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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, visited the 7th Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (November 6).
Held from November 6 to 8, the fair has attracted more than 1,000 exhibitors from 38 countries and regions, with new participants from Belarus, Colombia and the Republic of Macedonia. A wide variety of wine and spirits from all over the world are featured in the exhibition.
Mr So toured the exhibition zones of Hong Kong and the major wine-producing regions. He met with exhibitors to learn about their sales situation and exchanged views with them on Hong Kong's positioning as a regional wine trading hub.
"Since the Government removed all wine duties in 2008, wine trading and wine-related businesses have continued to grow, bringing substantial economic benefits to Hong Kong and giving impetus to economic diversification," said Mr So.
"We will continue to strengthen the promotion of wine mega events locally, encourage the organisation of international wine promotion activities in Hong Kong, and attract more overseas wine traders to establish sales platforms in Hong Kong to serve Asia, in order to enhance Hong Kong's role as a regional wine trading hub."
Hong Kong's wine sector has registered substantial growth since the removal of all wine duties and duty-related customs and administrative controls for wine in 2008. In 2013, the total value of wine imports and re-exports stood at HK$8 billion and HK$1.59 billion respectively, rising 5-fold and 2.8-fold compared with 2007.
In the first nine months of this year, the value of wine imports exceeded HK$6 billion, increasing by about 2 per cent compared with the same period last year. The value of wine re-exports is HK$1.63 billion for the same period, a rise of 36 per cent year-on-year.
Ends/Thursday, November 6, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:07
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