Three concurrent trade shows in Hong Kong – the Autumn Lighting Fair, the Outdoor and Tech Light Expo and Eco Expo Asia – attracted around 62,000 buyers from 152 countries and regions, with exhibitors reporting multimillion-dollar deals in smart lighting, LED displays and green technology.
The 28th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and the 11th Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo were both organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). They ran alongside the 21st Eco Expo Asia, which the HKTDC organised jointly with Messe Frankfurt (HK), with the HKSAR government’s Environment and Ecology Bureau as co-organiser.
The Hall of Aurora gathered some 500 renowned brands offering high-quality lighting products.
Visiting buyers came mainly from mainland China, Taiwan, India, Korea and the US, as well as ASEAN countries including Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.
“The three major exhibitions received an enthusiastic response, fully demonstrating Hong Kong’s advantages as an international trade platform and the appeal of HKTDC exhibitions,” said HKTDC associate executive director Silas Chu.
Chu pointed to smart connectivity, healthy living and LED display technology as the focus of the two lighting fairs. Eco Expo Asia, meanwhile, debuted an ASEAN Pavilion and a GoGlobal Connect Zone offering business-to-government, business-to-business and business-to-consumer matchmaking.
Industry upbeat on smart lighting
An independent survey of more than 740 exhibitors and buyers at the two lighting fairs found that 63% expect sales to rise over the next two years, while 34% anticipate no change. Mainland China (85%), the Middle East (84%) and ASEAN (84%) were named the most promising markets.
Respondents ranked artificial intelligence (54%), technological advancement (44%) and smart city development (43%) as the main drivers of growth. Some 86 per cent described the two-year outlook for smart lighting as promising or very promising, with home automation and smart lighting control systems (39%) and energy-efficient lighting controls (30%) singled out.
The twin lighting fairs hosted a series of seminars and forums. The Innovative Lighting Design Forum invited three lighting design maestros to share the latest industry trends, including Dr Yan Liu (second right), Design Director of China at AT Design & Consulting Co Ltd, who was involved in projects such as the Louvre in Paris and the Palace Museum in Beijing; Lighting Designer at MEGS Lighting, Adam Meredith (far right), who led the lighting design for The Metropolitan Museum of Art and M+; and Lighting Design Manager (Africa) at Signify, Omar Elkerm (second left), who has been responsible for the lighting design of several Egyptian pyramids.
Racing simulators and Olympic screens
Held under the theme “Beyond Illumination”, the lighting fairs were anchored by the Hall of Connected Lighting, which gathered around 70 local and international brands.
Dutch lighting company Signify teamed up with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team on a racing simulator, using lighting to carry the experience of motorsport beyond the screen and into the surrounding space.
“We have been exhibiting at the Autumn Lighting Fair for over a decade, and the fair’s international positioning has made it indispensable to expanding our global presence,” said Steve Jiang, sales leader of OEM Greater China at Signify.
Steve said the team exchanged contacts with more than 100 professional buyers in the first two days. A partnership with a mainland Chinese client that began at the 2023 edition now generates RMB15 million in business each year.
The Hall of Connected Lighting, the highlighted zone at the Autumn Lighting Fair, brought together some 70 leading brands. Among them, Signify teamed up with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team to present a racing simulator experience, using innovative lighting technologies to bring the thrill of motorsport beyond the screen and into the real world, creating a more immersive viewing and entertainment experience.
Zhongshan SUFN Lighting Technology, which specialises in high-end, original-design lighting solutions, has connected with more than 200 new international clients across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America over three consecutive years at the fair. According to general manager and CEO Yang Chun Hua, transactions following last year’s edition reached RMB15 million, and the company forecasts 20% sales growth this year.
A new LED Display Solution zone was dedicated to commercial LED display technology. First-time exhibitor Ledman Hong Kong showed its LEDHUB Smart Conference Solution, which combines large-scale displays, video conferencing and collaboration tools in a single platform and won a Gold Award at the 2025 TITAN Innovation Awards. It was presented alongside the brand’s QS Series IceScreen LED Display, used at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The Autumn Lighting Fair extended its product scope with the newly launched LED Display Solution Zone, aiming to build a comprehensive ecosystem for commercial LED display.
