The HKSAR Government released a press statement noting The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) co-hosted a series of events in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on 2 July 2019 to promote business opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development.
The events were jointly organised by the HKETO, Brussels, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association.
The events started with a business seminar on business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area. In her welcoming remarks at the business seminar, the Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels said that aspirations for the Greater Bay Area development are very high.
She noted that the Greater Bay Area’s wide-ranging strengths, diversified markets and far-reaching development opportunities herald a new economic era for Hong Kong.
Innovation and technology, advanced manufacturing, high-end services, trade, transport and more will drive the economy of the Greater Bay Area and meet growing middle-class aspirations. And Hong Kong will be at its fast-beating economic heart.
It was also noted that Hong Kong will lead the way in several key sectors, from financial and professional services to trade and transport, as well as playing a vital role in innovation and technology. Dutch companies are welcome to partner with Hong Kong in seizing the enormous opportunities of the Greater Bay Area, which has a population of more than 70 million people, she said.
The Director of Research of the HKTDC was one of the speakers at the business seminar and gave a detailed account of the background, purpose and opportunities of the Greater Bay Area.
The business seminar was followed by a cocktail reception and dinner. The Commissioner of Inclusive Dispute Avoidance and Resolution Office of the Department of Justice, Dr James Ding, also attended the dinner and gave a keynote speech to promote Hong Kong as a legal and dispute resolution services centre for the Greater Bay Area.
In late June 2019, the Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK went on a duty visit to Munich and Frankfurt in Germany, Dublin in Ireland, Luxembourg, and Maastricht and The Hague in the Netherlands.
The trip was part of InvestHK’s continued efforts to promote Hong Kong’s business attractions.
During the five-day visit, the Director-General met with CEOs from various sectors including venture capital, fintech, genetic data, medical technology, aviation, artificial intelligence, co-working space and accelerators, investment promotion agencies and chambers of commerce.
He also spoke at the Aviation Finance Festival in Dublin organised by Ishka to promote Hong Kong as the ideal aircraft leasing hub in Asia and related tax incentives.
The aim is to show that Hong Kong is an international business city with proximity to the Mainland China market, playing a key role during the process of the Mainland’s continued economic reform. The city has a strong foundation of rule of law and a deep pool of talents for various sectors.
The Hong Kong Government has also invested resources in boosting the city’s innovation and technology development, which will be a new impetus for Hong Kong’s economy.
Moreover, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development is the latest leverage for Hong Kong’s economy to leap further forward.
The Outline Development Plan for the Greater Bay Area has set out Hong Kong’s multiple roles, amongst other things as an international financial city, a global innovation hub and the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.
These areas of work are all conducive to developing Hong Kong further as an international metropolis with enhanced competitiveness.
European companies that are looking to expand into Asia and the world are encouraged to leverage the unique international status and technological advantages of Hong Kong.
