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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore and the Hong Kong Tourism Board jointly hosted a spring luncheon reception in Singapore today (February 1).
The event was part of a series of Chinese New Year receptions being held in the Southeast Asian region during the festive season to update contacts in these countries on the latest developments in Hong Kong.
In his welcoming remarks, the Director of the HKETO in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai, said Hong Kong and Singapore had all along enjoyed good trade relations.
"In 2010, Singapore and Hong Kong were each other's fifth largest trading partner. Hong Kong was also Singapore's second largest export market. The average annual growth rate in bilateral trade between Hong Kong and Singapore was 8 per cent from 2006 to 2010, with total trade value reaching US$37.1 billion in 2010," he said. ¡@
Looking forward to the year ahead, Mr Fong said Hong Kong will continue to foster economic ties with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, in particular Singapore, and he urged overseas investors to tap the huge opportunities offered by Hong Kong's strategic position as an international financial centre and its development as China's Renminbi offshore business centre.
Some 200 guests attended today's reception including government officials from China and ASEAN countries, and representatives of trade associations and industry and various sectors in Singapore. Among them were the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Singapore, Mr Wei Wei, and the Ambassador of Thailand to Singapore, Mr Marut Jitpatima.
Ends/Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:55
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