Loretta Wan, regional director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Southeast Asia and India, said the event is expected to attract buyers from countries such as the UK, France, Italy, Japan, China, Singapore, Australia and the Middle East, keen to shop for modern and hi-tech furniture.

About 250 exhibitors are expected to take part in what is Hong Kong's first international furniture fair.

The show will feature a range of high-quality home furnishings and decorative products aimed at the international market.

Thai furniture exporters interested in taking part in the event should contact either the Export Promotion Department or the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Wan said.

Ing Jintanaphan, general manager of Thai furniture exporter Elephant House Co Ltd, plans to exhibit at the fair. She said it would be in line with the company's strategy to promote its products to the global market, as the event would attract their target customers.

"We don't expect to get many sales at the fair but hope buyers will place orders after they have shopped around," she said.

She said that almost all of the company's export orders come from the Bangkok International Gift and Furniture Fair.

Ing hopes that taking part in an international fair outside the country will boost the company's exports. Elephant House currently exports to the USA, the UK and Japan.

The Export Promotion Department expects furniture exports to total US$1.4 billion (Bt52.4 billion) this year, up 10 per cent on last year. However, after the first five months, their value was just $490 million, down 1.26 per cent on the same period last year. Wan said that taking part in the Hong Kong fair should help boost exports in the fourth quarter.

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation