The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, will leave Hong Kong in the early hours of March 18 to lead a delegation comprising more than 30 business people and professionals as well as representatives of start-ups to visit Georgia and Hungary from March 18 to 22 to promote Hong Kong as the prime platform for the Belt and Road Initiative and the city's strengths in professional services and doing business. The opportunity will also be taken to strengthen Hong Kong's economic ties with the two places and explore new business opportunities.

     The delegation consists of representatives from various sectors such as accounting, finance, insurance, infrastructure and real estate development, legal and dispute resolution services, transport and logistics, telecommunications and start-ups. Also joining part of the visit will be a 15-person parallel Guangdong trade delegation to be led by the Deputy Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Mr Li Yongyi, with delegates from nine Guangdong enterprises.

     Mr Yau said that the mission would facilitate formation of strategic partnerships between Hong Kong and Guangdong enterprises in exploring the Belt and Road markets, and would help bring about mutual collaboration. It would also demonstrate Hong Kong's unique strengths in being the springboard for enterprises in going global.

     The delegation will first visit Tbilisi in Georgia from March 18 to 20, to be followed by a visit to Budapest, Hungary, on March 21 and 22. Apart from meeting relevant government officials, local business leaders and chambers of commerce, the delegates will pay visits to local development projects for business exchanges and to receive updates on the current economic and investment environments of the two countries.

     The delegation will also attend the "Hong Kong IN: Exploring New Business Opportunities" Seminar cum Networking Dinner jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Tbilisi, where Mr Yau will deliver a keynote speech. In Budapest, Mr Yau will address a luncheon with the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

     During the visit, Mr Yau will take the opportunity to call on the Chinese Ambassadors to Georgia and Hungary to keep them abreast of the latest developments in Hong Kong.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon of March 23. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during Mr Yau's absence.

Ends/Friday, March 15, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:00

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