“On average, we have connected with around 100 customers each day,” said Johnson Lu, general manager of Ledman’s brand channel department. “We are currently in negotiations for orders of US$800,000, with buyers primarily from the Asia-Pacific and South America.”
Johnson added that a buyer from Panama had expressed strong interest in becoming a local distributor for the brand.
Smart poles and solar bollards
The Outdoor and Tech Light Expo was organised into three zones – Smart Pole and Solution; Outdoor, Industrial and Technical Lighting; and Landscape and Architectural Lighting – with photovoltaic and energy-storage systems added this year to help cities improve energy efficiency.
The Outdoor and Tech Light Expo showcased outdoor, commercial and industrial lighting products and solutions.
Zhejiang Fonda Technology, one of the world’s leading suppliers of smart lighting controllers, expects sales from the four-day expo to exceed US$1 million.
“Since the Outdoor and Tech Light Expo’s debut, the expo has been an effective channel for expanding our international client base and supporting our long-term global expansion strategy,” said CEO Dr Hongwei Song.
Czech firm Precilum attended to source suppliers for engineering projects across Europe. “We have identified two potential suppliers of facade lighting and solar bollard lights,” said founder Radek Machalsky and sales and business development manager Jakub Machalsky.
“We plan to source US$3 million worth of lighting products through the twin lighting fairs for use in two to three large-scale lighting projects scheduled for next year.”
HKTDC and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (MICE promotion partner) arranged an evening cruise on Victoria Harbour to create an extended travelling experience for buyers.
Eco Expo Asia widens its reach
Eco Expo Asia was structured around four themes – “Green Energy in Motion”, “Frontier Green Tech”, “Building for a Greener City” and “From Waste to Worth” – in line with Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address.
Eco Expo Asia attracted over 300 senior officials and representatives of semi-official organisations from various countries and regions, including the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Kenya, Thailand and Uzbekistan, to visit.
More than 340 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions took part, and the number of pavilions rose to 18, including first-time ASEAN and Qinghai pavilions. Over 30 forums and sessions featured more than 80 speakers from government, industry and academia and drew more than 4,400 visits, while over 300 senior officials and representatives of semi-official organisations from mainland China, Hong Kong, Belt and Road and ASEAN countries visited the show.
At the welcome ceremony on 27 October, Huang Runqiu, minister of ecology and environment of the People’s Republic of China, described the expo’s theme, “Connecting the World for a Sustainable Future”, as both timely and highly meaningful. Guests also included Tse Chin-wan, secretary for environment and ecology of the HKSAR government, HKTDC executive director Sophia Chong and Messe Frankfurt (HK) deputy general manager Jack Wong.
Eco Expo Asia brought together over 340 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions, attracting over 11,000 buyers to visit and source. The photo was taken at the Welcome Ceremony, attended by Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China Huang Runqiu, Secretary for Environment and Ecology of HKSAR Government Tse Chin-wan, HKTDC Executive Director Sophia Chong, Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd Deputy General Manager Jack Wong, and other distinguished guests.
The ASEAN Pavilion brought together 12 green technology companies from Singapore, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, and the expo hosted its first ASEAN Networking Reception.
Vietnamese bioplastic and sustainable packaging manufacturer Turn Green Holding Joint Stock Company, exhibiting for the first time, met buyers from mainland China, the UAE and the Philippines.
“One buyer from Dubai was particularly interested in our shopping bags and garbage bags; if the partnership succeeds, the annual order volume could reach US$200,000,” said chief external affairs officer Jonathan Sourintha.
Singapore’s KLerra Pte Ltd, which provides waste management and recycling services to hotels and shopping malls, came in search of technology to meet the city-state’s new food-waste recycling regulations. Executive director Spencer Soong said the company had shortlisted food-waste machines from a mainland Chinese exhibitor, recycling and sorting machines from a Hong Kong supplier and plastic recycling technology from a Vietnamese start-up, with a potential combined order value of US$1.2 million.
