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Canadian businesses that look to establish or expand their businesses in Mainland China will gain first-hand knowledge and insights from experts at a national forum with the theme "Hong Kong ¡V Turning China into Opportunity" to be held next Monday (June 2) in Edmonton.
Spearheaded by the Edmonton section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) and supported by HKCBA's other chapters in Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, the 2008 HKCBA National Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum builds on the success of the past three events -- in Ottawa in 2005, Winnipeg in 2006 and Toronto in 2007.
The full-day forum, to be held at the Shaw Conference Centre, is expected to be attended by over 300 delegates from across Canada, including representatives from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
"We hope this forum will provide Canadian business people, especially those in Western Canada, with practical advice in mapping their China business strategy," said Frankie Lee, President of the Edmonton section of the HKCBA. "We aim to address challenges Canadian businesses face when entering the China market and how Hong Kong can help them overcome any problems by capitalising on the city's advantages."
Panel presentations will cover subjects such as "China's Dynamic Economy ¡V Hong Kong¡¦s Dynamic Position and Role", "Our Evolving Bilateral Commercial Relationship - the Consulate's View", "Opportunities Created by the Emerging 'Sold in China' Market", and "A Canadian Business Success ¡V Hong Kong/China ¡V and Why".
Federal Minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification, Rona Ambrose; Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel; Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, Maureen Siu; Regional Director (Americas), Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Stephen Wong; and the Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, Simon Galpin, will jointly officiate at the opening of the forum. Mayor Mandel has proclaimed June 2 as "Hong Kong Day" in Edmonton to acknowledge the contribution of the Hong Kong community in the Alberta capital.
Senior representatives and trade experts from the public and business sectors will discuss with participants "Hong Kong: Canada's Smart Link in China", "Hong Kong's Advantages", "The best legal approach for investment in China", as well as Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre, and the Canadian business community in Hong Kong. They will talk about ways to alleviate some of the fears and concerns that Canadian business people might have when considering whether to enter into or expand business in the China market.
A keynote presentation on "Hong Kong: Turning China into Opportunity" will be given by the Chair of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, Mr Barry Macdonald, who will share with participants his knowledge and experience of how Canadian business could benefit from Hong Kong¡¦s role as the gateway to the China market.
Three plenary sessions on "Business Opportunities in the Immense and Challenging China Market ¡V Is Canadian Business Meeting the Challenge", "Your Smart Link in China: Hong Kong" and "The Global Value Chain and Low Cost Country Sourcing" will cover topics including:
* How Canadian companies can benefit from Hong Kong's role as a gateway to and in China;
* How other Canadian companies have done it correctly and successfully;
* How to allay fears of China trade and manage the risks;
* How to take advantage of the Hong Kong business platform to fast track your effort;
* How to deal with IPR (Intellectual Property Rights Protection) and export financing issues
Senior government officials and senior representatives representing Canada, Hong Kong and China, and representatives from the private sector who will speak at the forum include: Consul and Trade Commissioner of the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong, John Zimmerman; President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Andrew Turczniak; Vice-Consul & Trade Commissioner of the Consulate General of Canada in Guangzhou, Adeline Leung; Director (Canada) of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Andrew Yui; CEO of retail CHINA limited in Hong Kong, Janet De Silva; President of Supply Chain Logistics Association Canada (SCL), Robert Armstrong; Director of Cargo & Business Innovation of Edmonton Airports, Glen Vanstone; Vice President (Canada) of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, Philippe Lacamp; Patricia Mohr, Vice President, Economics, Scotiabank; Robert Kwauk, Partner, Beijing Office, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP; Manford Kwan, President & CEO, ASAT Solutions Inc., Calgary; Henry Park, Vice President and Head of Trade, HSBC Bank Canada; and Carl Gravel, National Director, Manufacturing/Globalisation Strategy, Business Development Bank of Canada.
The national forum in Edmonton is also supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
Forum partners include Supply Chain Logistics Association of Canada, the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce & World Trade Centre, Manitoba Trade and Investment, Saskatchewan Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, British Columbia Ministry of Economic Development, Canada China Business Council, I E Canada Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Asia Pacific Foundation.
Supporting partners include Cathay Pacific Airways, Government of Alberta, Western Economic Diversification Canada, HSBC Bank Canada, Quam Limited, retail CHINA Limited, Business Development Bank of Canada, Export Development Canada, WestJet Airlines, and REALTORS Association of Edmonton.
Canadian Business Magazine is the media sponsor, the Sutton Place Edmonton Hotel is the hotel sponsor, and Era Integrated is the design sponsor.
On Sunday evening before the forum, HKCBA Edmonton will be hosting its annual popular "A Touch of Hong Kong" gala dinner at the Sutton Place Hotel, Edmonton.
For registration and further information please visit: www.hkcba.com/canhkforum or contact: Shirley Kwan HKCBA (Edmonton) Tel: (780)970-7964/Email: syckwan@shaw.ca or Robert Brown HKCBA (National) Tel: (416)366-2642/Email: canhkforum08@hkcba.com
Ends/Thursday, May 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:45
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