Many companies have experienced the challenges of expanding overseas. They eagerly book a trip, meet a few local distributors, and return home only to discover that customer needs do not match their offerings, certification requirements are incompatible, or procurement timelines are out of sync. The cost of such a trip is not just the travel budget, but also a valuable window of opportunity. Hongqiao International Tech Week 2026 aims to help companies take a smarter approach: connect with the right overseas buyers first, then decide whether the trip is worth making.
Most Overseas Expansion Setbacks Happen Because Companies Travel Before Finding the Right Buyers
Companies often get the sequence wrong when expanding overseas: they choose a market, book flights, and only start looking for contacts after arriving. By then, they may discover that local buyer profiles, procurement standards, and decision-making processes differ significantly from what they expected. Conversations may seem promising, but few opportunities translate into concrete business once they return home.
The problem is not necessarily the product, but the information gap. Companies do not fully understand what potential buyers need, while buyers may not know what the companies can offer.
Hongqiao International Tech Week provides three value-added services: targeted business matchmaking, buyer invitations, and media exposure. Supported by a database of more than 100,000 industry buyers, the event facilitates over 2,000 one-to-one targeted business matchmaking sessions, with exhibitor services covering both the pre-event and post-event periods.
Companies planning to expand overseas can specify their target markets and buyer profiles before the event, allowing meetings with overseas buyers to be incorporated into their schedules. By making international business matchmaking a pre-event activity, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps companies know whom they are going to meet before they even board a plane.
The Organizer’s Global Network Provides a Ready-Made Platform for International Expansion
Researching an overseas market independently often means that a single business trip provides only a limited understanding of one country. Hongqiao International Tech Week is guided by the Administrative Committee of Hongqiao International Central Business District, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission. It is organized by Informa Group, with the Shanghai Technology Innovation Center serving as its Strategic Innovation Partner and GEC as its Strategic Partner.
Companies expanding overseas can tap into Informa’s global network spanning London, Singapore, and Africa. The complementary schedules of London Tech Week in spring and Hongqiao International Tech Week in autumn also create opportunities for overseas buyers and Chinese exhibitors to connect across two event periods.
Informa Group, the organizer, is a member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI). Hongqiao International Tech Week is connected to a global ecosystem of technology events across Europe, Africa, and Asia, including London Tech Week, Africa Tech Festival, and Asia Tech x Singapore. London Tech Week established more than 90,000 connections in 2026.
Through this network, companies expanding overseas can connect in Hongqiao with buyers and organizations across multiple countries, without arranging a separate trip for every market.
These sister events offer more than brand recognition; they provide access to buyer relationships built over many years. London Tech Week 2025 attracted 37 government partner organizations and 26 country pavilions, bringing more than 120 international trade delegations to the event. Announced cooperation and investment commitments exceeded £100 million, while media exposure reached an audience of 9.49 billion. Asia Tech x Singapore brought together more than 1,200 VIPs and over 22,000 decision-makers.
These networks can be accessed through the shared ecosystem connected to Hongqiao International Tech Week.
International Delegations Offer Another Gateway to Overseas Buyers
Hongqiao International Tech Week plans to work with more than 10 international delegations, including Germany’s De, Enterprise Ireland, Portugal’s AICEP, the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority, the UK Department for Business and Trade, the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
These delegations bring buyers and organizations from their respective countries into one event.
For companies expanding overseas, more than 10 international delegations mean they can engage with relevant contacts from multiple countries during the same event period, rather than traveling to each country individually. By specifying target countries and buyer profiles in their targeted business matchmaking requests, companies can arrange meetings with relevant organizations participating in the delegations.
By bringing these international delegations together, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps condense multi-country market exploration into a single trip.
International Registration Figures Already Offer Insights into Overseas Interest
As of September 23, 2026, the geographic breakdown of registered attendees from outside mainland China at Hongqiao International Tech Week was as follows: the United States accounted for 8.9%, Germany 4.4%, the United Kingdom 4.4%, Switzerland 2.2%, Sweden 2.2%, and Hong Kong, China, 2.2%.
Among these registered attendees, 32.6% explicitly indicated that they had procurement budgets. Of the buyers with medium-to-high budgets, 67.7% had budgets exceeding RMB 50,000. In addition, 54.8% identified business matchmaking as an objective, while 69.0% were interested in expanding into regional markets.
These figures matter because overseas buyers are not merely people who might attend. They have already registered, and many have stated procurement budgets and matchmaking objectives.
For companies expanding overseas, reviewing this attendee profile before the event can help them assess which markets are worth pursuing and which buyer categories merit their attention. By making the international attendee profile available, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps companies move from making travel decisions based on intuition to arranging meetings based on data.
This profile reflects the actual composition of registered attendees as of the stated date, rather than a forecast, making it a direct reference point for planning.
Before Expanding Overseas, Answer These Three Key Questions
International expansion is not simply a question of whether to go abroad. It is about where to go, whom to meet, and what to discuss.
Before departure, companies should answer three questions:
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Which target markets are they pursuing, and what types of buyers do they need to reach?
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Do these buyers have procurement plans for the current year?
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Where is the gap between what the company can offer and what potential buyers need?
If these questions remain unanswered, an overseas trip may produce little more than activity without tangible results.
Hongqiao International Tech Week helps companies address these questions before the event. Its database of more than 100,000 industry buyers provides insights into buyer profiles; targeted business matchmaking helps companies arrange meetings with relevant contacts in advance; and data on registered attendees from outside mainland China offers a basis for assessing international market interest.
Once these three questions have been answered, companies can book their flights with a clearer purpose. By turning market assessment into pre-event preparation, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps companies ensure that every overseas business trip is aligned with a defined objective.
