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Hong Kong wrestles back 4 global trade shows from Singapore, Bangkok as Covid-19 travel restrictions are eased

  • Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong, Jewellery & Gem Asia Hong Kong, Cosmoprof Asia and Asia Fruit Logistica to return in 2023, tourism board says
  • ‘We’ve missed Hong Kong’, fruit fair organiser says

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Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong in 2021. Photo: Handout

Four global trade shows will return to Hong Kong in 2023 after a coronavirus-pandemic enforced hiatus during which many relocated temporarily to Singapore.

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Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong and Jewellery & Gem Asia Hong Kong will both return to the city next year, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). While the former was held in Singapore this year, a scaled-back Jewellery & Gem Asia Hong Kong was held in the city earlier this year, without any international participants because of Hong Kong’s tough quarantine rules.

The returning trade shows will give Hong Kong “an edge” when it comes to attracting more international business events, said Kenneth Wong, general manager of MICE and Cruise at HKTB.

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“Their return highlights Hong Kong’s strong fundamentals, favourable business environment, rich tourism offerings and enormous opportunities brought by the Greater Bay Area,” he said.

The return of global trade shows comes amid efforts by the Hong Kong government to bring back major events, since a slow scale-back of the city’s tough Covid-19 restrictions. November saw a slew of events including the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s first Global Financial Leaders Summit. This was followed by the return of the Rugby Sevens tournament, which had not been held in Hong Kong for three years.

Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong will be held at Asiaworld Expo and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on September 18-24, while Jewellery & Gem Asia Hong Kong will be held from June 22-25 at HKCEC, the HKTB said on Monday.

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“The last three years have proved that the jewellery sourcing experience is simply not the same without our fully-fledged, international business-to-business [B2B] fairs,” said David Bondi, senior vice-president at Informa Markets in Asia, which organises both the Jewellery & Gem shows.

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