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Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, at the Welcome Reception for the Asia Pacific Information and Communication Technology Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2013 today (November 26):
Mr (Michael) Leung (President of the Hong Kong Computer Society), Mr (Paul) Chow (Chairman of Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited), Mr (Fred) Lam (Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council), Mrs (Agnes) Mak (Chairperson of the APICTA 2013 Organising Committee), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you at the Welcome Reception for APICTA Awards 2013. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to each of you, especially to our overseas guests who come all the way to join this regional ICT mega event in Hong Kong.
We all heard the saying "You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere." APICTA is the venue for the brilliant minds in the industry. It is an excellent platform to bounce ideas and, more importantly, to make deals. This is where the action is.
How? APICTA 2013 presents an opportunity to pitch your product, and an opportunity to network with the right crowd. For product pitching, APICTA 2013 has introduced a series of seminars for ICT innovators to showcase their award entries to relevant businesses and public sectors, users and technology communities. These entries are indeed very outstanding. They cover the latest applications and innovations in e-government, media and entertainment technologies, and start-ups.
Pitching the product is the first step. Next, you need to follow up by finding the right business partners. APICTA 2013 provides an excellent business matching opportunity for ICT innovators and entrepreneurs. We look forward to seeing fruitful co-operation and collaboration among you all.
We, in Hong Kong, are also capitalising on the latest ICT innovations. We are an early adopter of ICT products, and we are also the ideal trading and promotion platform for these products. Hong Kong thrives on trade. We add value to ICT goods that flow through Hong Kong, bridging buyers and sellers. In each and every year, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organises the International ICT Expo. The Expo is a valuable platform for ICT innovators and companies to showcase their brand new ICT products and solutions to buyers around the world. The International ICT Expo is the leading ICT exhibition in Asia. Last year, over 30,000 visitors attended the ICT Expo. That was a very impressive turnout that translated into excellent business for participants.
I always believe that true innovation is the pivotal moment when talented and motivated people seize the opportunity to act on their ideas and dreams. APICTA provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to make their mark, and venture into the regional and international markets. I encourage you to take advantage of the APICTA platform and the HKTDC platform.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Hong Kong Computer Society, HKTDC and Cyberport. They have contributed great efforts to this ICT mega event. I wish APICTA 2013 every success. For those participants from overseas, there is no better time to visit Hong Kong than this fine autumn season. I wish you a most pleasant and enjoyable stay in Hong Kong.
Thank you.
Ends/Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:46
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