Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, joined the "Asians Love Canadian Lobster: Hong Kong Leads the Charge in the Lucrative Greater Bay Area" webinar hosted by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Greater Toronto Area Section) (HKCBA) as a speaker on August 25.

The webinar discussed Canadian lobster exports to Asia and around the world, as well as the role Hong Kong plays in expanding the market in the fastest-growing region in China, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area).

In delivering the opening remarks at the webinar, Ms Mo noted the people of Hong Kong has an insatiable appetite for seafood, including Canadian lobsters.  “In 2018, Hong Kong was Canada’s fourth largest market for fish and seafood, and the exports value amounted to over C$173 million.  Of these exports, approximately 19% of them were lobsters, amounting to over C$33 million,” Ms Mo said.

Ms Mo highlighted that Hong Kong has a lot to offer for Canadian companies exporting lobsters and other food products. “Strategically located at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong is connected to the world and the mainland of China by a world-class international airport, a container terminal renowned for its efficiency, and extensive land crossings,” Ms Mo said.  

“Besides, a relatively new national initiative, namely the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development provides huge business opportunities for Canadian companies that are set up in or working with Hong Kong,” Ms Mo continued.

The Greater Bay Area, which comprises Hong Kong, Macao and nine Guangdong cities in Southern China, has an ambitious city cluster of 70 million people and a combined GDP of some 1.6 trillion USD.  Ms Mo pointed out that the initiative’s objectives are to further deepen cooperation amongst the cities and promote coordinated regional economic development.  "The opportunities arising from the increased flows of people, goods and capital within the Greater Bay Area will be immense," Ms Mo said.

Before closing, Ms Mo encouraged Canadian companies to contact HKETO for more information about the initiative and tap the vast opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area through setting foot in Hong Kong.  

The webinar, moderated by HKCBA Board Director Mr Zoheir Hasanbhai, was also joined by other speakers including Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao, Mr Jeff Nankivell, Executive Director of the Lobster Council of Canada, Mr Geoff Irvine, and Sales Director of Worldwide Seafood Limited, Ms Merlinda Ng.