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With dates confirmed and exhibitor registration in full swing, preparations for the 22nd edition of the popular sourcing trade fair are well underway. The focus will fall on maximising business opportunities in one of Asia’s most international cities. The fair will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8 – 11 January 2024 alongside the online ‘Click2Match’ business matching platform (8 – 18 January). Expanded product categories include school supplies, learning resources, gift stationery, pen & paper, creative art, and office supplies. In addition, the category of green stationery displays innovative sustainable paper products to equip the modern workplace.

A business discussion in progress at the 2023 Fair.

Despite ongoing challenges such as raw material inflation, there are positive signs that the industry recovery is gaining momentum, particularly in the school supplies category. Amid the resumption of in-class learning, this segment is expected to exceed USD 131 billion by 20301, with Asia Pacific leading the way in terms of market share. Additionally, other young consumer groups are coming into the spotlight. Millennials and Gen Z now account for more than half of total stationery sales for some retailers2, especially when it comes to paper products and writing equipment. In order to balance their heavy usage of digital technology, this growing new consumer base is gravitating towards unique and bespoke stationery. Looking towards the opportunities that lay ahead in 2024, Ms Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, says: “As Hong Kong continues to regain momentum as a leading destination for international trade in Asia, we are delighted to confirm the new dates for the fair. The core strengths of the fair have not changed. Its internationality, as well as its broad reach across school, office, and educational supplies are undoubtedly attractions for buying houses and distributors, while exhibitors also recognise the fair as the best place in Asia to meet a wide variety of foreign buyers, not only from the region, but also from Europe and North America.” A platform to expand international business after the pandemic For many exhibitors, their participation is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with international customers. At the most recent edition, Mr Kelvin Fung, Company Representative, Jiang Men Huang Wan Yu Wei Handbag Factory said: “Our aim is to win new clients, and we’ve welcomed around 30 customers at our booth from countries such as the UAE, Poland, Italy, and Germany. The pandemic has affected the market, therefore we are investing more in exhibiting at trade fairs to appeal to new business contacts. I think what differentiates the Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair from other local trade fairs is its ability to attract international buyers as well as trading companies from Hong Kong.” The 2024 fair will continue to receive support from prominent Asian stationery associations like the Taiwan Association of Stationery Industries, the Malaysia Stationery Importers and Exporters Association, the Federation of Stationers and Booksellers Association of Malaysia and the Thai Stationeries and Office Supplies Association. A variety of seminars, workshops, and networking events will provide attendees with an immersive experience that goes beyond a mere product demonstration. Organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the fair will be held concurrently with the HKTDC’s Hong Kong Toys &amp; Games Fair and the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, providing a one-stop sourcing platform and crossover business opportunities for participants.   For further information about the Hong Kong International Stationery &amp; School Supplies Fair, please visit <a href="http://www.hkstationeryfair.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.hkstationeryfair.com</a><hr />1 Back-To-School Market Size Exceed $131.18 Billion by 2030. Digital Journal: <a href="https://shorturl.at/rsF68" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shorturl.at/rsF68.</a> Published 22 April 2023.2 Pushing the envelope: designer stationery is a hot fashion trend. The Guardian: <a href="https://shorturl.at/opDM0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://shorturl.at/opDM0.</a> Published: 9 October 2022.

Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd

Media Enquiries

Background information on Messe Frankfurt The Messe Frankfurt Group is one of the world’s leading trade fair, congress and event organisers with their own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,200* people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 28 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2022 were around €450 million*. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs &amp; Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity. For more information, please visit our website at: <a href="http://www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability</a>. With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent). For more information, please visit our website at: <a href="http://www.messefrankfurt.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.messefrankfurt.com</a> * preliminary figures 2022

About the HKTDC The <a href="https://www.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC)</a> is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 <a href="https://aboutus.hktdc.com/contact-us#globalNetwork" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offices</a> globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?eventFormat=Exhibition&amp;location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">international exhibitions</a>, <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?eventFormat=ConferenceForum&amp;location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conferences</a> and <a href="https://event.hktdc.com/?location=all" target="_blank" rel="noopener">business missions</a> to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via <a href="http://www.hktdc.com/ncs/pm/en/main/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trade publications</a>, <a href="http://research.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research reports</a> and <a href="http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digital channels</a>. For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.hktdc.com/aboutus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.hktdc.com/aboutus</a>. Follow us on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hktdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/hkstationeryfair/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2022/07/icons__twitter.png" alt="Twitter" width="25" height="25" /></a> Twitter @hktdc <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignnone" src="https://vep-tradeshow.hktdc.com/event/hkstationeryfair/wp-content/uploads/sites/44/2022/07/icons__linkedin.png" alt="Linkedin" width="25" height="25" /></a> LinkedIn

With dates confirmed and exhibitor registration in full swing, preparations for the 22nd edition of the popular sourcing trade fair are well underway. The focus will fall on maximising business opportunities in one of Asia’s most international cities. The fair will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8 – 11 January 2024 alongside the online ‘Click2Match’ business matching platform (8 – 18 January). Expanded product categories include school supplies, learning resources, gift stationery, pen & paper, creative art, and office supplies. In addition, the category of green stationery displays innovative sustainable paper products to equip the modern workplace.