********************************************************
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) has kicked off its 2016 Chinese New Year celebrations in countries under its purview by holding events in Sweden and Finland.
The London ETO started celebrating the Year of the Monkey with Chinese New Year receptions in Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki, Finland on January 26 and 27 respectively. Both events were attended by representatives of the government, business and academic sectors, etc.
Key speaker at the receptions was Director-General of the London ETO, Ms Priscilla To. Other speakers include the Swedish Minister for Financial Markets and Consumer Affairs, Mr Per Bolund, for the Stockholm reception, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Finnair Plc Mr Pekka Vauramo for the Helsinki reception, who both shared with guests their recent experience of Hong Kong.
At both receptions, Ms To briefed the guests on the latest developments in Hong Kong, including the most recent initiatives in the innovation and technology sector as well as the financial services sector. Ms To also highlighted Hong Kong's fundamental advantages and the strong links between Hong Kong and the two countries.
In Stockholm, Ms To hailed the excellent progress made in cooperation on various areas in recent years, and raised the possibility of stronger co-operation between the two places on finance and start-up development. In Helsinki, Ms To updated the guests on the new initiatives promoting clean technology in Hong Kong, and welcomed the importing of clean technology from Finland given its excellence in such technology.
Ms To also took the opportunity of the two receptions to highlight the potential opportunities created by the Belt and Road initiative. "Given Hong Kong's unique advantages under the 'one country, two systems' arrangement, our pillar industries and emerging industries will stand to benefit from the Belt and Road initiative in the long run," she said. She encouraged any company looking to expand its market outreach to partner with Hong Kong to venture into the vast markets of the Belt-Road.
To promote Hong Kong's music talent, London ETO arranged for Hong Kong violist Mr Gilbert Sak and violinist Ms Winty Wan to perform at the two receptions.
The Chinese New Year receptions were co-organised by the London ETO, Hong Kong Trade Development Council and local business associations, namely the Royal Sweden Hong Kong Business Council and the Finland - Hong Kong Trade Association. The London ETO will be holding further Chinese New Year receptions in other countries under its purview during February and March.
Ends/Friday, January 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 02:00
NNNN