DGIP visits Middle East to promote Hong Kong's unique business advantages
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     The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, today (April 22) embarked on a five-day duty visit to the Middle East aimed at engaging with the regional business community and entrepreneurs to keep them abreast of the latest business advantages Hong Kong has to offer.

     The visit covers three countries in the region, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where Mr Phillips will meet with a diverse range of business and government leaders in technology, financial and professional services, banking and retail.

     He will also meet with officials of Dubai's government-funded FinTech Hive, a 12-week accelerator programme designed to nurture financial technology start-ups in the region. In Kuwait, Mr Phillips will attend a business event co-organised by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

     Mr Phillips said, "Hong Kong and the Middle East region have a strong and growing bilateral relationship based on common economic interests. We are exploring opportunities to collaborate across various sectors of mutual interest including new and traditional energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology and finance.

     "With the accelerated growth of our economies and our common vision for partnership, we see tremendous opportunity in working together to support our development plans and to contribute to the broader global economy.

     "Hong Kong is not only a major financial and business hub in Asia with close proximity to the huge Mainland market - new opportunities abound in areas such as innovation and technology, creative industries, smart city, financial technology and biological technology. Hong Kong will offer Middle East companies and entrepreneurs looking to expand in Asia a solid platform to grow their business globally."

     During his visit, Mr Philips will also update the Middle East business community on Hong Kong's latest tax incentives such as the new two-tier profits tax regime and various concessionary tax rates relating to corporate treasury centres and aircraft leasing.

About InvestHK

     Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to attract foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies enrolled as its clients. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

Ends/Sunday, April 22, 2018
Issued at HKT 14:00

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