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Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on August 27 (European time) with Mr Luca Zaia, President of the Region of Veneto in Italy, on strengthening mutual ties and co-operation between the HKSAR and the Veneto Region.
Speaking during the MOU signing ceremony in Venice, Miss Chow said that Hong Kong and Italy are close trade and economic partners. In 2009, Italy was Hong Kong's third largest trading partner among European Union member states, with total trade amounting to $55.5 billion.
The MOU with Veneto, which covers a wide range of areas from food and wine promotion, economy and trade to science and technology, and tourism and investment promotion, would further enhance the breadth and depth of co-operation between Hong Kong and the region, she added.
Under the agreement, the two places will strengthen co-operation, exchanges and sharing of experiences in food and wine-related areas including cuisine and wine promotion, facilitation of wine-related trading activities, stimulation of investment activities, strengthening of education and manpower training, and promotion of wine-related tourism.
On the investment promotion front, the two sides will foster information exchanges, including providing industry connections to interested investors, and keeping each other informed of investment-related activities, services and new initiatives.
The signatories also agreed to bolster co-operation in creative industries through encouraging industry participation in major events, exhibitions and trade fairs; promoting the organisation of seminars, training and internships; facilitating business-to-business contacts and visits; and enhancing information sharing.
Ends/Friday, August 27, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:39
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