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Following is the speech by the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, Mr Fong Ngai, at the Joint Venture Signing Ceremony of Kerry Logistics and Puninar Logistics this evening (January 16):
Chairman Franky Sibarani (Chairman of Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board), Ambassador Anil Kumar Nayar (Ambassador of Singapore to Indonesia), Mr Theodore P Rachmat (President Director of Triputra Group), Mr Korompis (Eddy Korompis, President Director of Puninar Logistics), George (George Yeo, Deputy Chairman of Kerry Logistics), distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman,
Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to attend the Joint Venture Signing Ceremony between Kerry Logistics and Puninar Logistics. I would like to thank George in particular for inviting me to address such a distinguished audience.
My office, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government, based in Singapore, is responsible for enhancing the bilateral relations between Hong Kong and the ten ASEAN countries including Indonesia. Thus my job requires me to travel to all ASEAN countries from time to time.
During my visits, whenever I tell people in ASEAN I am from Hong Kong, I always feel so welcomed. One of the reasons is that the Hong Kong business communities in ASEAN have given a very good impression to the people in ASEAN. The Hong Kong business people in ASEAN usually look at investment from a medium to long term perspective. They believe in investments which create job opportunities. They see the importance of working together with reliable local business partners so that both could grow together. They have a very good working relationship with local authorities and are very supportive of corporate social initiatives, participating in community outreach and charity projects. That makes my job in promoting Hong Kong in ASEAN much easier.
Today, the Joint Venture between Kerry Logistics and Puninar Logistics is yet another excellent example of cooperation between Hong Kong and Indonesia. The Hong Kong SAR Government believes in growing together with our neighbouring economies. We believe in sharing in each other's success. We believe in a closer regional economic integration. That is why Hong Kong is now negotiating with ASEAN on a Free Trade Agreement. That is why our non-government agency Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has set up an office in Jakarta last year to further promote two way trade and Hong Kong investment in Indonesia.
Trade and investment is one of the keys to Hong Kong's economic success. The trade and logistic sector accounts for 24 per cent of Hong Kong's GDP. Trade between ASEAN and Hong Kong has been growing significantly in the last decade at an average of eight per cent per year, making ASEAN the second largest trading partner of Hong Kong since 2010. For the first eleven months of 2014, trade between Hong Kong and ASEAN grew at an impressive 10 per cent. It seems that we are on track to surpass the US$100 billion mark of trade between ASEAN and Hong Kong in 2014. Hong Kong is also amongst the top investors in ASEAN.
The National 12th 5-year Plan clearly sets out China's support for Hong Kong to consolidate and enhance its status as an international centre for shipping. President Jokowi's economic blueprint clearly set out its objective of making Indonesia a "global maritime nexus". This presents an unprecedented opportunity for Hong Kong and Indonesia to work together in developing our maritime and logistic sector so that we could grow our economies together.
Last but not least, may I wish Kerry Logistic and Puninar Logistic a long-lasting partnership and a successful business venture in the many years to come.
Thank you.
Ends/Friday, January 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:20
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