An agreement between the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and the HKTDC was signed last week, following the number of exhibitors taking part this year. Australia was the country with the largest representation at the show with 65 participants.
Fred Lam, executive director of the HKTDC, said: "It seems fitting that when it comes to announcing our partner country for next year we are passing the baton from the Old World to the New World," France was the partner country during the second edition.
Australia is Hong Kong's fourth-largest supplier of wine and the value of imports from Australia to Hong Kong between January and September this year increased by 22% compared with the same period last year, according to Drinks Business.
India also showed a decent presence with ten wineries present- Sula, Grover, Indage, UB, Vintage, Big Banyan, d’Ori, Deccan Plateau, Renaissance, and Empire. Mrs. V. Kotwal, CEO of the Indian Grape Processing Board which organised the producers, was very satisfied with the response and hopes that next year will see a bigger participation at the show. The constant stream of people at the Indian stand was quite encouraging.
A group of importers had also visited the show under the banner of Indian Wine Academy and most were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the show, the seminars, amount of wineries present and the business possibilities that came up.
Next year’s Fair will be a big test of the prowess as the Vinexpo Hong Kong also lands up during the same year. |