Hong Kong will participate in the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. Apart from setting up a Hong Kong Exhibition Area inside the China Pavilion of the Country Pavilion for Trade and Investment, around 200 Hong Kong enterprises will participate in the Enterprise and Business Exhibition. The Hong Kong enterprises will showcase to exhibitors and buyers from around the world a wide array of quality Hong Kong products and services and promote Hong Kong as the international commerce and trading platform in Asia.

      The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau, said that "Hong Kong In" has once again been adopted as the theme of the Hong Kong Exhibition Area to demonstrate Hong Kong's edge as a unique gateway linking Mainland China to the world. The exhibition will introduce Hong Kong's role, contributions and participation in the past 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, as well as the milestones and opportunities of Hong Kong’s trade and economic development, including those brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

      For the Enterprise and Business Exhibition, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will again set up a Hong Kong Services Zone and a Hong Kong Product Zone, which altogether will be 70 per cent bigger in size compared with the previous year. The presence of 47 Hong Kong companies and organisations in the two zones represents a 27 per cent increase over the previous year. Together with about 140 enterprises, which have registered for participation with the organiser directly, there will be nearly 200 Hong Kong enterprises taking part in the exhibition, an increase of about 20 per cent compared with the inaugural CIIE.

     "The increase in the number of participating enterprises shows that enterprises hope to make use of the prime opportunity presented by the CIIE in promoting quality Hong Kong products and services to the Mainland and international markets. Hong Kong has all along been partnering with Mainland enterprises in exploring new development opportunities and bringing in goods and services from around the world into China, as evidenced from an increase of about eight per cent in the value of products re-exported to the Mainland via Hong Kong last year," said Mr Yau.

     "The CIIE brings massive opportunities to Hong Kong enterprises interested in exploring the Mainland domestic market. Indeed, the Government is seeking the policy support of the relevant Central authorities on measures to enhance competitiveness of the enterprises in the Mainland domestic market," he said.

     Multimedia technologies and interactive devices such as curved projection screens, an interactive game projection wall, an interactive table and holograms will be used in the Hong Kong Exhibition Area to present content in the form of videos and animation. Six Hong Kong groups will also stage performances in contemporary dance, a cappella, Chinese and western percussion as well as jazz, classical and pop music.

     At the Enterprise and Business Exhibition, there will be 16 Hong Kong exhibitors at the Hong Kong Services Zone showcasing various services such as infrastructure and architecture, logistics services, design, professional services and information and communications technology. The Hong Kong Product Zone will mainly showcase the food products of 31 Hong Kong exhibitors, among which 15 are food enterprises joining the CIIE for the first time to promote quality food products manufactured in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Tourism Board will also join the exhibition to showcase Hong Kong's tourism brand and its unique travel experiences. It will also highlight multi-destination travel in the Greater Bay Area and promote Hong Kong's diversified travel products.

     Held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, the second CIIE will consist of the Country Pavilion for Trade and Investment, the Enterprise and Business Exhibition and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum themed "Opening-up and Innovation for Win-win Cooperation", comprising an opening ceremony and five parallel sessions. Dignitaries of various countries and regions as well as representatives of international organisations will deliver remarks at the forum. The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, will speak in a parallel session of the Forum on the theme "Artificial Intelligence and Innovative Development".

     Mr Yau will depart for Shanghai on November 4 to attend the opening ceremony of the CIIE and its relevant events. While there, he will attend the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informal Ministerial Meeting to discuss with participating ministers on their expectations and desired outcomes for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference and the necessary reform of the WTO. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the "Hong Kong Thematic Film Festival in Shanghai 2019 – Apprenticeship and Succession" jointly presented by Create Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Film Development Council and Broadway Cinematheque.

     Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on November 6. The Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development during his absence.

Ends/Friday, November 1, 2019
Issued at HKT 10:30

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