Ahead of Brand Licensing Europe (BLE) 2025, we spoke with Joey Ko, Director, UK, Nordics and Ireland at Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), to hear about their plans for the show.
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a Hong Kong statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. Our London office covers the UK, Nordics, and Ireland, promoting two-way trade by helping Hong Kong businesses explore opportunities in these regions, while also supporting local companies in accessing markets in Hong Kong and Asia.
Why should retailers and manufacturers visit your stand at BLE?
At BLE, we are showcasing 9 unique IPs from 9 talented Hong Kong designers, providing an excellent platform to explore potential business collaborations. Visitors will also gain insights into the vibrant business opportunities in Hong Kong and learn about HKTDC’s upcoming trade events, including the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) in April 2026, helping you plan your future partnerships and market strategies.
Which property/brand/franchise will be your main focus at this year’s event?
This year at BLE, we’re thrilled to introduce 9 original IPs from Hong Kong for the very first time: Bobo & Friends, CREAMY & CREAMY, Chill Chill Ping, FunBee, Popcorn Prince, Unicorn Dreams, Universal Basketball League, Sugar Free Office, and Sweet Family.
What sets these brands apart is their unique blend of creativity, meaningful social values, and a strong focus on sustainability. Many of them explore important themes such as environmental protection, cultural preservation, and social progress, which are thoughtfully woven into their designs.
By bringing these IPs to BLE, we aim to showcase the next generation of Hong Kong’s creative talent and spark direct conversations with visitors interested in exploring opportunities in the Asian market. With their fresh concepts and purpose-driven ethos, these brands are well positioned to resonate with European audiences.
What do you hope to achieve by exhibiting at BLE?
We aim to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant IP and creative talent, highlighting the city’s innovation and design energy. Through this platform, we hope to connect with industry professionals, explore potential collaborations, and share the business opportunities and support that HKTDC can offer.
At HKTDC, we are committed to enabling year-round business development for brands, particularly SMEs, by connecting them with distributors, licensees, and partners across Mainland China and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Our flagship licensing platforms — the Hong Kong International Licensing Show (HKILS) and the Asian Licensing Conference (ALC) — showcase Hong Kong’s homegrown IPs, foster strategic international collaborations, and provide insights into emerging global licensing trends.
In addition, our lifestyle and consumer-focused trade fairs — including Gifts & Premium Fair, Home InStyle, Jewellery Fair, Toys & Games Fair, Stationery Fair, and Fashion InStyle — offer European licensors and licensees high-impact channels to discover new IPs, explore collaborations, and drive both revenue growth and long-term brand value.
Complementing these events, hktdc.com Sourcing serves as an online business-matching platform, linking licensors, licensees, and manufacturers to facilitate cross-border partnerships and transactions. Our HKTDC Research team further supports businesses with in-depth market intelligence, trend analyses, and industry reports, empowering brands to make data-driven decisions and identify growth opportunities across Asia.
Through this integrated ecosystem, HKTDC positions Hong Kong as a trusted gateway to Asia, enabling international brands to scale and capitalise on the region’s dynamic licensing opportunities.
Visit HKTDC at Booth #D192.
