InvestHK encourages Wuhan high-tech enterprises to seize innovation development opportunities in Hong Kong to expand overseas (with photos)

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) and the Administrative Committee of Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone (WEHDZ) co-hosted a seminar in Wuhan, Hubei Province, today (March 21), encouraging local high-tech enterprises to make full use of Hong Kong's business advantages and opportunities in innovation development amid the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development to expand overseas.

     Entitled "Opportunities for Wuhan and Hong Kong: Collaborative Development of Innovation and Technology", the seminar was co-organised by InvestHK, the Administrative Committee of WEHDZ, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Wuhan (WHETO) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) under the Financial Secretary's Office of the Government of the HKSAR, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). It was also supported by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial People's Government, and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Wuhan Municipal People's Government.
  
     The seminar began with welcoming remarks by the Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang; followed by Deputy Director of Administrative Committee of Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone Mr Li Shiting; the Director of the WHETO, Mr Franco Kwok; and the Regional Director of Eastern and Central China, HKTDC, Mr Kent Lyu.
  
     Dr Chiang said, "Under 'one country, two systems', Hong Kong continues to integrate into the overall development of the country by reinforcing its traditional status as an international financial, transportation and trade centre, as well as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. The city is also moving at full steam to develop its new positioning in emerging areas such as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. The newly released Policy Address by the Chief Executive emphasises the importance of I&T, and launches a series of policies to support the development of I&T enterprises in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has maintained close collaboration with Wuhan. It has been the largest source of foreign direct investment in Wuhan and one of the major business and trade partners of Wuhan. Wuhan enterprises can make good use of Hong Kong's professional services, as well as its advantages in I&T to expand overseas." He hoped that Mainland enterprises could understand Hong Kong's unique advantages and opportunities as well as the city's role as a bridge between the Mainland and the world through InvestHK's promotional works, assisting Mainland enterprises to go global and attracting foreign investment to the Mainland.
  
     Mr Li said, "Innovation is the core driver for high-quality development, while being open for co-operation is the key to achieving innovative development. Hong Kong as an international financial, trade, shipping and I&T centre has unique advantages and abundant resources in various areas, generating lots of co-operation opportunities with the WEHDZ in I&T and industrial development."
         
     Mr Kwok said, "The latest Budget in Hong Kong announced a number of measures to support the development of I&T, facilitating Hong Kong to develop into an international I&T centre. Wuhan as a national science and technology innovation centre is on the same path with Hong Kong which is actively developing the city into an international I&T centre. The two places are inseparable and have great potential for co-operative development."
     
     Representing the HKTDC, Mr Lyu briefed the audience about its work plan in central Mainland China. The Deputy Director of the Bureau of investment promotion of the WEHDZ, Ms Chen Yu, and Vice President (Advanced Manufacturing and New Energy Technology) of OASES Mr Benjamin Wong, introduced Wuhan and Hong Kong's policies and business environments related to high-tech and innovative industry development respectively, exploring the co-operation opportunities in I&T development of the two cities in the keynote speech session. The Assistant Vice President of Global Issuer Services, Sales & Marketing and Equities of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms Bella Li, briefed the audience on the latest rules on listing in Hong Kong.
         
     In the second half of the seminar, the Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of WHETO, Mr Zhou Yikai, hosted a panel discussion on the new co-operation opportunities between Wuhan and Hong Kong in I&T development, with speakers including the Vice President of HanxBio, Mr Bruce Zhong; the Managing Partner of Luojia Capital, Mr Gary Lin; HKTDC Research Department Economist Mr Eric Chu, and Senior Manager of Business Development of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Mr Matt Hu. They discussed the integration and co-operation opportunities in developing I&T industries of the two places, and shared thoughts on how enterprises can expand and upgrade their business via the two cities.

     For photos of the seminar, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720315575055.