Jordanian buyer ETA MAX Energy and Environmental Solutions found battery suppliers from Hong Kong and the US that met its standards for reliability and sustainability. “We plan to commit US$300,000 to US$400,000 to an initial order,” said business development director Abdullah Dado.
A gateway for going global
As a core member of the HKSAR government’s GoGlobal Task Force, the HKTDC launched the GoGlobal Connect Zone, offering mainland Chinese green enterprises free matchmaking with Hong Kong professional service providers. Related events included the Experience Sharing Forum on Promoting Environment Business in Overseas Markets and the GoGlobal Seminar, with participants from mainland China, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
The GoGlobal Connect Zone was introduced at Eco Expo Asia for the first time this year, providing Chinese Mainland green enterprises with complimentary matching services, connecting them with Hong Kong professional service to venture overseas together.
Lihe Technology (HK) signed a memorandum of understanding with Kazakhstan at last year’s expo, then set up a local company there, introducing gas-monitoring equipment in a project worth US$2 million and launching water projects. This year it presented its Black Light Laboratory water-quality analysis technology to Hong Kong universities, government laboratories and R&D institutions, with related projects estimated at US$1 million, according to project manager Simon Huang.
Prof Yang Min, Leader of the ANSO Environmental Technology and Industry Alliance and the Director of Environmental Technology Overseas Cooperation Center of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dr Jackie Ng, Principal Environmental Protection Officer (Corporate Affairs) of the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government, and Zhong Jin, Level II Bureau Rank Official of the Hunan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, attended the “Experience Sharing Forum on Promoting Environmental Business in Overseas Markets”. Representatives from the Waste Management and Circular Economy Development Agency of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan, Invest Hong Kong, China Water Environment Group, Lihe Technology, the National Institute of Development Administration (Thailand), and the Zhongyuan Eco-Environmental Technology Innovation Center were also invited to deliver keynote presentations and share their go-global experiences, supporting green enterprises in broadening their global networks.
Local start-ups and research institutions also had a strong presence. The Hong Kong Pavilion, supported by the Environmental Protection Department and coordinated by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, featured 19 local companies. The Environmental Campaign Committee led 22 start-ups, and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation brought 11 start-ups working on energy solutions.
First-time exhibitor EcoCeres, Inc. welcomed more than 200 visitors from nearly 20 countries and regions in its first three days, said corporate and marketing communications director Ferrand Cunningham. Canadian and Danish buyers showed interest in its machines and technology, while mainland Chinese officials enquired about its waste-to-energy and carbon-reduction solutions.
Speaking at the expo, Professor Avinash Persaud, emeritus professor at Gresham College in the UK and a member of the High Level Expert Group on Climate Finance, said that “Hong Kong plays a pivotal role in driving private capital into affordable and secure energy investments worldwide”.
He added that “as energy increasingly shifts from commodity-based to technology-based, it will rely on a new cadre of change makers”, and commended HKIE and HKIQEP for professionalising the field.
One of the sessions at the Eco Asia Conference brought together representatives from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, OCBC Bank (Hong Kong), Nan Fung Development and Schneider Electric (Hong Kong) to explore how green finance can channel funding to support green buildings, energy-efficiency retrofits and net-zero transition, working together to build high-performance and sustainable urban infrastructure.
Government departments also outlined their procurement needs during conference sessions. Xu Qiang, chairman of Shanghai Wanjiang Environment Technology, said the sessions helped mainland manufacturers understand Hong Kong’s distinct technical standards. He plans to establish “Made in Hong Kong” showcases through pilot projects with local universities and institutions before expanding to other markets.
The final day of Eco Expo Asia was Public Day. The public enjoyed free admission and a series of interactive environmental workshops and career talks.
Online until early November
The two lighting fairs hosted around 3,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions, with the Autumn Lighting Fair drawing some 39,000 buyers and the Outdoor and Tech Light Expo more than 11,000. Eco Expo Asia attracted over 11,000 buyers.
All three shows followed the HKTDC’s EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, with business matching continuing on the Click2Match platform. The online edition of Eco Expo Asia runs until 5 November, while the online lighting fairs close on 6 November.
Website:
Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition): https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklightingfairae/en
Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkotlexpo/en
Eco Expo Asia: https://www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en
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