Invest Hong Kong, the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute held a seminar in Singapore today (June 30) to promote business in the Greater Pearl River Delta region.
The seminar, entitled Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao: Your Business Partners in China, outlined the combined business advantages for Singapore enterprises looking to expand in the three strategic locations located in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) region.
Director-General of InvestHK, Dr Simon Galpin, (pictured) highlighted Hong Kong’s strategic location and its enduring advantages.
“Hong Kong has evolved as an efficient international gateway both into and out of Mainland China. It is a ‘super-connector’ between the Mainland and the international community. Also, the city’s deep pool of international talent and knowledge of the Mainland market make it the perfect platform for Singaporean companies to enter into the Mainland and other Asian markets.”
Galpin said the list of enduring advantages Hong Kong offers including the rule of law, a low and simple tax regime and free flows of people, capital, information and ideas, as well as a level playing field. Given its proximity to the manufacturing base in the southern Mainland hinterland, the city is not only popular for multinationals with global functions but also for entrepreneurs.
Acting director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, Joyce Chan, said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to which Singapore belongs, is Hong Kong’s second largest trading partner in goods.
“The ties between Hong Kong and Singapore date back years and are ever growing. Indeed, there is much room for economic co-operation for mutual benefits.”
Senior manager of the investor service department at the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Agostinho Vong, said the Macao government has been actively promoting regional co-operation and is committed to building Macao into a world tourism and leisure centre and a regional business service platform.
With its new development of the three centres, namely “a commercial and trade service centre for small and medium-sized enterprises of Portuguese-speaking countries (PSCs)”, “a food product distribution centre for PSCs” and “a centre for conventions and exhibitions for economic and trade co-operation between China and PSCs”, it will further enhance the functions and roles of Macao as the business and trading platform between Mainland China and PSCs, he said.