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Invest Hong Kong ranked top in Asia in World Bank global survey (with photo)
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     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) was ranked sixth in the world and the only Asian investment promotion agency in the global top 10 for inquiry handling, according to the latest Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking (GIPB) survey by the World Bank Group.

     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Simon Galpin, was encouraged by the survey's findings, which showed a "responsive culture" that has developed over the past 12 years since the Department was established.

     Mr Galpin said, "InvestHK's sector teams and overseas colleagues take prompt and appropriate action when they receive inquiries by foreign investors, because we all know the importance of the first contact and the positive and helpful impression it gives investors about Hong Kong. The more responsively and thoroughly we react to investors' inquiries, the more likely they will make an informed choice about setting up their business in Hong Kong."

     The World Bank's Project Manager for the GIPB 2012, Mr Robert Whyte, said that the city had leapt 20 places in inquiry handling from 26th in the last survey in 2009 to become "the top performer in Asia."

     Mr Whyte said, "As FDI levels recover slowly from the recent economic crisis, it is more important than ever for government agencies to be highly responsive to the needs of potential investors as they search for new investment locations.

     "InvestHK, as one of the world's top investment facilitators, has taken this challenge seriously by significantly improving the quality of facilitation services that it offers to investors since our GIPB 2009 survey, especially in terms of its ability to handle direct investor inquiries in which it is now the top performer in Asia," Mr Whyte added.

     The GIPB 2012 survey was conducted by the Investment Climate Department of the World Bank Group, assessing 189 agencies worldwide for their effectiveness in online promotions and inquiry-handling. The initial findings were announced during the World Investment Forum in Doha last month.

     In the inquiry handling test, using a mystery shopper approach, GIPB 2012 assessed each agency twice ¡V once with an agribusiness inquiry about seeking land for agricultural testing and once with a tourism inquiry about a hotel development.

     InvestHK was one of only 10 agencies that acknowledged the inquiry email in both inquiries within 24 hours. Interaction with InvestHK was "highly professional", according to the GIPB report. Calls were directed to a knowledgeable manager, and staff were helpful even after noting that the location could not meet the agribusiness project's land requirement, the report cited.

About Invest Hong Kong

     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. In its 12th year of operation, Invest Hong Kong has completed over 2,400 investment projects, creating more than 29,000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$62 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk .

     For photos, please visit:¡@www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157629780024906/ .

Ends/Monday, May 21, 2012
Issued at HKT 10:01

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