An annual e-commerce shopping festival supporting Hong Kong’s small and medium-sized enterprises will expand into the Asean region for the first time via Singapore and Malaysia, with plans to include other countries in future.
The Trade Development Council, the organiser, said on Tuesday that the third edition of the annual Hong Kong Shopping Festival, launching next month, had attracted a record number of local brands across its mainland China and Asean editions this year.
The annual festival, which focused on the mainland market for its first two editions, aims to align with government calls to support the city’s small and medium-sized enterprises in expanding their cross-border e-commerce business.
“Empowered by technology, the landscape of trade and retail is undergoing profound change, and e-commerce has become a vital channel for both local and cross-boundary sales,” Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said.
“The [government] is committed to supporting local enterprises in their digital transformation and in expanding their cross-boundary e-commerce operations.”
Chan added that in addition to strengthening the festival’s presence on the mainland, the inclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year would help Hong Kong brands and products reach more consumers and tap new opportunities.
The mainland edition of this year’s festival will run from August 1 to 20, while the Asean version will be held from September 21 to 27.