HKETO Newsroom

May 9, 2022

HKETO Director visits Calgary for business promotion

Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, visited Calgary from May 5 to 6 to promote Hong Kong as the ideal platform for Canada companies to tap on the markets in Mainland China and the rest of Asia.

Speaking before the screening of the Hong Kong film Anita at the “Hong Kong Movie Night” organised by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Calgary Section) on May 5, Ms Mo first introduced the legendary Anita Mui, the late Cantopop queen from Hong Kong who was the main character of the film.  “Not just that it’s about Anita, it’s also about the ‘Can-do Spirit’ displayed by the Hong Kong people - the drive for excellence that are in the blood of our people,” Ms Mo said.  

Ms Mo moved on to point out that this year Hong Kong is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The HKETO is hosting a wide range of events in different cities across Canada to showcase Hong Kong’s vibrant developments and to demonstrate the strengths of Hong Kong. She invited the guests to join the celebration events.

On May 6, Ms Mo attended the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) Calgary Section’s Spring Festival Gala 2022 and delivered a speech.  She updated the attendees on Hong Kong’s latest developments and achievements. “Hong Kong’s financial market has functioned remarkably well and capital continued to flow into the city with total banking deposits rising 2.9% in 2019 and 5.4% in 2020,” Ms Mo said.

“The IMD World Talent Ranking 2021 ranked Hong Kong number 1 in Asia, 11th in the world and the World Investment Report 2021 published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development, ranked Hong Kong the world’s third-largest recipient of foreign direct investment last year,” Ms Mo continued. 

Hong Kong continues to be a top international financial market, and continues to have a distinct relationship with Canada.  

Ms Mo highlighted that Hong Kong has remained one of Canada’s top ten trading markets in the past decade, and Canadian direct investment flows to the city more than tripled to 4.6 billion Canadian dollars, making the city the second-largest destination worldwide for Canadian direct investment abroad in 2020.

Looking ahead, Hong Kong is playing an increasingly significant role as a platform for doing business in Asia and Indo-Pacific, including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.  

As Calgary embraces advanced technology to offer cleaner energy, safe and secure food, efficient movement of goods and people, and better health solutions, Ms Mo welcomed Canadian companies looking to expand to consider Hong Kong as their platform to access the fastest growing markets on the East.  

During the visit, Ms Mo paid courtesy calls on Alberta’s Minister of Seniors and Housing, the Honourable Josephine Pon and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek.  She briefed them on the latest developments in Hong Kong and exchanged views with them on issues with mutual interests. She also met with the President and Chief Executive Officer of Calgary Economic Development, Mr Brad Parry, and Director of Strategic Engagement at Jobs, Economy and Innovation, Mr Shane Jaffer, to exchange views on how to foster collaboration to strengthen the trade relations between Hong Kong and Calgary. 

Ms Mo returned to Toronto on May 7.

May 9, 2022

香港經貿處處長到訪卡加里進行商務推廣

香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處(香港經貿處)處長巫菀菁於五月五日及六日到訪卡加里,推廣香港是加拿大公司進軍中國內地及亞洲其他地區市場的理想平台。

巫菀菁於五月五日出席港加商會(卡加里分會)舉辦的香港電影欣賞晚會,並在放映香港電影《梅艷芳》前致辭,她首先介紹電影的主角、香港已故巨星梅艷芳傳奇的一生。巫菀菁說:「電影不但記錄了梅艷芳的故事,也展現了香港人無懼挑戰、追求卓越的拼搏精神。」

巫菀菁同時介紹香港今年慶祝香港特別行政區成立二十五周年,香港經貿處將在加拿大不同城市舉辦一系列慶祝活動,展示香港蓬勃的發展和各項優勢。巫菀菁邀請與會者參與這些慶祝活動。

此外,巫菀菁於五月六日出席港加商會(卡加里分會)舉辦的2022春節晚宴並致辭,向與會者簡介香港的最新發展及成就。巫菀菁表示:「香港的金融市場運作良好。資金繼續流入香港,銀行存款總額在二O一九年及二O二O年分別增加了2.9%及5.4%。」

巫菀菁續說:「國際管理發展學院發表的《2021年世界人才報告》中,香港排名亞洲第一位及全球第十一位。在聯合國貿易和發展會議發表的《2021年世界投資報告》中,香港被列為全球第三大外來直接投資目的地。」

香港會繼續保持頂級國際金融市場的地位,並與加拿大維持獨特關係。

巫菀菁強調,香港過去十年一直是加拿大十大貿易市場之一,加拿大在二O二O年對香港的對外直接投資流出增加超過三倍,達到46億加元,令香港成為加拿大直接投資海外的全球第二大首選地點。

展望未來,香港作為在亞洲和印度太平洋地區,包括粵港澳大灣區的營商平台,將扮演更重要的角色。

巫菀菁指出,卡加里透過先進技術提供更潔淨能源、安全可靠的食品、高效率的人流和物流以及優質醫療方案,巫菀菁歡迎有意擴展業務的加拿大公司,考慮利用香港作為平台開拓發展最迅速的東方市場。

到訪卡加里期間,巫菀菁拜會了亞省耆老及房屋廳長盤世寶及卡加里市長Jyoti Gondek,向他們簡介香港的最新發展,並就雙方共同關心的議題交換意見。巫菀菁亦與卡加里經濟發展總裁暨首席行政總監Brad Parry及就業、經濟及創新策略總監Shane Jaffer會面,就促進香港與卡加里的合作及加強兩地貿易關係交換意見。

巫菀菁於五月七日返回多倫多。