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Turkish business people were introduced to Hong Kong's advantages as the gateway to Mainland China and Asia markets at a seminar organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) in Istanbul today (May 10, Istanbul time).
Over 100 business people attended the seminar, which was organised with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK).
In her welcoming remarks, the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Miss Mary Chow, gave an overview of Hong Kong's advantages, and said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region hopes to boost its trade and economic relations with Turkey.
She noted that Hong Kong's total trade with Turkey increased by 31 per cent last year alone. An increasing number of Turkish companies were also attending trade fairs in Hong Kong, and a large delegation recently attended the Hong Kong Leather Fair.
"As Deputy Prime Minister Mr Ali Babaca said when he visited Hong Kong in March, Hong Kong is the gateway to Asia. Many foreign companies have been quick in making use of Hong Kong as the stepping stone to expand their business to our part of the world. I hope we will see more of you establishing a base in our city," she said.
Other speakers were the Chairman of the Turkey-Hong Kong Business Council of the DEIK, Mr Hakan Bulgurlu; the Honorary President of Turkish Industry and Business Association International, Mr Aldo Kaslowski; the HKTDC Istanbul Consultant, Ms Perran Ersu; and the Invest Hong Kong Istanbul Consultant, Ms Didem Engin. Two Turkish companies shared their experiences of doing business in Hong Kong, and the presentations were followed by a lively question-and-answer session.
Ends/Friday, May 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 00:00
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