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    US-based email security provider IronPort Systems has selected Hong Kong for its Greater China regional headquarters.  

    The newly established Hong Kong office will include sales, marketing and technical support functions.  

    The Regional Director, Greater China Region of IronPort Systems, Mr Simon Tsang, said that Hong Kong's geographical location and sophisticated transportation network were the main reasons supporting the company's decision.

    He said, "In view of the fast growing demand for email security solutions in Greater China, our company needed to build a base in the region to manage the channel partners and serve end users here.  Hong Kong is simply the best location within this region.  From a business's point of view, there isn't any place in Asia which is so convenient for travel.  It is therefore natural for us to choose Hong Kong for our important regional headquarters. We will use Hong Kong as the gateway to the Mainland and rest of the region.?

    According to Mr Tsang, Hong Kong's high quality workforce and sound management skills enable the company to develop new business most efficiently and effectively.

    Founded in 2000 by pioneers in Internet messaging, IronPort Systems provides email security solutions for organisations of all sizes.  Supported by a strong technical team experienced in the industry, the company focuses on unique proprietary technologies, complemented by partnerships in the industry around the world.  

    The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr John Rutherford, welcomed the company's decision to set up its regional base in Hong Kong.

    Mr Rutherford said, "With our high IT penetration rate, the demand for various kinds of IT solutions has grown rapidly among Hong Kong businesses, and also those businesses in the region driven out of Hong Kong.  Our city offers tremendous opportunities for companies like IronPort to expand their network throughout the region. Apart from our strategic location, our outstanding IT and telecommunications infrastructure are among the major reasons that so many IT companies set up their technical support centre here to serve clients in the region."

    Mr Rutherford wished IronPort every success in its future in Hong Kong and in the Greater China region.

    Since its establishment in 2000 in California, USA, IronPort has become a leader in email security with focuses on unique proprietary technologies such as SenderBase and AsyncOS. With its international headquarters in the US and 32 offices in EMEA, Latin America, Asia Pacific, IronPort currently employs over 350 staff around the world. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.ironport.com.

    Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating inward investment into the city by providing all the support needed to establish a business presence here.  For more information, please visit the website at www.investhk.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, July 28, 2005

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