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Delcan International Corporation has become one of the shining examples among Canadian companies using Hong Kong as a launching pad and teaming up with Hong Kong and international partners to win contracts in Hong Kong as well as to expand their projects into the Mainland.

Based in Toronto and with a branch office in Hong Kong, Delcan International today (December 7, Canada Time) announced at a reception at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO) that the company, in partnership with GCE Services (Hong Kong) Limited, and Imtech Projects BV of the Netherlands, had won a CAD$42.5 million (HK$255 million) contract for the design, development, and implementation of a traffic control and surveillance system along the 13.5km Route 8 from Tsing Yi to Sha Tin.

The contract was signed between Delcan International Corporation and its joint venture partners, and the Highways Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government. When completed, the Route 8 system will be one of the largest traffic and surveillance system's ever implemented in Hong Kong.

Delcan's executive vice-president Mr Joseph Lam said because of the company's success in Hong Kong, it had also been taking up several major projects in Mainland China and his staff in Hong Kong had to often shuttle between Hong Kong and Beijing for projects related to the 2008 Olympics. The projects that Delcan International has completed in Mainland China include the Foshan-Kaiping Expressway Toll, Communication and Traffic Control Systems in Guangdong Province, and the Jieshou-Fuyang-Bengbu Toll Highway Feasibility Study in Jiangsu Province.

Speaking at the reception, HKETO Director Mr Bassanio So, said that Hong Kong offered Canadian companies distinctive advantages to excel in the world-class city and to extend their antennae into Mainland China.

He said the HKSAR Government was committed to continue investing heavily in transport infrastructure development to maintain its position as a regional transport and business hub. "The ambitious transport infrastructure development programme involves a total investment of about CAD$50 billion, including some CAD$33 billion investment in railway projects and another CAD$13.5 billion investment on road projects," he said.

However, Mr So reminded Canadian companies who considered the "Go-East" strategy that they should not be eyeing just the Hong Kong market. There was a much bigger market up north - Mainland China.

"The rapid economic development in Mainland China generates substantial and persistent demand for quality engineering services," he said. "Many Mainland investors prefer using Hong Kong's engineering services to support their Mainland projects because of the knowledge of the Mainland market, the strengths of Hong Kong companies in respect of quality control, management and technical skills."

While the HKSAR Government welcomed talent from around the world to play a part in Hong Kong's infrastructure projects, Ontario Exports Inc was also increasing its efforts to promote Ontario businesses and was poised to expand into new emerging global markets, Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mr Joseph Cordiano told the reception.

"Ontario products and services are top notch, and Ontarians have a tremendous capacity for innovation and knowledge. Our government wants this known far and wide," Mr Cordiano said. "That's why we are leading an aggressive push beyond our traditional trading partners by vigorously promoting the Ontario brand worldwide. And the Asian market is a priority."

"And our government is committed to helping all industries succeed so they can do more than just compete with the best in the world, but in fact, outpace them," he said.

The reception was jointly organised by the HKETO, Delcan International Corporation, and Ontario Exports Inc, the export development agency of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

Delcan is a top transportation systems engineering consultant in North America with particular expertise in traffic control and surveillance software development and integration. Over the years, Delcan has successfully completed many transportation system projects in Hong Kong, including Lantau Fixed Crossing, Western Harbour Crossing, Route 3 Country Park, Tai Lam Tunnel, and Chek Lap Kok Airport.

More than 35 engineers and engineering staff will be employed by the joint venture in Hong Kong to handle the Route 8 project.

Ends/Wednesday, December 8, 2004

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