Hong Kong – The 19th edition of Eco Expo Asia was successfully held from 30 October to 2 November 2024 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, and co-organised by the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), this year’s event attracted over 8,500 buyers from 94 countries and regions, and over 300 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions, showcasing a wide variety of cutting-edge environmental products and technologies. Eco Expo Asia once again proved to be a vital platform for advancing green innovation and fostering international business collaboration.
Industry leaders, enterprises, policymakers, and academics from across the globe gathered at Eco Expo Asia 2024 to address current environmental challenges and explore potential solutions. Centered around the theme “Fostering Green Innovations for Carbon Neutrality”, the show featured products from a wide variety of sectors of the environmental protection industry including air quality, water treatment and quality management, eco-friendly products, green buildings, green finance and ESG, green transportation, new energy and energy efficiency and waste management. The final day, 2 November, was open to the public to raise awareness about climate-related issues and highlight the efforts of both the government and private sector in tackling them.
Overseas participation groups from Canada, Finland, Norway and the Netherlands
This year’s exhibition featured participating groups from 11 countries and regions including Canada, Mainland China, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Macao, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Taiwan and the USA.
With the backing of Innovation Norway, the debuting Norway participation group highlighted cutting-edge technologies for water quality management and waste treatment. Dr Zuliang Liao, Regional Tech Director & Project Development Engineer, Cambi represented one of the participating companies, emphasising the show’s importance for networking: “We’ve made numerous business and government contacts at the show from various countries and regions, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Czech Republic and Mainland China. We are likely to return in the future, as the show provides a productive platform for both making connections and promoting our brand.”
Similarly, Finland, recognised for its leadership in sustainability, introduced innovative solutions in these fields with its returning participation group. Reflecting on their participation, Mr Jari Vepsäläinen, Chairman, Fintrade-Mercer highlighted the diverse opportunities that Eco Expo Asia offers, stating: “The event has allowed us to meet with key people from various countries and regions including Norway, Czech Republic, Japan, and of course, Mainland China and Hong Kong. The quality of the attendees is excellent, with meaningful conversations and networking opportunities.”
Another participation group returning to the show for the first time since 2017 was the Netherlands, where one of the participants, Mr Alfie Su, Area Sales Manager Asia, Dorset Green Machines shared similar sentiments, expressing his satisfaction with the exhibition’s quality: “The exhibition has exceeded our expectations, and what stands out is the high quality of visitors, as the attendees are genuinely interested in discussing technology and potential collaborations.”
This year also saw many pavilions from different regions and cities in Mainland China, such as Anhui, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guangzhou, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Macao, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
The debuting Anhui Pavilion showcased technologies aimed at air quality, water treatment, and quality management, along with advancements in new energy materials and equipment. Mr Dexi He, Deputy Technical Director, Anhui Landun Photoelectron Co Ltd reflected on the fair’s organisation and the quality of buyers they encountered “Hong Kong serves as a great starting point for international exchanges and this is reflected in the buyers we’ve met from Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. The fair is very well organised, especially the way the organisers brought key clients to our booth. This has greatly helped us in precisely targeting customers.”
Meanwhile the returning Inner Mongolia Pavilion highlighted innovative solutions in environmental protection, ecological restoration, and new energy. Ms Hong Cai, General Manager, Runtai Green Energy shared her positive impression of the event, stating: “The foot traffic has been good, and you can sense that people are becoming more active in environmental protection. Finding solutions here has been very convenient and efficient.”
Overseas visitors to the show also greatly appreciated the variety products on display from different countries, cementing Hong Kong’s position as an international hub for green business and technology:
Mr Juan Alexis Pérez Jara, CEO, Naguer travelled to Eco Expo Asia from Spain to explore solar power solutions, commented on the variety of products available, explaining: “In Europe, it is very difficult to find solutions for our industry compared to here in Hong Kong, especially for repair and maintenance and I have met more than 15 potential suppliers on the first day alone.”
Reflecting on her first visit to the exhibition, Ms Ruth Sonnia Agustina M, Digital Technology Manager, PT Moda Integrasi Transportasi Jabodetabek expressed her admiration for the diverse range of technology showcased, saying: “I’ve made valuable connections, and we’re exploring technologies like EV charging and air quality sensors that could be proposed to our partners back in Indonesia.”
Mr Rong Mai, General Manager of Nanchang Guochang Environmental Protection Technology Co Ltd, highlighted Hong Kong’s international appeal, remarking: “We have already engaged with several companies from Mainland China and Finland. Due to Hong Kong’s status as an international metropolis, it attracts noticeably more overseas exhibitors and environmental experts than many other shows.”
Eco Asia Conference unites global industry leaders to discuss green policies and key environmental issues
The Eco Asia Conference provided insights into China’s most recent environmental policies. Additionally, government representatives from Belt and Road countries, including Laos, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Brunei, and Vietnam, presented overviews of their own green policies and environmental initiatives.
One of the key sessions, titled “Decarbonisation & Expanding the Boundaries of New Energy”, featured experts from organisations such as the Hong Kong Productivity Council and Towngas. They discussed cutting-edge technologies and developments in the new energy sector, emphasising its growing application across a wide range of industries. Mr Nelson Chan, Vice President, Quadrogen Power Systems was one of the panellists at the session, commenting: “I was really pleased to participate in the panel discussion today, as it is very helpful for educating the public about the future of hydrogen technologies and policies. These conversations allow us to move forward and find better solutions, and I found the audience very engaged today, showing a strong grasp of the tactics, policies, and commercial aspects involved.”
Other important sessions included “Green Innovations & Technology towards Carbon Neutrality in Built Environment”, “360° Embracing Circular Economy” as well as the returning Hydrogen Economy Forum. Mr Paulo Ribeiro, Director, Mechanical Engineering, Wynn Palace was one the audience members attending the Government Departments’ Forum: Government Projects Adopting Low-Carbon Solutions, commenting: “I’m keen to learn about the new technologies and how we can integrate new sustainability solutions into our projects. The seminars are of high quality, and I think Eco Expo Asia is a valuable platform for exchanging ideas among the green industry.”
A notable focus this year was ESG, which included several exhibitors, the “ESG Job Hub” and multiple fringe events including the “ESG Business Exchange” and “Future Green Leaders – ESG Career Talk”. Mr Mark Cheung, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Network of Environmental Student Societies, was one of the speakers at the ESG Career Talk, who emphasised the inclusive nature of ESG: “The key message of my talk is that ESG and sustainability are accessible to everyone, regardless of background. It’s also commendable that this exhibition makes these topics more accessible to a broader local audience, including students and the general public.”
Eco Expo Asia 2025 will take place in 28 – 31 October 2025 in AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong. The show is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and co-organised by the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). For more information about the fair, please email ecoexpo@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com or exhibitions@hktdc.org, or visit www.ecoexpoasia.com.
For more information on Messe Frankfurt’s global portfolio of trade fairs in the environmental technologies sector, please visit https://technology.messefrankfurt.com/frankfurt/en/environmental-technologies.html.
