With huge participation of Asian suppliers and international buyers, the highly anticipated 6th Asia Expo lived up to its worldwide reputation as one of the best trade fairs for Asian products in Europe. During the three-day show held on 2 – 4 February, 2006, over 600 Asian manufacturers and more than 8,600 mainly European trade professionals gathered under the same roof of the Grand Hall, Olympia Exhibition Centre in London, making it a bustling fairground with thriving business opportunities.

Mr. Herbert Ip, Chairman of Kenfair International, explained the background of the 6-years-old Asia Expo: “This London show is the first exhibition launched under the ‘Asia Expo’ brand, which is designed to promote and facilitate direct trade amongst Asian manufacturers and international buyers looking for top-quality and yet competitively-priced Asian toys, gifts, premium and household products. London has long been one of the largest business centres in Western Europe. It was carefully selected in 2001 and has since remained as the host city of the Asia Expo.”

The exhibition’s purposeful schedule also plays a key role in its continual success. “Held in early-February each year, the Asia Expo is conveniently timed to coincide with many other major trade exhibitions in European countries like the U.K., Germany, Italy and France. We believe the buyers can therefore easily incorporate the Asia Expo into their year-starting sourcing trips. Meanwhile, this large congregation of buyers in search of quality Asian products sets to deliver benefits for the Asian exhibitors too. At the Asia Expo in London, these buyers can source their targeted Asian products right at their home continent, saving the time, cost and other hassles of travelling to Asia distantly,” added Mr. Duncan Cheung, Managing Director of Kenfair International.

With these unique advantages and the growing industry-wide recognition, the Asia Expo has secured “UFI-Approved” status by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry since 2003. Backed by this critical international acclaim, the expo has made its mark in the global trade fair calendar over the years.

The 6th edition of this annual trade fair, staged at the Grand Hall, Olympia Exhibition Centre has certainly been one of the best sessions since its debut in 2001. The characteristically cold and grey London weather failed to dampen the keen buying atmosphere of the three-day show, as a grand total of 8,605 buyers showed up to source the latest range of innovative toys, gifts, premium and household products displayed in the 650 stands.

The largest contingent of exhibitors at the 2006 Asia Expo came from Hong Kong, with approximately 320 participants, accounting for just over half of the show’s exhibiting companies. That was followed by the 138 Taiwanese companies and a further 115 exhibitors from the Mainland China. There were also significant representation from such Asian countries as Korea, India, the Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand.

The exhibitors took the opportunity to showcase their latest offer of top-notched and innovative products, ranging from advertising and promotional premium, arts and crafts, bags, bathroom and bedroom accessories, beauty and healthcare products, ceramics and porcelain, consumer electronics, festival and party accessories, gifts, houseware, kitchenware, packaging and paper products, photo and picture frames, stationery, timepieces, toys and games, umbrellas and wickerwork, etc.

The general consensus amongst the Asia Expo exhibitors was a high degree of satisfaction. Most of the participating suppliers were impressed with the professional arrangement of the fair, the flow of quality buyers, and most importantly, the opportunity rendered at the fair to directly get in touch and do business with the big buyers of their target market.

"I'm happy with what happened these two days. We met quite a good number of potential buyers. Many enquiries look very positive. This year's show has been a successful year for us and we definitely will participate in the show again in the forthcoming year," remarked Miss Michelle Yuen of Bronzart Gift Manufacturing (HK) Ltd., a second-year exhibitor.

Mr. Sam Gao, Sales Director of Changzhou Quality Flag Industry Co., Ltd. from China expressed good comments, too. He said, "This London show is very good to let us meet directly with the buyers from U.K. and the nearby countries. I'm satisfied with the business results generated here. We are able to do a good promotion and marketing for our products here. Most likely, we will come back again next year."

This positive sentiment is also shared by the trade buyers who visited the Asia Expo. Many of them were fascinated by the huge diversity of products on display.

“I got to know this London show on newspaper advertisements just before the show. I’m glad I came to see many quality suppliers here, and the variety of products is nothing short of impressive,” commented Mr. M. A. Howle, Managing Director of Siam Traders Ltd. from the U.K., a first-time buyer at the Asia Expo.

His views are shared by Ms. Frances Thornicroft of the Phoenix People Ltd., another U.K.-based importer. She said, “My company imports a lot of gifts and fashion accessories from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Korea, India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Pakistan. For me, the Asia Expo is a really great show.”

The show also attracted buyers from other thriving European economies.

“I represent an agent from France, and I’m looking for products from China, Thailand, India and Pakistan. My visit to the Asia Expo has been fruitful, as I found a wide range of quality toys, gifts, premium, timepieces and fashion accessories here,” said Mrs. Benedicte D’hart, a French buyer.

While the product variety is certainly recognised as the main attraction of the show, some buyers also found added bonuses in the show’s on-site services.

“Household products from China and Hong Kong are the main products I’m looking for at the fair this year. I find that the overall quality of the exhibitors is good and I managed to source some of my desired products. The friendly staff members and the comfortable buyer lounge are really great too,” said Mr. Dieter Ljubojevic, a buyer from IDL Productions in Germany.

The show has also developed to become a regular sourcing platform for many repeat buyers, like Mr. Malcolm Harding, Director of U.K.-based Pace International Services Limited, who has already confirmed his coming back at the 2007 show. “I visit the Asia Expo every year because of the wide variety of products and the good quality of the exhibitors. I like most of the show. I will keep coming back to the show next year,” he commented.

The upcoming 7th Asia Expo will again be launched at the Grand Hall, Olympia Exhibition Centre in London in early-February, 2007. Interested parties can keep track on the expo updates at Kenfair’s website: www.kenfair.com.