'Hong Kong in Style' comes to successful close as several deals closed and glamorous products showcased

The exhibition served as a business development platform for Hong Kong companies and brands that are looking to increase penetration in the Middle East's rapidly expanding markets.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council was the organizing force behind Hong Kong's largest ever exhibition of products in the Middle East, running at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from November 7-10, and serving as a backdrop for Hong Kong's highest-level business mission to the Middle East, organized by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce.

The business mission, led by General Chamber Chairman Mr David Eldon, met with senior executives of the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone and the Dubai Investment Group, which has chosen Hong Kong for one of its first overseas offices, to open in January.

The delegation also toured the upscale Dubai shopping mall themed after the journeys of 14th century Arab explorer Ibn Battuta. Hong Kong jewellery manufacturer Aaron Shum, president of Lifestyle Arts and Fine Jewellery, recently opened a boutique in the mall. "It's a huge mall with excellent attractions that targets Dubai's huge tourism market and large community of resident expatriates," Shum commented.

The 'Hong Kong in Style' exhibition, held in parallel with Dubai's International Autumn Trade Fair, featured thousands of products from over 225 companies. The exhibition followed the success of the first "Hong Kong in Style" expo in Dubai a year ago, and combined profile-raising with networking.

The four-day show was formally opened by Sheikh Hasher Maktoum Juma Al Maktoum, the Dubai Government's Director of Information. Prominent products on display included electronics and IT products, garments and accessories, gifts and premium jewellery, watches and clocks as well as household goods.

A highlight of the event was the Hong Kong gala dinner and jewellery and watch parade at the Grand Hyatt on November 7th, attended by 500 government and business leaders as well as Dubai-based buyers and regional media.

One of the exhibitors, Paul B Bathan, Operations Manager, Middle East and GCC, Lifestyle Arts & Fine Jewelry said: "The show is a good entry point into the booming Middle East market, and has been great for generating business leads."

Another exhibitor, Eddie Wong, Marketing Manager, Peace Mark Limited said, "The UAE market is growing rapidly, and the show has served as an excellent business platform. We received a lot of inquiries about our products. While the Hong Kong in Style exhibition is still set to grow, we managed to glean very useful information on the Dubai market for watches."

Ricky T.K Choi, Sales Supervisor, Goodway Electrical Co, Ltd said: "The exhibition was excellent for our company profile. If invited, we will certainly participate next time, and we fully support future exhibitions."

The UAE is Hong Kong's top export market in the Middle East. In the first nine months of 2005, Hong Kong's exports to the UAE edged up year-on-year by 7 percent to US$1.4 billion. The UAE imports clothing, telecommunications equipment, watches and clocks, pearls, office machine and computer parts and accessories and audio & video equipment from Hong Kong.