The four-day Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and the concurrent electronicAsia attracted more than 97,000 buyers from 140 countries and regions, with the electronics portion drawing a 5-percent increase, compared with last year’s show.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Councils’ combined exhibitions at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre also welcomed 3,900 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions.

The electronics fair alone drew more than 64,000 buyers, a fair record. An increase in buyers came from Asian regions such as the Chinese mainland, South Korea and Taiwan, as well as significant growth from ASEAN and emerging markets such as Columbia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Among the major retailers represented were Best Buy (United States), Carrefour (France), MGB Metro (Germany), ozon.ru (Russia), Future Group (India), and PChome (Taiwan).

HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Benjamin Chau said emerging markets are standing out as developed European and American economies remain mired in uncertainty, and buyers become more cautious.

“On the other hand, middle class consumer segments in emerging markets such as South America and Eastern Europe are expanding relentlessly and people there are going after consumer goods with outstanding designs and features,” Chau said..

He added, “With the increasing popularity of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, there is huge demand for related accessories, audio-visual products and apps. So there is still handsome growth potential in the market.”

This year’s Autumn fair was the first to introduce a Small-Order Zone, which offered more than 1,000 premium products from 220-plus suppliers.

An “Experience Corner” also was set up to allow buyers to inspect or try out products. Approximately 19,000 buyers visited the zone during the fair, creating nearly 13,000 trade connections during the event’s four-day period.

German buyer Rolf Weimann said the new feature helped her find what she needed. “We concentrate on identifying practical small household appliances, and in the Small-Order Zone I have tested out some products. This gives me a better understanding of their features and more confidence in them,” she said. “There are many variables in the market and our sourcing strategy has changed. At this stage we will mostly buy in small batches and will only place repeat orders if market response is good."

Industry players said they also appreciated having two events in a single venue to find the latest products, technology and market information, according to show organizers.

“Hong Kong is the best location for sourcing,” said Mihaela Babaran, an Eastern European buyer. “The simultaneous running of two major exhibitions has allowed me to come into grasp with product as well as industry trends in one go.”

The 33rd edition of the EFSE and the 17^th edition of the electronicAsia will be held next October in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.