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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, arrived at Moscow, Russia on the day of Mid-Autumn Festival (September 25) and started the "Hong Kong Week" promotional programmes in Moscow and St Petersburg.
The Secretary, leading a business delegation organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), visited the Expocentr - Russia's largest operator and organizer of international trade shows and congresses as well as one of the leaders of exhibition industry in Eastern Europe. They had meeting with the First Deputy Director General of the Expocentr, Mr Nikolay Gusev, to share experience and explore scope of future cooperation.
To tap the immense potential of Russia's outbound tourism market which is one of the fastest growing ones in the world, Mr Ma also attended a dinner meeting with the Russian tour operators organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). He introduced the wide range of attractions and exotic experience Hong Kong offers as the tourists' choice destination and encouraged them to work with the HKTB to develop tour programmes that suit the Russian market.
Mr Ma also introduced the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's first ever concert in Russia to the audience at the International House of Music. The concert marked a milestone in the Hong Kong – Russia economic and cultural exchanges, with the audience all charmed by the magic and mystique of Chinese classic and contemporary music.
Earlier in the day he paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Ambassador in Russia, Mr Liu Guchang, They agreed that the organisation of more such promotional events could raise Russians' awareness about Hong Kong and also timely to coincide with the "China in Russia Year" programme.
Today (September 26) Mr Ma will officiate at the Opening of the "Style Hong Kong in Moscow" Exposition and Extravaganza Gala Dinner presented by the HKTDC. The mega scale trade show participated by more than 200 Hong Kong companies will bring top-notch quality products of lifestyle directly to Russian trade buyers amid a blooming consumer market, while the Gala Dinner will present Hong Kong's style and elegance through fashion shows and product parades.
Mr Ma will also have a networking luncheon with local business leaders and witness the signing ceremony of Co-operation Agreement between Russian-Chinese Business Council and HKTDC.
He will fly to St Petersburg tomorrow to continue the week-long promotional tour.
Ends/Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:27
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