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The Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, Mr Bassanio So, today (September 20, Halifax time) met Nova Scotia Minister of Economic Development, Mr Richard Hurlburt, during a duty visit in Halifax.
Mr So briefed Mr Hurlburt on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's efforts in developing information technology and biotechnology, and gave him an update on the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) which was set up to spearhead Hong Kong's drive to become a world-class, knowledge-based economy.
Mr So told the minister the ITC initiative was to set up six centres to conduct industry-oriented R&D and promote technology transfer and commercialisation of research outputs, thereby enhancing industry competitiveness and fostering long-term technology development in these areas.
Mr So also encouraged the IT and biotechnology companies in Nova Scotia to collaborate with these centres to commercialise their products when expanding their market to China.
Accompanying Mr So at the meeting was the Regional Director, Americas, of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Mr Stephen Wong who took the opportunity to brief Mr Hurlburt on the services provided by the HKTDC (www.tdctrade.com) in Canada - sourcing, market intelligence, business matching, and organisation of trade missions to Hong Kong.
Ends/Thursday, September 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:50
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