Business Seminar - "HONG KONG – Asia’s Trade Fair Capital"
8th April 2009

Click here for registration brochure (pdf)

CITCSA Flash 168 - Including article regarding the Business Seminar, Click Here(pdf)

'Hong Kong - Asia's Trade Fair Capital'

Business people from a range of industries gathered at Enterprise House on Thursday April 8 to learn more about how trading with Hong Kong. Hosted by the Hong Kong Australia Business Association SA Chapter (HKABA-SA) and the Council for International Trade and Commerce SA (CITCSA), the evening featured Ms Bonnie Shek, Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Sydney as well as a host of exporters and eminent international business figures.

Barry Salter, the Executive Manager of the Council for International Trade and Commerce SA, introduced Ms Shek, who delivered a presentation on the benefits to businesses of trading with Hong Kong. Bonnie explained why Hong Kong is viewed as a gateway to China, as well as a trade destination in itself. With good fundamentals including a strong independent legal system, intellectual property protection, and a free flow of information, goods and capital, Hong Kong's economy is one of the region's most resilient. It is located within four hours' flight of all of Asia's key markets, and within five hours' flight of half the global population. Hong Kong also has a reputation for quality, with residents of the Pearl River Delta reportedly travelling to Hong Kong to buy everyday consumables, because of a perception that even the same brand, when bought from Hong Kong, 'tastes better'.

Ms Shek then outlined the role of the HKTDC in trade between Australia and Hong Kong, including the HKTDC's global contacts, trade newsletter tailored to markets of interest for businesses, and trade fair experience. The highlight however was the 'Buyer Sponsorship Program' which assists both exporters and buyers to attend trade fairs by providing hotel accommodation, flights and more.

John Gerard, Director of Gerard Corporation was the next to address the audience. With trade experience spanning the packaging, electronics, service and manufacturing industries, he took a pragmatic approach to talking about trade. He emphasised the importance of developing strategic alliances when doing business internationally, and said that he'd seen a lot of businesses "go over there on their own, flounder around on their own for a while and really battle." He impressed upon the audience the value of Trade Fairs, however, offering as an example his experience at the 2006 Hong Kong Printing and Packaging Fair. He said the Fair offered a variety of products the company hadn't previously encountered; they were "blown away by the range" and came home with some great ideas.

Mr Gerard also praised Hong Kong business people, calling them "highly professional". A panel of business experts then took the stage, and engaged in a discussion about trade issues which was led by HKABA-SA Committee Member Samantha Badcock. The panel included Ms Susan Lee, Co-Founder and Business Development Director of Soniclean and Mr Michael Higgs, Director of World Wide Wearables. The panel addressed a variety of issues, from the current economic climate to useful considerations when establishing a subsidiary in Hong Kong. The event was a received with great enthusiasm by the business community, and plans have already begun for a second event to be held later this year.

Reported by
Sarah Newman


Get first-hand information how ‘Buyer Sponsorship Program’ can help your business

Hong Kong has established itself as the world’s top trade service hub, a merchandise centre as well as the regional business platform for the SMEs from all round the world. Hong Kong is renowned as a trade fair capital. Each year, Hong Kong hosts more than 60 world-class international trade fairs – seven of which are the largest in Asia and UFI Approved.

This Business Seminar will cover the latest ‘Buyer Sponsorship Program’ provided by HKTDC, updates on the Hong Kong/China’s economic condition and the Hong Kong - Australia Business Association, SA Chapter’s 2009 Delegation Plan. It will provide the ideal opportunity for Importers, Wholesales, Retailers and other businesses, who are interested in sourcing from Hong Kong and China, to discover why Hong Kong is the pre-eminent International Business City of China and the Trade Fair Capital of Asia and learn how to source products from Hong Kong, China and beyond.

Hear about how various Australian businesses benefit from attending trade fairs in Hong Kong

The Chapter is honoured to have Ms Bonnie Shek, Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Centre of Australia/New Zealand as leading speaker.

BONNIE SHEK, Director AUS/NZ, HKTDC

Bonnie has extensive marketing, business development and management experience in Asia/Pacific.  Before joining the HKTDC, she spent over ten years in the telecommunications industry, being responsible for developing marketing strategy and leading the Asia/Pacific consumer team.

Having grown up in Hong Kong, then living in Australia for the last 19 years, Bonnie understands the business dynamics in both places.  Based in Sydney, she leads the team to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in doing business in Hong Kong/China and further enhance the good trading relationship between Hong Kong and the Australasian region.

From time to time, Bonnie speaks at seminars and workshops educating businesses on how they can use Hong Kong as a gateway to China and the rest of Asia.  Updates such as the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and China are provided.  A spectrum of services including business matching, online sourcing is offered to businesses by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.       

Bonnie holds a MBA (Executive) degree from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Business degree from the University of Technology, Sydney.  She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

The Chapter is delighted to feature the following South Australian businesses which have been trading in Hong Kong and China:

JOHN GERARD, Director of Gerard Corporation Pty Ltd

Gerard Corporation, which was formed in 2003, has 10 subsidiaries within the Group with his main involvement being in Custom Cartons, which manufactures corrugated cartons and packaging and also International Testing & Certificate Services, which is an electrical testing facility for the accessory and appliance industry, operating in Adelaide, Melbourne and Hong Kong.

Prior to this John was Production Director of Gerard Industries Pty Ltd and during the expansion of the offshore operation, John was instrumental in establishing manufacturing facilities in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.  In 1981-83 he lived in Malaysia where John held the position of General Manager of a joint venture electrical manufacturing company producing for the local and export markets.

MICHAEL W HIGGS, Director of World Wide Wearables  

Michael leads World Wide Wearables, a 100% Australian Owned, Hong Kong Company, which specialises in general fashion accessories.  He is the winner of the HKABA-SA Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008.  The father-and-son business, Promotional Products International based in Adelaide, has been a huge success taking on the market niche to develop its intellectual property in Adelaide, having an operating base in Hong Kong and contracting-out manufacturing into mainland China.

World Wide Wearables has more than 30 years experience sourcing from the Far East.  It provides a one-stop sourcing hub for headwear, belts and accessories.  It also owns the Patent and Trademark for Uni-fit Flexible Fitted Headwear.  It also represents the World’s biggest belt manufacturer.

SUSAN LEE, Co-Founder and Business Development Director of Soniclean

Susan is a former winner of the Women of Distinction award and one of the inaugural Business Ambassadors of South Australia.  Susan is a Government appointed Member of the Business Development Council of South Australia and on the working party for business funding, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Susan heads up Soniclean’s marketing and business development team and is currently working on the company’s strategic plan to take Soniclean to the Global market. This activity includes establishing a Global network of distributors to sell Soniclean products all over the worldwide and to move Soniclean into ‘e’ business sales through the internet while at the same time branding the Soniclean product throughout the world.



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