Last week we reported on one of the major exhibitions that will be hosted in Hong Kong this year.  Close on the heels of the Mega Show come the Mega Show Part 2.

Mega Show Part 2 at the HKCEC 2009 (Pic: Kenfair)

Covering all things Gifts & Decor, Home Interiors (a new addition to the exhibition offering this year) as well as Office and Stationery, the Mega Show Part 2 takes place at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre 5 days after the end of Part 1 of the Mega Show double.

Mega Show Part 2 is now in it’s 8th year and has established itself as an essential date on the international sourcing calendar.

Organisers Kenfair also announced that, as in the past, the GO GREEN theme will form an essential part of the exhibition in the form of highlighting eco-friendly products.

Catch the Mega Show Part 2 at the HK Convention & Exhibition Centre between 28-30 October 2010. 

If you’re a South African company, trader or buyer interested in attending, Contact Us for more information about Hong Kong.  For more information about buyer pre-registration and the exhibitor list, go to mega-show.com

If your business is toys or even housewares and gifts, Hong Kong is THE place to be on October 2010.

The Mega Show (Part 1) takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre between 20-23 October 2010 and Part 1 is all about toys, gifts, housewares and premiums.  It is often said that Hong Kong is the port into the Chinese Mainland, but this time around you will get to meet leading toy manufacturers from Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan, UK, Belgium and many more. 

Last year’s Mega Show attracted more than 5,000 booths with well over 4,000 exhibitors.  Here’s what previous visitors had to say:

While the Show only takes place in October later this year, if you pre-register before March 31, 2010 you stand a chance of winning FREE hotel accommodation and air ticket!

For all the information about Mega Show 2010, please visit http://www.mega-show.com

In response to my previous post about the South African wine industry in Hong Kong, Helena wrote to inform us that Nederburg is the official wine for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup and that the limited edition Twenty Ten range includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Dry Rose.

So far Howzit-HongKong.com has seen TwentyTen in Park ‘n Shop stores.

If consumers are not well-versed with Nederburg wines, they can use their internet-enabled cell phones to log onto the mobi-website printed on the bottle’s label to go directly to the mobi.nederburg.co.za website to learn more about the different varieties, right there in the store.  For obvious reasons, you have to enter your date-of-birth but once you’re in there, click on the FIFA-tab to learn more about the TwentyTen varietals.  Howzit-HongKong.com did it and voila:

In May 2008 a number of dynamic expatriate South African ladies got together at the South African Consulate in Hong Kong.  Among the issues that were discussed on the day was a general interest by some of the ladies to assist with the exchange of internees from South African universities and companies to work in Hong Kong.

One thing led to another and after much planning and meetings, the Consulate sponsored two business-women who travelled to South Africa where they spoke to universities as well as companies about what was proposed for the development of successful young South African and Chinese business people and entrepreneurs.

The ladies futher decided to house this project independent of, but with the full support of the Consulate.  This led to the establishment of the fully constituted South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong  (SAWCC of HK) by the founding members Lizette Smook, Tembi Tambo and Charmaine Kleu.

The South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong

In short, the SAWCC of HK aims to promote sound relations with business, government and other relevant organisations in Hong Kong and to promote trade, tourism and investment between South Africa and Hong Kong.

Various community-building events for the broader South African community in Hong Kong are also being planned.  More details will of course be published right here on Howzit-HongKong.  

During a recent meeting at the Consulate, Ms Tambo reiterated her belief that there are many South Africans living in Hong Kong who share the vision of the Chamber and who have specific skills that can be used to the benefit of the Chamber.  For this reason, she would like to invite anyone interested in joining the SAWCC of HK to contact Lizette Smook to learn more or to find out when the next meeting will be held. Lizette can be reached via e-mail on:

lizette(dot)smook(at)gmail(dot)com  

The SAWCC of HK has different levels of membership so do contact Lizette to find out which one is best for you or your company.  Best of all, in addition to the excellent networking opportunities, membership of the SAWCC of HK comes with a host of benefits.  There are so many that it’s impossible to list them all here.  Expect though, to find:

* Facial vouchers worth at least HK$1000

* Conrad Hotel discount vouchers

* discount on California Fitness membership

* Numerous restaurant discount vouchers, etc.

You can also download and print an application form here

I always keep a keen eye open for South African products on the shelves in Hong Kong.  You will remember my previous posts on Monster Munch, Provita, Nomu Rubs & Spices as well as JC Le Roux Sparkling wine.  I took the following picture of a KWV Vin Rouge (screw-top, perfect for a day at the beach) on a sparkling Stanley Beach, having bought it at the nearby Park ‘n Shop.

One thing that is as clear as that day on Stanley Beach, is the fact that there are too few South African products on the wine and spirits shelves of the local department stores and wine retailers.

For this reason, I visited the recently held Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair at the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).  I was keen to ask some of the South African exhibitors why the SA wine and spirits industry is so poorly represented in this growing, nay, booming market. 

Upon entering Hall 3 at the HKCEC, the reason stared me right in the face.  The Australian Wine Industry had a massive pavilion with a total of sixty-six exhibitors.  The French brought over fifty-four exhibitors and another one of the so-called “New-World” producers, New Zealand had 40 producers and exporters showing off their wares.

