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Described as "the city built on logistics", Hong Kong provides an effective transportation infrastructure which is not only driving South China's economic development, but also serving as a logistics platform for Canadian companies, according to Miss Gloria Lo, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Toronto.
Speaking today (August 29, Mississauga time) at a breakfast seminar in the City of Mississauga, Miss Lo highlighted the fact that the logistics industry is one of the four traditional economic pillars in Hong Kong, which has the busiest air cargo airport and the third busiest container port in the world.
The business seminar was organized by the Toronto Section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA), with the support from the HKETO and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).
In her presentation, Miss Lo picked out a few quotes from a cover story in the March 2012 issue of the Canadian Transportation & Logistics magazine, which described Hong Kong as "a city built on logistics" and said that "logistics is part of Hong Kong's DNA". "The magazine's editor says that Hong Kong's logistics assets jump out at you right from the taxi ride into the city from the airport," she said.
Hong Kong is a place where logistics is strengthened through a commitment to investment in infrastructure. The Hong Kong SAR Government, partnered with the private sector, has started the mega Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project.
Miss Lo said Hong Kong's strengths in the logistics, shipping and maritime service are duly recognized by the Central Government. "With the full support of the Central Government under the 12th National Five-Year Plan, we will continue to develop as an international maritime and logistics centre," she said. "We are also planning to construct the third runway in the Hong Kong International Airport, develop a new container terminal, and identify more land suitable for the construction of modern logistics services. The completion of a number of ongoing infrastructure projects in the coming years will facilitate passenger and freight land transport between Hong Kong and Mainland China, giving us additional competitive advantages in the logistics industry."
Miss Lo also emphasized that companies operating in Hong Kong, both local and foreign-owned, could leverage upon Hong Kong's unique advantages under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangements (CEPA), which allows Hong Kong service suppliers to provide, in the form of wholly-owned operations, logistics services (such as storage and warehousing, value adding processing, packaging, delivery, etc), freight transport agency services, and the management and operation of logistics services through computer network within the Mainland.
The economic rising of Asia, in particular Mainland China, has changed the landscape of global logistics in recent years. Global trade volumes involving Asia are surging and giving rise to unparalleled opportunities for the global logistics industry. Hong Kong, strategically located at the centre of Asia and equipped with all the necessary "hardware" and "software", is the ideal logistics and maritime hub in the region.
In order to facilitate Canadian logistics service providers and users in tapping the growing business opportunities, The HKETO and HKTDC are co-organizing the 2nd Canadian Supply Chain and Logistics Mission to Hong Kong scheduled for November 6-9.
Director (Canada) of HKTDC, Mr Andrew Yui, said at the seminar that the mission is supported by a number of multipliers including the HKCBA, IE Canada, the Government of Quebec, the Canadian Consulate General in Hong Kong, and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. The major programme for the delegates is the participation in the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference on November 8 in Hong Kong.
"At the conference, the Canadian delegates will be able to meet 1,000 logistics sector leaders, service providers and users from the Mainland, Hong Kong and around the world to exchange views and market intelligence, as well as discuss business and conclude deals," said Mr Yui.
The other speakers at today's seminar included National Chair of HKCBA and President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Mr Robert Armstrong; President of HKCBA (Toronto) and Senior Vice President of the Business Development Bank of Canada, Mr Peter Lawler; President of Canadian Association of Importers & Exporters, Ms Joy Nott; International Trade Consultant of Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Mr Lesley Cole; and Mission Leader of 2012 Canadian Supply Chain and Logistics Mission to Hong Kong, Ms Anne Waldes.
Ends/Thursday, August 30, 2012
Issued at HKT 08:40
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