Nov. 14, 2024 — The 32nd Hong Kong International Optical Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Optical Manufacturers Association, concluded three days of international optical excellence on Nov. 8. The event gathered 13,000 buyers from 94 countries and regions, with an increase in participants from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries in addition to Australia, Japan, and Taiwan.
The fair introduced three new thematic labels: Green Solutions Suppliers, Smart Eyewear, and Smart Ageing Products. These new classifications are designed to help buyers find products aligned with current industry trends, such as sustainability and technological innovation—two categories that exhibitors noted performed well: Hong Kong exhibitor Winky International, specializing in biodegradable eyewear, saw a 10% increase in booth visitors and expects up to 10 new distributor partnerships, with sales projected to grow by 50%.
The "Green Booth Design Award" was also unveiled this year to celebrate exhibitors that made a notable effort in reducing the environmental footprint of their exhibition booth. This year’s winners were United Creation Optical (Gold), Obe (HK) (Silver), and Arts Optical (Bronze).
Demand for smart eyewear was also evident, with Solos Technology's AirGo Vision, featuring ChatGPT-4o integration, attracting buyers from multiple countries. Orders were aided by the fair's Click2Match platform for streamlined deal-making and preparation.
The 24th Hong Kong Eyewear Design Competition, themed “Be Bold,” showcased local talent. Lin Dianqun from Arts Optical won in the Open Group with a design inspired by traditional Chinese ceramics, also securing the Creativity and Made-to-Sell awards. In the Student Group, Zhu Junbin from the Hong Kong Design Institute won for Echol Light, eyewear designed to assist visually impaired users with echolocation.
In addition to the fair, the 22nd Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium invited experts from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Australia, and Germany to share the latest research focused on the question “Myopia—From Control to Prevention, Where Are We Now?”
The HKTDC's Exhibition+ hybrid model enabled exhibitors and buyers to continue networking online through Nov. 15 using the Click2Match platform.