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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at the Joint Opening Ceremony of World SME Expo and InnoDesign Tech Expo held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre this (December 2) morning:
Fred (Lam), Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is my great pleasure to join you for the opening of the World SME Expo and InnoDesign Tech (IDT) Expo. A very warm welcome to all of you. This is where ideas and investors meet.
And because it coincides with our Business of Design Week, we can add creative management to the mix.
Where better to share experiences and showcase hi-tech solutions than right here ¡V in Asia's world city and on the doorstep of the world¡¦s fastest growing large economy, China.
The 10th Anniversary of the World SME Expo features some 300 exhibitors from around the world. As well as the familiar attractions, it also includes ¡V for the first time ¡V a "Start a Business" Pavilion.
Embracing creativity, innovation and technology are keys to success, particularly in challenging economic times. As our region emerges from the global financial crisis, this is the right time and the right place to make new contacts and put your ideas into practice.
Governments have a role to play in promoting innovation and creativity.
In Hong Kong, we have the Create Hong Kong office which is dedicated to driving the development of creative industries. CreateHK works closely with TDC in assisting creative SMEs to find new market opportunities in and outside Hong Kong.
CreateHK also supports local talents in taking part in international awards and competitions. This is a great way to test new ideas and products and to gain international recognition. This year our advertising talents won awards at the Cannes International Advertising Festival in June. Warmest congratulations!
In terms of infrastructure, Cyberport and Hong Kong Science Park provide state-of-the-art facilities for our creative and innovation sectors.
We are embarking on Phase 3 of the Science Park development. This HK$5 billion project is expected to open in 2013. It will enhance the clustering benefits and incubation programmes for our tech entrepreneurs as well as for those who are now in Phase I and Phase II of the Science Park.
We are also joining forces with Shenzhen to develop the Lok Ma Chau Loop ¡V which is located at the boundary ¡V into a knowledge and technology exchange zone. Higher education will be the leading force for the Loop area, complemented by R&D infrastructure and creative industries.
This will turn a new chapter in cross-boundary cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It will also open up new opportunities for our high-tech and creative SMEs.
Here in Hong Kong, SMEs not only spearhead innovation, they are also the nuts and bolts of our business community, a major pillar of our business community I may say.
Over 280,000 SMEs in Hong Kong employ more than 1.2 million people, or almost half of our private sector workforce. They have helped to fuel our economic recovery and maintain a relatively stable employment rate during the recent financial turmoil. Hong Kong is on course to achieve GDP growth of 6.5 per cent in the year 2010.
The Government will continue to support SMEs. Measures include launching a Finance Guarantee Scheme for SMEs next month. We are also helping to open up new markets in emerging economies, including the Mainland of China, through events such as this.
Ladies and gentlemen, it only remains for me to welcome all our visitors to Hong Kong, and to congratulate Fred Lam and his team at the TDC for organising these two Expos successfully.
I wish both fairs a great success and all our visitors a memorable and pleasant stay in Hong Kong.
Thank you very much.
Ends/Thursday, December 2, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:34
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