May 27 – Italian wine looks to the East, thanks to the 8th edition of Vinexpo Asia Pacific, opening today (and running until May 29) at the ultra-modern Hong Kong Convetion & Exhibition Centre in the Wan Chai district. For the past decade, Italian wine exports to Hong Kong have steadily increased, from €3.4 million in 2004 to €21 million in 2013. Sparkling wines see Italy is the leading supplier with a market share of 32.8% and a value of approximately $2 million. These are the reasons the ICE Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies is participating for the third time in the event. The ICE has set up an all-Italian area of 600 square meters that will host 43 companies from 13 regions. This collective participation is, according to the agency, “intended to support the image of Italian wine in Asian markets, while consolidating the Italian presence in this prestigious event and setting the stage for an increase in exports in the basin of the Pacific.” The event, held every two years, is one of the most important and prestigious wine fairs in Asia, gathering the participation of operators from the Far East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The last edition took place in 2012 and recorded the presence of 1,042 exhibitors from 28 countries and the visit of more than 15,500 professionals (in 2008 they were 9,000).
