As part of its continuing efforts to reach out to Italian entrepreneurs and promote Hong Kong as the gateway to Mainland China and the best place to tap business opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) held a business seminar in Pulsano, Italy, on February 1 in co-operation with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Invest Hong Kong. This was the second business seminar in Italy that HKETO, Brussels took part in this year, after a seminar it co-hosted in Milan on January 17.
The Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels, Miss Fiona Chau, told Italian entrepreneurs that Hong Kong's business-friendly environment has been widely recognised, with various international research organisations naming Hong Kong as the second most competitive economy, the world's third financial centre, the fourth easiest place to do business and the fifth safest city in the world. In addition, the Heritage Foundation has just named Hong Kong as the world's freest economy for 25 years in a row.
Miss Chau added that under the "one country, two systems" principle, which has been successfully implemented for over 21 years, Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy in conducting its external trade relations. Hong Kong respects and upholds the rule of law, and the common law system practised by Hong Kong, underpinned by an independent judiciary, gives entrepreneurs peace of mind whether in getting started, raising capital, mergers and acquisitions or resolving disputes. These fundamental strengths make Hong Kong the place to be for Italian companies seeking to expand in Mainland China and other parts of Asia, she said.
During her visit to Pulsano, Miss Chau also met with the Mayor of Pulsano, representatives of business federations and companies, and academics.
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