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Around 220 business executives from Australian enterprises attended the investment promotion seminar, Hong Kong and Foshan - "Your Winning Formula in China" - jointly organised by Invest Hong Kong and Foshan Municipal People's Government in Melbourne today (August 27).
This is the fifth joint investment promotion event by Invest Hong Kong and Foshan Municipal People's Government overseas. The seminar highlighted practical tips for Australian companies looking to access Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta. Executives from Australian companies established in the two cities shared their successful experiences with seminar participants.
The delegations were led by Mr Mike Rowse, Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, and Dr Chen Yunxian, Mayor of the Foshan Municipal People's Government.
Mr Rowse said, "Hong Kong, as a world leading business centre and the gateway to Foshan and the rest of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), is the natural choice for Australian companies to establish a base to explore and develop business in China. With our established rule of law, clean governance, simple and low tax regime, unfettered flow of information and capital, level playing field and lack of government interference, Hong Kong provides the best and lowest risk access to the world's leading market.ˇ¨
He added, "The 50,000-strong Australian community in Hong Kong has contributed substantially to our city's development - not only in business, but in sport, culture, education, tourism and public service. Why don't you join them to build or expand your business in Hong Kong and Foshan. And we at Invest Hong Kong are ready to help you succeed."
Dr Chen Yunxian, Mayor of Foshan Municipal People's Government introduced Foshan as an ideal platform for capturing business opportunities in China. He said, "Situated at the heart of the PRD, one of the most developed areas in China, Foshan is a city with superior geographic advantage. It is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau. It boasts complete market economy system, well-established infrastructure facilities, and favourable business environment for foreign investors coupled with its creative and dynamic commercial cultureˇ¨.
Dr Chen also noted, "Through years of rapid development, 'Made in Foshan' is well known both at home and abroad. Products like electrical appliances, textile and garment, building materials, furniture and electronic products are widely sold to more than 100 countries and regions. Foshan will speed up in making the city an advanced manufacturing base, a modern service centre for production, a reputed city with typical Southern Chinese culture, and a home of great beauty and wealth. Meanwhile, Foshan will spare no effort in building three world-class industrial bases, namely, a "City of White Electrical Appliances", an Industrial Base for Flat-panel LCD, and a 'City of Ceramics' and nine nation-class special industrial bases including special equipment machinery, food, energy conservation and environmental protection etc."
The seminar programme included case study presentations by Mr Jim Dickson, Managing Director of Nova Deko, and Mr Jeff Fok, Manager - Hong Kong of GHD Limited, who discussed investing and operating in Hong Kong and Foshan respectively. Mr Richard Kimber, Managing Partner of RHK Legal Corporate Advisors, provided participants with practical tips for doing business in Hong Kong and China, while Mr Zhang Jianhui, Director-General, Foshan Bureau of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation introduced the services of the Bureau to help companies to expand their China business. Mr Peter Osborne, the National Manager Investment of Austrade, told audience how Austrade could help them in doing business in Hong Kong and China. Finally, HKTDC's Director in Australia and New Zealand, Ms Bonnie Shek, briefed participants about the services to assist Australian companies in developing their businesses in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Ends/Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:56
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