South Africa was represented by a mere eleven industry representatives (wine estates & exporters).

So I approached some of the SA exhibitors and asked them why there are so few SA brands on the local shelves.  I was given two reasons: firstly: “RDP houses” and secondly: ”no support from the Government“. 

The first reason I understand to refer to the massive South African government programme to build low-cost house for the millions of shack-dwellers.  My interpretation of this response was that the government has put a low priority on the wine export industry, favouring instead projects like the RDP Building programme.  Which ties in with the second reason I was given:  that there is little or no support from the government for local estates and exporters to market their products in the one of the fastest-growing consumer regions in Asia if not the world… Hong Kong. 

I was told in no uncertain terms that elsewhere in the world, the SA exporters have no difficulty selling their products.  The problem-market remains Hong Kong.

This puts the ball firmly in the South African Consulate-General’s court.  Are they doing enough to facilitate the entry of SA wine and spirits into the local market?  A walk through Park ‘n Shop or any of the other retailers, big or small will tell you in no uncertain terms: NO.

I find it hard to believe that the SA government would neglect one of the oldest agricultural industries in this way.  I would argue that the problem lies with their capacity to facilitate trade in Hong Kong and indeed the whole of China.  The South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) currently has one official serving the entire region.  Hong Kong is served by a total of two local staff members and a non-functioning Business Forum.  Add to this the situation where the SA Tourism Authorities have yet to fill the position of Country Officer for China (another local official is currently Acting) as well as the SA national broadcaster’s (SABC) recent decision to close their only bureau in China, and a worrying trend seems to emerge.

If the positions mentioned above were filled, and all the different officials and organisations started working in unison, with the FIFA World Cup looming,  maybe we would be seeing more promotional efforts like this:

A SA exhibit at the Wine & Spirits Fair Nov 6, 2009

And fewer negative publicity such as this:

 A story on the perception of security in SA, pre FIFA World Cup (HK PostMagazine 8 Nov, 2009)

In November 2007 the South African Consulate in Hong Kong collaborated with the South African Cosmetic Export Council (SACEC) to set up the South African Pavilion at the annual Cosmoprof Exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Consul for Trade, Mr Ricado Andrews together with CEO of the SACEC, Mr Max Wilgen were responsible for providing the platform for 10 SA companies involved in the Health & Wellness industry to showcase their wares to trade customers from all over the world.

Mr Ricado Andrews at the Lillian Terry stall, Cosmoprof 2007

This year, the South African Consulate will assist 12 South African companies who will exhibit their products at the 14th Edition of Cosmoprof Asia.   Cosmoprof is the world’s leading health, beauty and and wellness exhibition and brings together around 1300 exhibitors from 36 countries.  This year, around 39 000 visitors from around the world are expected at the Hong Kong exhibition from 11-13 November 2009, to be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center.

The following SA companies will be in Hong Kong:

* Sawen CC t/a Conoche Cosmetics

   (Cleanser, Toner, Day and Night Moisturiser and Mask)

* Dermaxime Pty Ltd

   (Anti- Aging Skincare and Essentials Oils)

* The House of Aloes (Pty) Ltd t/a Alcare

   (Hair and care supplements, Skin and body care, Bath range, and Hair range.)

* Cosmetics, Toiletry & Fragrance Association of South Africa

   (Industry Association)

* Nimue Skin Technology t/a Nimue Skin (Pty) Ltd

   (Home skin care, Professional skin care, and Skin care general)

* L.S Enterprises

   (TheraVine and TheraNeka brands)

* Spellbound Ground (Pty) Ltd

   (Toiletries:  Personal Care, Perfume, Sun Care, Skin Care, Hair Care, Nail Care)

* I-Slices Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd

   (Cosmetics eye pads)

* Cosmeticeutical Products (Pty) Ltd

   (Bioseal and Deostone)

* Bush Baby Cosmetics (pty) Ltd

   (Hair and Body, Body Lotion, Massage Oil, Diaper Cream and Powder.)

* Fino Cosmetics CC

   (Fino Sooth Man and Women, Fino Soothe Salon Professional)

* Lilian Terry International

   (Aromeopathic Massage oils, Bath oils, Body wraps Natural and essential oils)

My apartment complex has a free shuttle-bus to Tsim Sha Tsui’s (TST) Hankow Road which is located between the TST YMCA and The Peninsula Hotel.  The spot is also a pick-up & drop-off point for the horde of free shuttle buses ferrying people to and from the many Trade Fairs & Exhibitions that happen at the HK Convention & Exhibition Center (HKCC) in WanChai and the AsiaWorld Expo next to the Airport.  So believe me when I say “I know when there’s a fair & exhibition happening in the City!”  And there are MANY.

I started a section on the Community Forum’s Business Forum called:

Hong Kong Exhibitions & Trade Fairs

Here you will find news and information on the latest Trade Fairs & Exhibitions happening around Hong Kong.  Many South African business-people often travel here and hopefully we’ll hook up with them on this Forum that will allow them (and you) to keep in touch with contacts and future trading partners… right here on Howzit Hong Kong.

Cheers for now,

Mike

This picture was taken during a very successful CosmoProf (cosmetics industry) Fair where several SA companies were exhibiting their services and wares.