Once You Connect with Overseas Buyers, How Do You Turn Discussions into Real Business?
Making contact is only the beginning. What matters is turning conversations into concrete opportunities.
Once a relevant buyer has been identified, companies should clarify procurement requirements, including certification standards, delivery schedules, and payment terms. These issues should be explored during the initial discussions rather than discovered only when negotiations reach the pricing stage.
Companies should also prepare samples or proposals that meet the buyer’s specific requirements instead of relying on generic materials.
At Hongqiao International Tech Week, matchmaking begins before the event, followed by in-person, one-to-one discussions on-site. The better prepared companies are in advance, the more productive these conversations can be.
Post-event follow-up is equally important. Following up promptly with contacts made during the event is generally more effective than waiting several months to reconnect. By helping companies identify and connect with overseas buyers in advance, Hongqiao International Tech Week aims to ensure that deeper business discussions are grounded in a genuine match between buyer needs and company offerings.
Four Factors to Consider When Deciding Whether to Use This Event for Overseas Expansion
Hongqiao International Tech Week offers four practical dimensions for companies to evaluate when planning their international expansion strategy.
1. Review the buyer database. The database of more than 100,000 industry buyers provides the foundation for matching. Companies should specify their target overseas markets as clearly as possible to improve the relevance of potential connections.
2. Explore the network of sister events. Through Informa’s UFI-connected ecosystem, the network of related events provides access to buyers across Europe, Africa, and Asia. London Tech Week established more than 90,000 connections in 2026.
3. Review the international delegations. More than 10 international delegations are planned, bringing buyers and organizations from countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Australia into one event. This can reduce the need for separate trips to individual markets.
4. Examine the attendee profile. Registration data as of September 23, 2026, shows that buyers from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China, and other markets have registered, with some indicating procurement budgets and matchmaking objectives. These figures provide useful clues for identifying potential overseas opportunities.
By making this international network accessible before the event, Hongqiao International Tech Week helps companies connect with potential buyers before booking flights.
If three of these four factors align with a company’s objectives, the trip may be worth planning. If none or only one aligns, the company may benefit from narrowing its target markets further before committing resources.
Overseas Exhibitors Should Follow the Right Preparation Sequence
Step 1: Define target overseas markets and buyer profiles. Specify the country, industry, and type of procurement. The more precise the profile, the more relevant the matching can be.
Step 2: Submit matchmaking requirements in advance. Hongqiao International Tech Week offers more than 2,000 targeted matchmaking sessions, with arrangements beginning before the event. Submitting requirements early helps ensure that relevant overseas buyers can be scheduled into your agenda.
Step 3: Follow up immediately after meetings. The cost of arranging a second conversation after the event is far lower than making another overseas trip. Follow up promptly while the discussions are still fresh.
There are three types of exhibition booths available: raw space, standard or premium shell-scheme booths, and startup booths. Companies expanding overseas will generally consider the first two options. Teams focused primarily on building business connections can concentrate on matchmaking and speaking opportunities at forums relevant to the international delegations.
For the first two booth categories, each 9-square-meter booth includes three exhibitor badges. Companies can also feature their profiles and include a reciprocal link directing visitors to their own websites.
The recommended sequence is straightforward: define the target market first, arrange matchmaking next, and plan follow-up afterward. With the right preparation, an overseas business trip is much more likely to deliver meaningful results.
By making overseas buyer connections part of its pre-event process, Hongqiao International Tech Week aims to help companies identify the right contacts before they book their flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What overseas resources can companies access by participating in Hongqiao International Tech Week?
The organizer, Informa Group, is a UFI member, and Hongqiao International Tech Week is connected to the buyer networks of related events such as London Tech Week, Africa Tech Festival, and Asia Tech x Singapore. London Tech Week established more than 90,000 connections in 2026. More than 10 international delegations are also planned, representing countries including Germany, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Australia.
Q: Will overseas buyers really attend? Is there any data to support this?
As of September 23, 2026, registered attendees from outside mainland China included participants from the United States (8.9%), Germany (4.4%), the United Kingdom (4.4%), and Hong Kong, China (2.2%), among other markets. Some 32.6% explicitly indicated that they had procurement budgets, while 54.8% identified business matchmaking as an objective. The registration data therefore includes overseas attendees who have stated procurement budgets and matchmaking goals.
Q: When and where will Hongqiao International Tech Week 2026 take place?
Hongqiao International Tech Week is scheduled for November 20–22, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). The event is held annually. Companies expanding overseas can plan their participation around procurement cycles in their target markets.
Q: How can companies connect with overseas buyers before the event?
Companies can submit their target overseas markets and buyer profiles through Hongqiao International Tech Week’s targeted business matchmaking service. Using its database of more than 100,000 industry buyers, the organizer can invite relevant overseas buyers and schedule meetings in advance, helping companies know whom they are going to meet before they fly.
Q: Which international delegations are involved, and how can they help companies?
The planned delegations include Germany’s De, Enterprise Ireland, Portugal’s AICEP, the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority, the UK Department for Business and Trade, the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, among others. More than 10 delegations are planned, bringing buyers and organizations from different countries into one event and reducing the need for companies to travel to each market individually.
Q: How can I get in touch about registration and exhibiting?
Visit the official Hongqiao International Tech Week website at www.hongqiaotechweek.com to submit an application to exhibit or attend. You can also follow the HongqiaoTechWeek WeChat public account or search for Hongqiao International Tech Week on WeChat Channels, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin for event updates. Companies expanding overseas can specify their target markets and buyer types when submitting their applications.