topics including Industry 4.0, the development
of smart cities, e-commerce and franchising strategies.
The joint opening ceremony for SmartBiz Expo and another HKTDC
event, the Asian E-tailing Summit, was held this morning. Paul
Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region (HKSAR), officiated at the ceremony and delivered the
opening remarks.
Welcoming delegates to the expo, HKTDC Executive Director Margaret
Fong said: "Global issues such as the ongoing trade conflict
between China and the United States make it all the more important
for businesses to work in a smarter way, and be more responsive to
new developments. The SmartBiz Expo is all about getting companies
up to speed with the latest business solutions, creative ideas and
cutting-edge technologies - helping you to seek out new
opportunities and drive your businesses forward."
Upgrading Businesses Under Industry 4.0
The SmartBiz Expo has attracted more than 520 exhibitors from 40
countries and regions, providing a range of business solutions and
innovative business ideas. The expo features three key themes for
the business industry, including Industry 4.0. Under Industry 4.0,
companies adopt new technologies, such as the Internet of Things
(IoT), cloud computing, robotics and automation, to streamline
their production processes and reduce costs, boost efficiency and
productivity, and help them to launch new products and services
that can increase profitability. Various exhibitors at the expo,
such as the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre,
Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Limited, and
the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute,
offer AI and automation solutions that can assist different
industries in upgrading their business.
On the first day of the expo, seminars have been arranged to
explore issues relating to Industry 4.0. Representatives from the
Hong Kong Productivity Council and INC Invention Centre joined
industry experts to examine the opportunities and challenges
presented by Industry 4.0. Other seminars covered issues such as
cloud computing, IoT, automation and smart robotics, helping
participants to get a stronger understanding of Industry 4.0's
potential by learning about the latest developments, applications
and supporting solutions on the market.
Smart City Opportunities
All major cities are developing into smart cities and Hong Kong is
no exception. Besides large-scale projects involving network
coverage, transportation and urban development, there are new
opportunities for different industries and small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) in the area of smart city development. The expo
features exhibitors showcasing smart products, applications and
solutions for household use, office use, and for deployment in the
industrial and services sectors.
The second day of the expo (6 Dec) will feature a series of smart
city-related seminars. Representatives from the Office of the
Government Chief Information Officer and Electrical and Mechanical
Services Department of the HKSAR, as well as the HK Wireless
Technology Industry Association, will explain the Smart City
Blueprint for Hong Kong. In addition, representatives from major
technology companies, including Canon, Cisco, Google, Huawei,
Microsoft and Siemens, will share their insights on issues such as
big data, IoT, and new jobs in the digital era.
E-commerce Market Expands
The e-commerce market has been growing rapidly in recent years,
bringing in new distribution channels and revolutionising the
retailing ecosystem. The E-commerce Pavilion, comprising the
E-Commerce Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Cross-border
E-Commerce Association, Hong Kong Top 10 E-Commerce Club, Hong Kong
Federation of E-commerce, Hong Kong General Chamber of Cross-border
E-commerce, Hong Kong Internet & Ecommerce Association, Hong
Kong Netrepreneurs Association and the Hong Kong O2O E-commerce
Federation, provides support and professional advice for companies
looking to develop an e-commerce business. The zone also features
various services providers covering market research, branding
strategies, online platform choices, sales management, logistics
and supply chain management, digital marketing and big data
analysis to provide visitors with a one-stop e-commerce support
service.
On the third day of the expo (7 Dec), experts will speak at a
series of seminars to discuss e-commerce platforms, conversational
commerce, e-commerce logistics and last-mile delivery, all of which
are aimed at helping SMEs prepare for the new world of e-commerce
business.
