Eco Expo Asia attracts over 8,400 visitors from 89 countries and regions

With the theme “Green Tech for a Low-Carbon Economy”, the 6th edition of Eco Expo Asia, held from 26 – 29 October 2011 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong, attracted over 8,400 visitors from 89 countries and regions who were looking for eco products, technologies and services presented by 269 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions.

The four-day event was organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and is co-organised by the Environment Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. “Hong Kong is the ideal platform for environmental companies tapping into the Chinese mainland market,” Mr Yau said in his opening speech. “I believe that Eco Expo Asia can contribute to the development of environmental protection industry.”

Exhibitors praise show as an effective business platform

This year’s show featured international pavilions from Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as pavilions from Foshan, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen. In addition, there were group participants from Germany, Jiangmen, the Netherlands, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhongshan and the Water Pollution Control Committee of China Environmental Protection Industry Association.

Exhibitors were happy with the visitor quality which generated many business opportunities. Springboard Biodiesel, an exhibitor at the USA Pavilion, recycles used cooking oil and turns it into biodiesel. Mr Mark J Robers, the company’s Chief Executive Officer said: “Visitor quality is high. I have met importers, exporters and people working in the cleantec energy industry. Using this opportunity to meet face-to-face with the contacts I established earlier, I am very close to concluding business deals.”

Mr Masaru Fukuda, Managing Director of Japanese company MFJ Co Ltd, provider of industrial waste disposal systems and technologies, was also impressed by the visitor quality. He commented: “I am surprised to see so many international visitors. There are construction companies, engineers, contractors and traders of machinery. Right now my colleague is discussing co-operation with a Hong Kong environmental protection company we met here at the show.”

Guangzhou Tophill Investment Co Ltd is the subsidiary of Guangzhou Jinlongfeng Environmental Protection Equipment & Engineering Co Ltd, the second largest environmental protection company in Guangdong Province of China. Mr Solon Tan, Marketing Director said: “Visitors are professional and the result is very positive. Being held in Hong Kong, the fair has international influence. It helps us to go beyond China. We have met visitors from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Kuwait. Some of them have already established initial co-operation with us.”

Hong Kong exhibitor Oxyvital Limited, specialising in air purification was another company confident of securing business. Mr Siew-Kiat Wang, Chief Executive Officer explained: “We developed our own patented air purification technology using principles of molecular interaction of gaseous pollutants. We met architects, interior designers and factories from the Chinese mainland, USA and Southeast Asia. There is also a local developer showing great interest in installing our air purifiers into their next real estate project.”

Innovative eco products and technologies capture visitor interest

Visitors to Eco Expo Asia, including 46 buying missions with a total of more than 1,100 delegates were impressed with the variety and innovation of products and technologies displayed.

Regular show visitor Mr Kelvin Wong, Marketing Manager of the Golden China Import and Export Trading Company from Hong Kong, highlighted the attractiveness of Eco Expo Asia. “There are always new exhibitors and new things,” he said. “I was greatly interested in eco-permeable ceramic tiles, sound-proof panels and heat-proof glass.”

First time visitor Mr Sivahar Muthuramalingam, Head of Marketing, for Think Green (Pvt) Ltd from Sri Lanka, commented: “I found some very interesting products and technologies including a wireless building energy management system, food waste processor and waste management solutions. I’m particularly impressed by the mosaic products made from used circuit board. I have also got some good contacts for future co-operation.”

Another first time visitor was Ms Gao Yu Ping, Sales Director of Chinese company Denmark Hua He Lin Co Xiamen Branch. She said. “I have found some fascinating ones including an indoor vegetable plantation system from Japan, a coir stitched blanket for soil erosion control from India and green wall modules from Hong Kong. The fair is very worthwhile to visit.”

High profile fringe events impressed attendees

The concurrent Bank of China (Hong Kong) Eco Asia Conference was divided into five sessions: Eco Opportunities and Challenges in the Mainland’s 12th Five-Year Plan, Green Tech Transfer & Business Opportunities; Waste Management & Recycling; Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency; and Green Building.

Mr Hu Jianwei, Managing Director of Sweden Blue Briny Deep International AB, was impressed by the talk about Stockholm’s waste management. “This seminar gave me a picture of the waste management difference between Europe and China,” he said. “The speaker from the Environmental Information Centre GlashusEtt shared experiences which can be adapted to Chinese cities. I can see the high potential of the eco business we have.”

The Exchange Forum was a new initiative this year to enable selected exhibitors to discuss co-operation directly with potential buyers. The Eco-Wiz Group from Singapore was one of the participants and Ms Diane Tang, the company’s manager remarked, “It is a good idea to meet our potential clients, including three consultants, face-to-face at the Exchange Forum.”

The next edition of Eco Expo Asia will be held from 27 – 30 October 2012 at AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong.