The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin (HKETO Berlin) and the Warsaw-based Centre for International Relations (CIR) held a business luncheon in Gdansk, Poland on May 8 (Gdansk time) to introduce Polish companies to the new business opportunities emerging in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area). Participants came from small and medium-sized Polish enterprises of various sectors including fintech and innovation and technology.

     The Director of the HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, said that the Greater Bay Area is a vibrant city cluster that comprises the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as nine municipalities in Guangdong (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing). Collectively, they represent an economic force of nearly 70 million people with a GDP of around US$1.6 trillion.

     Polish businesses in Hong Kong will continue to benefit from Hong Kong's traditional strengths including the low and simple tax system, the rule of law, and the strategic location in the heart of Asia at the mouth of the Pearl River Delta, added Mr Li. In its role as a facilitator, Hong Kong serves as the bridge linking the goods and services of Polish companies with other markets in the region. New prospects will arise from the enhanced connectivity of the cities in the Greater Bay Area, fostering economic integration in the region. Hong Kong is not only a global financial centre but also developing into the region’s innovation and technology hub. It is best place for investment in the Asia Pacific region, whether directly in Hong Kong or in the Mainland of China through Hong Kong, he said.

     Mr Li also emphasised Hong Kong’s importance as an international trade, logistics and business hub. "Whereas Gdansk is a gateway to Central and Eastern Europe by sea, Hong Kong is a key hub of the Greater Bay Area, while continuing to serve as the gateway to the Mainland of China and the Southeast Asian countries," he said.

     He added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) sees Gdansk as its major partner in this part of Europe for boosting bilateral economic ties and helping Polish companies to find partners and business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

     Following the welcome remarks, Dr Chung Wing-hin, the Head of the Investment Promotion of HKETO Berlin, presented the latest initiatives to attract innovative businesses to Hong Kong with the support of InvestHK, the HKSARG department tasked with facilitating inward investment. "Hong Kong, with its business-friendly environment, sound legal framework and the international connectivity will all help businesses and individuals to connect and excel in this exciting new global economic zone," he said.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official HKSARG representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Poland as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Ends/Thursday, May 9, 2019
Issued at HKT 20:40

NNNN