Themed Zones Spotlight Innovation, Cross-border Opportunities
The expo is divided into several themed zones. Techtopia showcases
the latest technological applications that help business innovate
and upgrade; Boosters provides comprehensive business solutions to
help SMEs stay competitive; while Pathfinder gathers exhibitors
from 30 countries and regions to foster opportunities, including
the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area Pavilion, where nine major
cities from Guangdong province share their economic developments
and priority industries to help SMEs capture Greater Bay Area
opportunities. Hatchery features about 50 local and overseas
innovation and technology start-ups, showcasing their innovative
services and products and enabling them to meet with potential
partners and investors. Envision Lot gathers creations from some
140 inventors, with highlights including the first Asia Exhibition
of Inventions Hong Kong, organised by the Hong Kong Exporters
Association in partnership with Palexpo, showcasing inventions from
some 40 local and Mainland Chinese inventors.
Seminars Help SMEs Capture Opportunities
To help provide a one-stop support platform for SMEs, a number of
thematic seminars are being organised in response to recent trade
situations and market developments. They include "The Way Forward
for Hong Kong's SMEs under the China-US Trade War", organised by
the Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business, which
examines the current foreign trade environment; and the "InnoTech
for Branding" seminar series, which explains the use of blockchain,
inventory management, social media and other innovative
technologies in raising brand value. Other seminar topics cover
Greater Bay Area and ASEAN opportunities, the Halal food market and
brand inheritance.
Franchising Show Fosters Entrepreneurs
Held concurrently with SmartBiz Expo, the fourth Hong Kong
International Franchising Show has attracted more than 130
exhibitors from 13 countries and regions. The exhibition features
four zones: the Hong Kong Food and Beverage zone, Hong Kong
Non-Food and Beverage zone, Chinese Mainland zone and International
zone, all of which offer plenty of franchising opportunities across
different sectors. Participating brands include Kam Cha, Woo Hong
Kong Snacks, Taiwan-style beverage brand Chun Feng Milk House,
Subway restaurant, the 7-Eleven convenience store, STEAM education
centre TECHBOB Academy, ANVIO VR Gaming Centre and 24/7 Fitness.
Franchising consultants and agencies are among the exhibitors
offering franchising solutions to help brand owners expand their
business.
During the fair period, a series of discussions will provide
practical tips for franchising, covering subjects such as
kickstarting a franchising business, franchising management
technologies, digital word-of-mouth and franchising in Belt and
Road markets. The Brand Briefing seminar series allows participants
to understand each franchising brand's characteristics and business
strategies. Visitors can also join Franchising Demo events to try
out the products and services of different brands.
Concurrent Events Explore IP Management and Innovative Design
The HKTDC is holding five events at the Hong Kong Convention and
Exhibition Centre this week -- the Asian E-tailing Summit (5 Dec),
the HKTDC SmartBiz Expo (5-7 Dec), the HKTDC Hong Kong
International Franchising Show (5-7 Dec), the Business of IP Asia
Forum (6-7 Dec) and DesignInspire (6-8 Dec). These events focus on
new technology and covers various stages of the value chain,
including research and development, design, production, sales and
marketing. They aim to help small and medium-sized enterprises
enhance their competitiveness and cost-effectiveness and develop
new business areas and markets to adapt to the ever-changing
economic landscape.
SmartBiz Expo and Hong Kong International Franchising Show
(HKIFS)
Date and Time: 5-6 Dec 9:30am-6pm; 7 Dec 10am-6pm
Venue: Hall 1B-E, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
(HKCEC)
Admission: Free Admission for trade visitors aged 18 or above only.
HKIFS is open to members of the public aged 12 and above on 7
Dec.
Fair websites:
SmartBiz Expo: http://www.hktdc.com/smartbizexpo
Hong Kong International Franchising Show:
http://www.hktdc.com/hkifs
Photo Download: https://bit.ly/2ARmMm5
About HKTDC
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council
(HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for
Hong Kong's businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 on
the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform
for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than
50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international
exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide
companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the
mainland and in international markets, while providing business
insights and information via trade publications, research reports
and digital channels including the media room. For more
information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on
Google+, Twitter@hktdc, LinkedIn.
Source: HKTDC
Contact:
Billy Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4393, Email: billy.km.ng@hktdc.org
Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
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