ICOIA – China Forum Explores Optoelectronics Opportunities on the Mainland

More than 100 representatives from the manufacturing and business sectors attended the 'International Coalition of Optoelectronics Industry Association (ICOIA) - China Forum 2006' organized by the Hong Kong Optoelectronics Association (HKOEA) today (13 October 2006) to obtain the latest information on optoelectronics opportunities on the Mainland.

The event was a highlight of the '2006 Annual Meeting of ICOIA' sponsored by the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) of the HKSAR Government, with the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) as the implementation organization. This was the first ICOIA Annual Meeting ever held in Hong Kong.

Speaking at the opening of the Forum, Dr Daniel Lau, Founding President of HKOEA, said, "With a vast market for optoelectronics products and capabilities in research and development, the Mainland's optoelectronics sector has registered rapid growth in recent years. With experts from various optoelectronics bases of the Mainland sharing their insight on the latest technologies, product trends and market opportunities, the ICOIA - China Forum is a timely event to give industry players a comprehensive overview of this sector's development."

Addressing the Forum, Mr Frank Leung, General Manager (Electronics Product Innovation) of HKPC, said, "The annual output for the Mainland's optoelectronics sector for 2006 is estimated to reach US$10 billion, after an average annual growth rate of 50% over the past five years, compared with a world average of 20%. At the same time, the Mainland represents one of the world's most dynamic markets for optoelectronics, with its product demand accounting for 23% of the world market in 2005 and is forecast to grow by more than 40% annually."

"These developments spell enormous opportunities for Hong Kong, which is in the best position to act as a platform for technology exchange and business cooperation between optoelectronics enterprises from the Mainland and overseas," he continued. "To overseas optoelectronics manufacturers, Hong Kong is indeed a gateway to the Mainland. On the other hand, Hong Kong has a lot to offer to the Mainland's optoelectronics industry, from technology commercialization, manufacturing process upgrading, logistics to marketing support."

Introducing HKPC's initiatives to promote the growth of Hong Kong's optoelectronics industry, Mr Leung said, "We have launched a number of R&D projects with support from the ITF. One of them has successfully enabled local manufacturers to apply micro-fabrication technologies in the development of precision micro components, including optical components and non-silicon micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). As part of this project, we have also established a Micro Fabrication Technology Centre which continues to support manufacturers in the application of micro-fabrication technologies."

"In another endeavour, we have facilitated the formation of The Automobile Industries Alliance for Optical, Mechanical and Electronics Industries, assisting Hong Kong's high value-added manufacturing industries to tap the Mainland's booming market for automobiles and optoelectronic automotive parts. Over the years, the Alliance has organized various study missions to Mainland photonics centres and automobile production bases to foster collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises," he said.

The '2006 Annual Meeting of ICOIA' was held from 11 to 13 October 2006. Apart from the China Forum, the ICOIA Annual International Congress was held from 11 to 12 October 2006 with delegates from more than 10 countries and regions, representing major international optoelectronics associations. For further information, please contact Ms Rachel Chan of HKOEA at tel. (852) 2788 9147, or Mr Jason Kwok of HKPC at tel. (852) 2788 5322 or e-mail: jasonk@hkpc.org, or visit the ICOIA website at www.hkoea.org/icoia.

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13 October 2006