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French business leaders attending the investment promotion event 䩕Hong Kong and Shenzhen: Your Winning Formula in China蒅 in Paris today (Paris Time, April 15) were encouraged to invest and grow their businesses in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Illustrating the high level of interest in the region, the seminar attracted about 180 senior executives from companies in France, who joined some 20 high-level government officials and business executives from Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
The seminar was organised by Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government to promote the combined advantages of the two cities to French businesses. It focused on discussing the distinct advantages of Hong Kong as a gateway to access the Greater Pearl River Delta region and the attractive investment environment and opportunities in Shenzhen.
The Hong Kong and Shenzhen delegations were led by the Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mike Rowse, and the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government, Zhuo Qinrui.
Mike Rowse said, 䩕The French community has had a strong influence on Hong Kong business, culture and everyday life for over 160 years. Today, Hong Kong has the largest French community in Asia, with some 6,000 residents.蒅
䩕The more than 570 French companies in Hong Kong are active in a wide variety of fields, with direct investment amounting to some US$2.3 billion. Most are in the services sector, but the luxury goods industry has a strong presence and, of course, outstanding French wine, spirits and foods are highly popular in Hong Kong. And now that we have abolished duty on wine, we expect this French industry to continue to flourish and grow in Hong Kong, helping Hong Kong become Asia's wine hub as well as gateway to China.蒅
䩕Both Hong Kong and Shenzhen - individually and together - have developed as vibrant economies that offer attractive opportunities to companies like yours. It is critical to find a right entry point into the Mainland market to optimise the chance of business success. Hong Kong is a natural entry point for French companies to explore China, and a logical place from which to manage operations in Shenzhen and the rest of the Mainland.蒅 Mike Rowse added.
Zhuo Qinrui said, 䩕As one of the first Special Economic Zones established, Shenzhen serves as a window and testing field for China's reform and open policy. With its development in over 20 years, our city has achieved a leading position in many sectors in the Mainland. According to the latest figures released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shenzhen is now the second most competitive city in China after Hong Kong. The pillar industries of our city include high-tech, financial services, logistics and culture-related sectors.蒅
䩕At present, there are 68 investment projects by French companies in Shenzhen, involving an investment of US$1.76 billion. These companies are involved in a variety of business sectors, mainly in hi-tech or technology-intensified manufacturing industries and other sectors such as nuclear power, construction, trade, restaurants, water supply and so on. Shenzhen welcomes French investors to visit the city to explore various business opportunities.蒅 Zhuo Qinrui added.
The half-day programme also included a session where entrepreneurs already based in Hong Kong and Shenzhen shared their investment experiences with the audience. Practical advice was provided by a range of business service providers on how best to do business in Hong Kong and China, while the Hong Kong Trade Development Council outlined the services it provides to help companies succeed in China. Individual one-on-one meetings were arranged to interested parties in the afternoon.
Ends/Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:18
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