​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta (HKETO Jakarta) hosted a Chinese New Year dinner in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, today (February 1) to welcome the Year of the Dragon. Some 120 guests from the local government, business, academic, cultural and media sectors attended.
In her welcoming speech, the Director-General of the HKETO Jakarta, Miss Libera Cheng, said that bilateral trade in goods between Hong Kong and Brunei Darussalam amounted to US$45 million in 2022, representing an annual average growth of over 15 per cent since 2018. Year-on-year growth in the first three quarters in 2023 even reached about 50 per cent. Hong Kong is endeavouring to seek early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to bolster economic and trade ties with other economies in the region.
"Hong Kong is well positioned to serve Brunei's aspiration for economic diversification. We boast a sophisticated financial market and free flows of capital, as well as a well-established judicial system, to provide protection for investors. In May 2023, the Chief Justice of Brunei visited Hong Kong to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution, further enhancing bilateral collaboration. With our positioning as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific Region under the 14th Five-Year Plan, there is immense room for co-operation between our two common law jurisdictions," she added.
She also provided an overview of the latest developments in Hong Kong's logistics sector, including air cargo facilities completed in recent months and the Action Plan on Maritime and Port Development Strategy promulgated in December 2023. Meanwhile, she introduced to guests opportunities under the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the new Capital Investment Entrant Scheme and various talent attraction measures.
Dignitaries joining the dinner included the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Trade and Industry) of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Brunei Darussalam, Mr Mohammad Harris bin Brigadier Jeneral (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim; the Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, Mr Xiao Jianguo; the Regional Director of South East Asia and South Asia of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Ronald Ho, and senior representatives from major business chambers in Brunei Darussalam.
The dinner also featured a music performance to promote Hong Kong's unique East-meets-West culture and strengthen people-to-people ties with Brunei Darussalam.
The HKETO Jakarta will continue to host events in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries under its purview in the coming weeks to celebrate Chinese New Year.
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