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To promote Hong Kong as an intellectual property (IP) trading hub, the Government will co-organise the Business of IP (BIP) Asia Forum with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC) this December for the first time.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, said today (May 14), "IP has become increasingly important in a knowledge-based economy to drive innovation and growth. The remarkable surge in the global use of IP in recent years and the increasing demand for it in the region will translate into huge opportunities.
"Hong Kong has the potential to develop into a regional IP trading hub, given our thriving capital market, outstanding business environment, robust IP protection regime, extensive investments across Asia with the Mainland as our hinterland, and experience in areas such as research and development, design, trading and business services in support of industrial production. Since its launch two years ago, the BIP Asia Forum has enjoyed great success and has become a premier event drawing IP practitioners from all over the world. By co-organising the event, we hope to bring this event to another level, consolidate Hong Kong's position as an IP trading hub, and attract more IP trading activities to Hong Kong," Mr So added.
The Chief Executive announced the setting up of the Working Group on IP Trading in his 2013 Policy Address. The terms of reference of the Working Group are to advise on the overall strategies to promote the development of Hong Kong as an IP trading hub, and to identify possible policy and other support measures to facilitate IP trading in Hong Kong. The Working Group is led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, with Member of the Executive Council Mr Andrew Liao as the Vice-chairman. Its Members have been drawn from a wide range of sectors related to IP trading. They comprise various IP creators, IP users and IP intermediaries, as well as representatives from the Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
The third BIP Asia Forum will be held on December 5 and 6 this year. The second forum, co-organised by HKTDC and HKDC last December, attracted more than 1 400 professionals and business leaders from 23 countries and regions, twice as many as the inaugural forum in 2011.
For details of the forum, please visit its website (bipasiaforum.com).
Ends/Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:00
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