Better Business Leads With Revamped E-Platform

An upgraded version of the highly successful tdctrade.com online sourcing platform will enable buyers around the world and Hong Kong SMEs to source and promote even more efficiently.

The new version has been developed in order to help buyers around the world access SME suppliers any place and anytime, says Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) head of publications and e-commerce Clare Wong.

"Buyers in the world market, especially those in the US and EU, are now diversifying into the e-platform to look for new suppliers," she observes. "Hong Kong's small- and medium-sized enterprises need an e-strategy to align with the new sourcing trend, and tdctrade.com offers an innovative e-platform based on the proven promotional effectiveness of TDC's 14 print publications."

The move to upgrade TDC's online trading platform came hot on the heels of a recent TDC survey which found that buyers' sourcing preference is shifting towards the Internet at a pace faster than suppliers.

"TDC upgraded to a more powerful e-sourcing and promotion platform to assist both buyers and sellers," Wong explains. "Backed by a state-of-the art search engine, the portal facilitates highly efficient and accurate product searches."

A sourcing platform supported by 600,000 buyers and more than 100,000 quality suppliers is already fully integrated into the portal to offer SME suppliers more timely access to buyers around the world.

However, Wong notes that e-sourcing is only part of the portal's enhanced features. "The new tdctrade.com interface provides simple and user-friendly navigation to tens of thousands of pages of industry and market information through six "tabs" on the front page - namely Sourcing, Hong Kong Trade Events, Worldwide Trade Events, Market Intelligence, Industry Focus and Small Business Resources," she explains.

The tdctrade.com e-platform went online in 2000, and has since established itself as the largest online source of business information and services for Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and the world market.

It offers links in 11 languages including English, Chinese (traditional and simplified), German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Russian.

However, Wong is quick to add that suppliers and buyers cannot rely on the Web alone and a balanced blend of print and online promotion remains the best combination for sales success.

"TDC has long been recognised as a global leader in product magazines, producing some two million copies of 14 titles that cover everything from electronics to toys," she says.

"These publications are a highly effective, long-term promotional medium and, combined with the immediacy of tdctrade.com, will ensure the TDC remains the preferred choice both for Hong Kong suppliers and buyers worldwide."

WRITTEN BY JAMES PALMER