Canadian technology company sets up Asia Pacific HQ in HK

A leading Canadian technology company specialising in 3D real-time measurement systems, Northern Digital Inc (NDI), has established its Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong.

After serving its customers in Asia Pacific for more than a decade, the Waterloo-based NDI aims to capitalise on the growing demand for its products by establishing a permanent base in the region.

NDI's Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Mr David Xu, said: "Hong Kong offers an efficient and international business environment where it is easy to start up our Asia Pacific operations.

"Hong Kong was the obvious choice, given its excellent infrastructure, especially in IT, telecommunications, transport and shipping. We also value the availability of professional services such as legal, financial and marketing communications, as well as the city's vast pool of highly-trained human resources."

NDI develops, manufactures and sells advanced measurement systems for applications ranging from image-guided surgery for orthopaedics and neurosurgery to industrial use in quality inspection and reverse engineering.

The company has continued to build on its strengths in medical, research and industrial markets with 3 600 installations in over 25 countries around the world. The company sees Asia as one of its most important growth markets.

Director of Sales and Marketing, Steve Currie, says Hong Kong provides an ideal platform to market NDI's products throughout the region, especially to China.

"Having a local presence in Hong Kong is critical for developing the partnership we offer our customers by working closely with them to adapt our core measurements technology to their specific needs," said Mr Currie.

"We are committed to innovation. We invest more than 20 per cent of our revenue in research and development each year. This gives our products the cutting edge, which is crucial for winning new customers here in Asia."

At the opening reception, Miss Wendy Chow Po-fun, Invest Hong Kong's acting Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, said Hong Kong played an important role as a sales and marketing hub for many overseas companies expanding their customer base in Asia. Its ideal location and excellent infrastructure made it easy for companies to stay close to their target markets.

"NDI Asia Pacific brings a wealth of specialised technological know-how to our city, and we are pleased with the company's choice of Hong Kong for its Asia Pacific headquarters," she said.

The opening of Northern Digital Inc's new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong has also been welcomed by the Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada), Mrs Rosanna Ure.

Speaking in Toronto, Mrs Ure urged Canadian technology companies and businesses in other trades to establish a presence in Hong Kong and to take advantage of the city's position as the regional financial, trading and business centre and premier gateway to new opportunities in the mainland of China and the rest of Asia.

Invest Hong Kong
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Toronto

Ends/Monday, June 10, 2002