The eighth Vinexpo Asia-Pacific kicked off yesterday with 1,300 exhibitors - making it the largest exhibition of its kind in Asia, say organisers - who hope to welcome more than 17,000 visitors to the three-day show.
Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2014
The opening ceremony had speeches given by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, Gregory So Kam- Leung, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Arnaud Barthelemy, and Chinese actress and owner of Chateau Monlot in Bordeaux, Zhao Wei.
Additionally, the chairman of Vinexpo Xavier de Eizaguirre and chief executive Guillaume Deglise welcomed visitors and exhibitors to the Asia Pacific show which is held every other year.
A big focus as this year's show is the future of the Chinese wine market and a new initiative called 'The China Wine Forum' which looks to provide valuable inside knowledge of the opportunities and challenges of doing business in China.
Key panellists include Don St Pierre Jr, chief executive of China wine importer, ASC Fine Wines; Judy Leissner, chief executive of China wine producer Grace Vineyard; Dixon Yuan, chairman of China's largest online imported wine retail platform YesMyWine; and Simon Tam, head of wine for China at Christie's auctioneers and founder of International Wine Centres in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The debate will focus on what wine business leaders can expect for the future of China's wine market following a decade of growth.
Vinexpo Asia-Pacific was first held in 1998 in Hong Kong. In 2010 12,617 professional visited the show and in 2012 15,785 visitors attended the show.
Vinexpo which started in 1981 is held every odd year in Bordeaux, France and attracts 48,000 visitors and host more than 2,400 exhibitors.