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Hong Kong serves as gateway to China for Slovakian companies (with photo)
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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) co-hosted a business seminar in Bratislava, Slovakia on October 10 (Bratislava time). The event focused on Hong Kong's role as the gateway to China and how the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has leveraged the advantages of "One Country, Two Systems" for 15 years after Hong Kong's reunification with China.  

     In his presentation, the Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Ivan Lee, described how Hong Kong has taken advantage of its unique geographical position and special relationship with Mainland China to build on its role as the gateway to China.

    "With its strategic location at the doorway to the Mainland and in a time zone that bridges the gap between Asia and Europe, Hong Kong serves as a global centre for trade, finance, business and communications," he said.

     Mr Lee pointed out significant advantages when doing business in Hong Kong. While the development into an offshore Renminbi business centre and an international asset management centre had consolidated Hong Kong's position as China's global financial centre, he recommended Slovak companies, especially from the SME sector, to make full use of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA). He said, "The CEPA offers favourable trading and investment conditions to Hong Kong-based companies - local or foreign owned - interested in exporting goods, trading services and investment facilitation."

     Representatives of co-organisers the Hong Kong Trade Development Council shared their insights with the audience by explaining the most important steps when entering the Hong Kong and Chinese markets. The introductory session was followed by two panels, one of them titled "How to enter the Hong Kong and Chinese markets". The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency highlighted business opportunities for Slovak companies in Hong Kong and China. Senior Investment Promotion Executive of Invest Hong Kong, Brussels, Mr Siegfried Verstappen, gave practical tips for doing business in China via Hong Kong and illuminated the distinct benefits Hong Kong has to offer to the global business community. The panel was rounded off with the case study of a private Slovak company that has already set up business in Hong Kong. The second panel focused on import opportunities from Hong Kong for Slovakian companies.

     After the presentations and case studies vivid discussions took place. The representatives of the HKSAR Government and the business community expressed confidence that Hong Kong will further benefit from its strategic location at the heart of Asia and continue offering one of the best business environments in the region with its rule of law, international connections, free flow of capital and information, quality of life and its multilingual, multicultural environment. Altogether some 100 participants attended the seminars.

Ends/Thursday, October 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:47

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