Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, joined the webinar on "Healthcare Sector Opportunities in Hong Kong and beyond for Canadian Companies" co-hosted by the HKETO, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (Toronto), Invest Hong Kong (Canada) (IHK) and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Ottawa Section) on March 23.

The webinar aimed to update Canadian companies in the healthcare industry, including healthcare equipment manufacturers and exporters, on the latest developments and trends in the biotechnology, medical and healthcare industry in Hong Kong, as well as to leverage the Hong Kong platform to expand their business footprints in Asia.

In delivering opening remarks at the webinar, Ms Mo noted that interest in the global healthcare and biotech industries has grown exponentially during the pandemic, presenting opportunities to both the businesses in the sector and investors.  Following Hong Kong Stock Exchange's move to allow the listing of pre-revenue biotech companies since mid-2018, she said that Hong Kong has become the world’s second-largest funding hub and Asia’s largest hub for biotechnology, adding that this trend would continue in the foreseeable future.

She pointed out that in the Budget announced by the Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government last month, the HKSAR government has committed a one billion Canadian dollar funding for universities and research institutes to set up thematic research centres related to life and health technology.

She stressed that Hong Kong’s high degree of connectivity, dedication in research and development for health innovation and strength in fund raising supported healthcare businesses from around the world to achieve excellence.  

In terms of talent attraction, Ms Mo said that Hong Kong, being a vibrant city offering life style enjoyed by many Canadians, presented different career opportunities for talents in the healthcare sector.  Not only does the city welcome non-locally trained doctors who possess recognised medical qualifications to apply for special registration to practise in its public healthcare institutions, different admission schemes are also available to facilitate Canadians to work and live in Hong Kong.

Following Ms Mo’s remarks, Head of Business and Talent Attraction, Mr Christopher Chen, provided an overview of the healthcare and research ecosystem in Hong Kong and the city's edges in the healthcare industry development.