"Hong Kong is getting ready for the annual Prime Source Forum from March 13-14, 2017 at the The Langham Hong Kong. Some 350 senior executives from the global fashion supply chain from raw materials to e-retail are expected to attend the two day forum."

Hong Kong is getting ready for the annual Prime Source Forum from March 13-14, 2017 at the The Langham Hong Kong. Some 350 senior executives from the global fashion supply chain from raw materials to e-retail are expected to attend the two day forum.

Since its debut in 2006, Prime Source Forum (PSF) is perceived as one of the most beneficial and effective promotional channels for the global fashion industry. Held annually in Hong Kong, PSF brings together some 400 senior executives from more than 20 countries to discuss the challenges and opportunities that manufacturers, suppliers and retailers are facing in the apparel supply chain. Perhaps, this is called a forum and not a conference as delegates involvement are an important element of its success. Prime Source Forum (PSF) is not limited to sourcing and supply chain alone it also is a valuable source of information for the fashion industry.

“Sourcing managers in my or senior levels no longer visit local and overseas trade fairs to look for new products nowadays. We consider new suppliers by existing connections, selected referrals or find them at high-end conferences. Ideally, new suppliers are coming to us and display their innovations so that we can make decisions here immediately,” explains M Lo, Sourcing Manager, Far East one Europe’s top three apparel retailers. This is why PSF is still serving the industry even after so many years.

The line up in this edition Year 2017 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for fashion industry. Topical themes and how the industry should respond to it will be covered. The keynote address will be by Colin Browne, President, Global Sourcing, Under Armour. The first session ‘Global trade – what is the regulatory landscape going to look like’ will offers suggestions to hedge against the geo-economic uncertainties in the new sourcing landscape and where we are heading with global trade will be discussed in this session. This will be followed by CEO dialogues on how digitising quality control helped Quiksilver increase supply chain transparency, supplier collaboration and employee engagement would offer industry best practices. Bart De Meirsman, MD, Quiksilver Asia Sourcing and Stephane Boivin, Co-founder, President & CEO, Pivot88 will be the main participants. Session 2 will throw light on survival under global political frictions and economic uncertainty – How we can navigate an uncertain future. Debate on ‘Sourcing 2020, what does the future fashion sourcing landscape hold?’ would help in brainstorming strategies for future. CEO Dialogue will be on ‘The future consumer; sourcing in future’ by Anson BAILEY, Principal, Business Development, KPMG.

The second day will start with a keynote address by Arkebe Oqubay, Minister and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The following session will offer insights on the challenges and opportunities of developing the fashion supply chain in Africa as well as CEO Dialogues on sourcing responsibly in Africa. It will be followed by World Fashion Design Award Ceremony. Apart from this, there will be sessions on changes on fashion supply chain management in prevalence of e-tailing; business advancement – key to survive in the disruptive era and engaging CEO Dialogues on SAC's vision 2020 on transparency By Jason Kibbey, CEO, Sustainable Apparel Coalition. Day 2 will also have a session on ‘Changes on fashion supply chain management in prevalence of e-tailing’.

Strong line up

PSF offers ample opportunity for delegates to network with their peers, mingle with expert panelists and exchange ideas with their peers and competitors alike on issues of mutual interest. The speakers are industry leaders and key decision makers. No. of estimated registrants: Some 350 senior executives of the global fashion supply chain from raw materials to e-retail The speaker line up have names like Arkebe Oqubay, Minister and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Phan Chi Dung, Director General, Light Industry Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam, Anson Bailey, Principal, Business Development, KPMG, to Brice Berrard, MD, TeamWorld, Eram Group, Anne-Laure Descours, Global Director, Sourcing Apparel, Puma, Mark Green, EVP, Global Supply Chain, PVH among many, many others.

Prime Source Forum (PSF) was initiated by APLF in 2006 to address the issue of quota elimination in the apparel industry. After its staging in the industry for eight years, PSF is now organised by YEH SHEN under licence of APLF. APLF is a joint-venture between UBM Asia and the SIC Group of France. For over two decades, Hong Kong-based APLF has been providing the global leather and fashion industries with its most important meeting and trading places. Josephine Ching, person in charge of PSF under the organisation of UBM Asia from 2007-13, is now Event Director of YEN SHEN which has been incorporated in Hong Kong since 2006. Starting from October 2013, PSF is organised by YEH SHEN under licence of APLF.