Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, attended a business seminar entitled "Hong Kong: The Best-Case Scenario for Expansion into Asia" co-organised by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Toronto Region Board of Trade and World Trade Centre Toronto on February 20.
Speaking at the seminar, Ms Mo remarked that Hong Kong, the Asia’s World City, is built on a solid foundation of competitive strengths. Strategically located at the heart of Asia, Hong Kong offers superb Asian and global connectivity. “Besides the location, the city offers the freest trade environment, a low, simple and competitive tax system, a bi-lingual common law system, international support services and multicultural talent, world-class structure, vibrant living environment and a supportive government,” Ms Mo said.
Though Hong Kong has been facing some challenges including social unrest as well as the novel coronavirus situation, Ms Mo assured that the city would thrive in 2020 as its fundamentals are strong and intact.
Ms Mo also highlighted the accomplishments of the Hong Kong in 2019. “Hong Kong raised the largest amount of IPO funds worldwide and remained as the world’s freest economy and the second most competitive economy. Hong Kong also implemented a Free Trade Agreement with the ASEAN, and achieved a 43% increase in the number of start-ups in two years,” she continued.
Before closing, Ms Mo encouraged Canadian companies to expand their businesses to China and beyond through Hong Kong.
Other speakers at the event include Chief Strategic Officer of Intact Financial Ms Monika Federau and Head of InvestHK Canada Mr Christopher Chen. Federau spoke about Intact’s first Asia Pacific Region expansion in Hong Kong, and Chen gave an account on the wide range of customised services offered by InvestHK to help companies to advance their business plan in the city.
