HK serves as licensing base

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-7-3  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

HONG Kong has been favored by many international licensors and agents as the strategic base for accessing the growing Chinese mainland licensing market, a local trade official said yesterday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Licensing Show, Benjamin Chau, assistant executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, said the mainland has come to be the second-largest licensing trade market in Asia.

Organizers of the Hong Kong show, which saw more than 130 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, established a group pavilion for exhibitors from the Chinese mainland, alongside group pavilions for Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

The Chinese mainland licensing market was worth more than US$1.1 billion in 2005, compared to US$600 million in 2001, and has been expanding fast to become the second-largest market in Asia, and with huge potential, too, the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association said.

Major sports events such as the Beijing Olympics in August as well as the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai were also adding to the momentum of the booming mainland market.