Hong Kong’s exporters have roamed far and wide in the first half of 2025, actively participating in pavilions organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) at leading international trade fairs.
Apart from showcasing products and solutions, the Hong Kong pavilions promoted the city’s strengths and advantages in key sectors, such as innovation and technology, fashion and textiles, homeware, food and more, enhancing the city’s global trade presence.
Targeting tech in Europe, US
The HKTDC supported the city’s growing prominence in technology at key global tech fairs in Europe and North America.
In June, the Hong Kong Pavilion at Viva Technology in Paris - Europe’s biggest start-up and tech event - featured 20 start-ups presenting cutting-edge solutions in AI, robotics, healthtech, climate tech and fintech. The HKTDC organised the pavilion in partnership with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, and supporting organisations including Invest Hong Kong, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Hong Kong Cyberport.
Earlier in March, over 20 tech companies attended MWC Barcelona, a leading show in the mobile technology industry in a pavilion organised by the HKTDC and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP).
Several exhibitors announced major deals, including the deployment of a Hong Kong-designed concierge robot at future MWC-organised events, highlighting the city’s innovation and technology (I&T) capabilities.
Aside from product displays and demonstrations, seminars and networking receptions, start-up pitching session was a core element at both fairs.
Together, the two pavilions provided a valuable platform for showcasing innovation, attracting investment and expanding into the European market, while raising international awareness of Hong Kong’s start-ups.
I&T was also on the agenda in the USA, as the HKTDC led the largest-ever contingent of start-ups to leading tech trade show CES in Las Vegas in January this year, attended by over 142,000.
Hong Kong pavilions organised by the HKTDC and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) were staged in three CES zones, featuring in total some 60 start-ups, R&D institutions and companies.
Fashion focus in Mainland China and Europe
One of the most prominent trade events in Mainland China is the biannual fashion trade show CHIC in Shanghai, held in conjunction with exhibitions for textiles, knitwear and yarn.
In March, the HKTDC curated a pavilion at CHIC, featuring some 30 exhibitors specialising in lace, silk, viscose, tricot velvet and knitted fabrics alongside a contingent of manufacturers representing Hong Kong’s vibrant fashion industry.
With 100,000 buyers at the fair, they reported brisk trade, underlining the city’s status as a fashion powerhouse alongside other pavilions from Italy, France and Japan.
Fashion continued to be a focus of our events in Europe, with pavilions featured at Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags – two premier footwear, leather goods and accessories fairs.
Held twice a year in Riva del Garda, a picturesque town in northern Italy, the Expo has been running for more than 50 years, with the HKTDC a long-running participant.
Alongside Spain, Germany, Mainland China, the UK, Portugal and Brazil, the Hong Kong pavilion featured exhibitors parading their latest designs and innovations.
Hot on the expo’s heels, Fashion Hong Kong launched a month-long pop-up store in Milan’s luxury district in March, introducing emerging designers specialising in apparel, accessories and homeware to the European fashion scene.
A programme of company visits and networking activities accompanied the display, enabling Hong Kong brands to gain insights into the European retail market and make connections for future business expansion.
Home highlights in Thailand, US
Hong Kong’s homeware and food exporters took centre stage at events in Asia and the US.
The HKTDC brought over 20 F&B brands to take part in Asia’s largest F&B fair THAIFEX-Anuga Asia for the first time in Bangkok this May.
Exhibitors brought a range of products to the fair, including classic Hong Kong treats, such as egg rolls, shrimp roe noodles and almond cakes, as well as modern innovations, such as Ceylon milk tea in a drip pack format.
The Hong Kong pavilion also featured tea sets, cooking oils, condiments, sauces and more from up-and-coming F&B brands, displaying the city’s unique mix of flavours to some 90,000 fair visitors.
Turning to the US, at the Inspired Home Show in Chicago in March - North America’s largest home and houseware fair – buyers explored products spanning cleaning, storage, dining, decoration, travel, wellness and more.
Hong Kong’s high-profile pavilion in the International Sourcing zone featured some 30 companies. Buyers were impressed by the suppliers’ innovative design and production solutions in the face of a changing market.
The momentum continues into the rest of the year with more pavilions planned across the mainland, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Watch this space for more exciting developments ahead!
