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The head of Canada's largest business organisation today (April 17, Toronto time) urged Canadian businesses to "act now" to make a commitment to doing business with Hong Kong and China, while expressing concerns over Canada's Pacific ports' capacity in meeting upcoming challenges from the Orient.
In a keynote speech entitled "Hong Kong: The Gateway to Asia", the President and CEO of Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ms Nancy Hughes Anthony, told political and business leaders attending a Parliament Hill breakfast meeting in Ottawa that given Hong Kong's business-friendly environment, low taxes and excellent transportation links, Hong Kong was not only a platform for doing business in China, it "can also be used as a platform for doing business in Singapore, Vietnam and other markets in Asia".
She note that while Mainland China "can conveniently and temptingly be served from Hong Kong, it is really all of Asia that is open to Canadian businesses from Hong Kong".
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of more than 170,000 businesses from all sectors of the economy and from all regions of Canada. With its broad-based membership, it is usually referred to as "the Voice of Canadian Business".
At the breakfast briefing, an annual event in the Canadian capital presented by the Ottawa Section of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, with the support of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Canada, the former deputy minister and senior government adviser shared her first-hand observations and realisations from Hong Kong's flourishing marketplace on her recent study visit there.
Ms Anthony told participants that she was struck by the development of Hong Kong's infrastructure and particularly its port, saying that "this development was particularly striking when contrasted with the efforts being made to develop our ports in Canada".
She warned Canada's Pacific ports were running into challenges in meeting capacity and future growth needs. "Our pacific ports in particular will face increasing demands resulting from the growth of various Asian markets.
"If Canada wants to profit from the growth of Asian economies, such as Hong Kong and China, then we need to ensure that our ports have the capacity to handle the demands of today and of tomorrow," Ms Anthony said. "If Canadian ports are not equipped to meet this increased demand, companies will go elsewhere, for example down the coast to Seattle or Los Angeles."
Speaking on Hong Kong advantages, Anthony strongly encouraged Canadian companies, big and small ventures, to take advantage of the opportunities that Hong Kong had to offer ¡ª a business-friendly environment where English was common and well-spoken - which offers a comfortable, reliable base for Canadian businesses to "get your feet wet" in China, in particularly if their business was focused on the Southern China/Pearl River Delta area.
In addition, Ms Anthony also reminded Canadian companies to know their partners well in a tough and competitive business world, and be prepared with business plans and the resources to back them up ¡ª and that they must decide to be in Hong Kong for the long term, not just as a sightseer.
"Gradually, one may find the need to move to Mainland China as your presence there grows. But Hong Kong is a great gateway to the Chinese market, and boasts excellent expertise and facilities, and Hong Kong market alone offers wonderful business opportunities," she said.
As one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women Award recipients and one of the Top 50 Most Influential Business Women in Canada, Ms Anthony was called "one of the most influential association leaders" by the Association and Director Meeting Magazine.
Ends/Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:10
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