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The Miyazaki Prefectural Government announced today (August 28) that it has opened its representative office in Hong Kong, aiming to boost economic and cultural ties with the city and leverage on Hong Kong's strategic location in the Asian region.
The Miyazaki Prefectural Hong Kong Office Representative Office Director, Dr Takashi Mizuta, said that the Hong Kong office will promote sales and exports of the prefecture's products and outbound travel to the prefecture by Hong Kong and Mainland residents.
He said that Hong Kong offers a base to export the prefecture's products and act as the information transmission centre for the prefecture given the city's central location in Asia and proximity to the Mainland market. The Hong Kong office will work to increase trade links between the businesses of Miyazaki Prefecture and those in Hong Kong, East Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
"Miyazaki's exports amounted to 400 million yen (about HK$32 million) in 2011. By setting up an office in Hong Kong, we target to see the value of our exports increase to 1.2 billion yen (about HK$96 million) in 2015," Dr Mizuta said.
"From a base in Hong Kong, we can promote our prefecture to not only Mainland consumers easily because the city is part of China, but also those in ASEAN economies given Hong Kong's long-established links with many of them. Our Hong Kong office is playing an important role in our overseas marketing strategy," he said.
According to the most up-to-date figures, Hong Kong was the largest export market for Miyazaki in 2012, during which nearly 80 per cent of total exports were exported to the city. Also, there are about 16 companies, mainly food manufacturing and agricultural co-operatives, from Miyazaki which have already established a business presence in Hong Kong.
The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Simon Galpin, said Miyazaki's new office reinforced Hong Kong's role as the key business hub in Asia.
"The rule of law and free flow of information, combined with our unmatched location and excellent financial, telecommunications and transportation infrastructure, mean that Hong Kong is the premier location for both public and private sector organisations to establish and expand their operations in Asia," he said.
About Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture is located on the eastern coast of the island of Kyushu, with a land area almost seven times as big as Hong Kong and a population of more than 1.1 million people. The prefecture is characterised by its rich natural environment, expansive national parks and agricultural products, plus new industries such as the solar energy and medical industries. Other major industries include food and beverages, electronic parts, chemicals, tobacco and rubber. For more information, please visit www.pref.miyazaki.lg.jp/.¡@
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As at June 2013, Invest Hong Kong has completed over 2 900 investment projects creating over 33 000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$76 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For event photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157635249242339/.
Ends/Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:55
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