Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, joined the "A New Era: Succeeding in Asia and Beyond through Hong Kong” webinar co-hosted by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto Section), Hong Kong Trade Development Council (Canada) and HKETO on November 9. This webinar aimed to provide updates and insights on business opportunities for Canadian companies in Asia via the Hong Kong platform in the new normal.
Speaking at the webinar, Ms Mo first updated participants on the latest developments in Hong Kong and noted the city has been maintaining its status as the top international financial market because of its strong fundamentals and business advantages.
“Hong Kong was the world’s third-largest recipient of foreign direct investment in 2021, continued to be the freest economy, world number one lowest tax market, and world number one air cargo hub,” Ms Mo said.
“Even during the pandemic, the number of business operations in Hong Kong with parent companies overseas or in the Mainland China rose to over 9 000 and the number of start-ups in Hong Kong increased to over 3 700 in 2021, both reaching record highs. The number of start-ups increased by almost 70% from the 2017 figure regardless of the challenges brought by the pandemic,” she continued.
Ms Mo highlighted that with the support from the Central government, Hong Kong is poised to enter a new era of opportunities as it further integrates into the national development, including the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development. In view of the new roles to be played by Hong Kong as supported by the 14th Five-Year Plan, the 2022 Policy Address of Hong Kong introduced new policies for Hong Kong to attract strategic enterprises and talent including those from Canada.
“I am sure some strong industries in Canada like I&T such as fintech and clean tech, clean energy and financial services can benefit from Hong Kong’s existing new opportunities, and tap into the fastest growing market on the East,” Ms Mo said.
Before closing, Ms Mo encouraged participants to join the trade missions to Hong Kong and obtain first hand information about the abundant business opportunities offered by the city.
香港經貿處處長推廣香港是加拿大企業的理想平台
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於十一月九日出席由港加商會（多倫多分會）、香港駐加拿大貿易發展局及香港經貿處合辦的「新時代：香港為通往亞洲及以外地區成功之門」網上研討會。該研討會旨在介紹加拿大公司在新常態下通過香港平台在亞洲的商機。
巫菀菁在網上研討會上致辭時，首先向與會者介紹香港的最新情況，她強調，香港全賴穩健的基礎及有利的營商優勢得以保持其頂尖國際金融市場的地位。
巫菀菁表示：「香港在二零二一年是全球第三大外來直接投資目的地，並會繼續成為最自由的經濟體、全球首屈一指的最低稅率市場和全球最大的航空貨運樞紐。」
巫菀菁續說：「即使在疫情期間，母公司設於海外或中國內地的駐港公司數目增至逾9 000間，而香港的初創企業數目在二零二一年亦大增至逾3 700間，兩項數字均創新高。雖然疫情帶來挑戰，但香港的初創企業數目較二零一七年增加接近七成。」
巫菀菁強調，香港得到中央政府的支持，進一步融入國家發展包括國家《十四五規劃綱要》及粵港澳大灣區發展，已準備迎向一個充滿機遇的新時代。由於國家 《十四五規劃綱要》肯定香港扮演的新角色，香港在《2022年施政報告》特別提出新措施吸引包括加拿大在內的重點企業及人才。
巫菀菁表示：「我深信加拿大一些發展蓬勃的行業，例如提供金融科技和潔淨科技、潔淨能源和金融服務等資訊科技業，可受惠於香港現存的新機遇，並開拓發展最迅速的東方市場。」
最後，巫菀菁鼓勵與會者參加貿易代表團到訪香港，以掌握第一手資料，了解香港提供的龐大商機。
