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The Canadian Province of Manitoba today (May 29, Canada time) proclaimed this week as "Hong Kong Week in Manitoba" to mark the long-established and active relationship with Hong Kong, and the "Hong Kong Family" members including the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA).
The proclamation, which was jointly signed by Manitoba's Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, the Hon Eric Robinson; and the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade, the Hon Scott Smith, was officially announced by Minister Smith to the 300 delegates from across Canada attending the 2006 HKCBA Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
"As a result of the Province of Manitoba and Hong Kong's business and cultural ties, it is deemed appropriate that a special week be proclaimed," Mr Smith said. The highlights of the Hong Kong activities in Manitoba during the week also include "The Heritage of Hong Kong" display at the Winnipeg Millennium Library, and the national board meeting of the eight sections of the HKCBA.
Speaking at the opening of the two-day business forum, Manitoba Deputy Premier, the Hon Rosann Wowchuk, recalled the experience of her 2004 visit to Hong Kong and Mainland China as the leader of a provincial trade mission. "I saw firsthand the potential that exists there," she said.
"As Agriculture Minister, I saw opportunities in food industry, animal and plant genetics, agriculture equipment and systems, and technology transfer arrangements. As Deputy Premier, I also saw the bigger picture - and the opportunities in power and energy, environmental protect, commodities, education, machinery, professional and financial services, and immigration."
"China, including Hong Kong, is currently one of our largest trading partners - and with its rapidly growing industrial base, there is much opportunity to expand this relationship," she said. "There is, in fact, room for many relationships and linkages that will benefit both Western Canadian and Chinese businesses."
"Just as Hong Kong is the gateway to China, so is Western Canada the gateway to the rest of Canada," the Deputy Premier said.
Also speaking at the forum, Director of the HKETO Mr Bassanio So said the Winnipeg forum, which was the second annual forum presented by the HKCBA after last one in Ottawa, had attracted many Canadian businesspeople who would like to know more about the latest developments in China and how Canadian companies could participate in it "through a very user-friendly platform - Hong Kong".
"Being the international financial centre of China and Asia's world city, Hong Kong benefits from riding on the China wave," he said. "We are not only the gateway for foreign companies to invest or do business in China; we are also the window through which Chinese companies invest in or do business with foreign countries."
"For Canada, Hong Kong assumes a stronger role. We are not just a gateway for Canadian companies to do business in China; we are indeed Canada's beachhead in China," Mr So said, citing that fact that Hong Kong was the largest recipient of Canadian foreign direct investment in China, and the second largest investor in Canada from the Asia-Oceanic region.
This year's national business forum in the leading city of Canada's Prairie Provinces is the result of the joint effort of the eight HKCBA sections in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.
It presents the key elements that Canadian businesses need to know in exploring the rapidly growing markets in China, including using Hong Kong as a platform to other parts of China and South East Asia. In addition, the forum also showcases Western Canada's best capabilities to serve that market and tell the participants how to work co-operatively with Hong Kong and Chinese companies.
With the theme "Your Smart Link to China: Hong Kong", the business forum discusses various subjects that are of special interest and importance to Canadian companies. They include: "The Mutual Gateways of Hong Kong and Manitoba", "Matching the China Need and the Prairie Capability", and "Challenges and Opportunities in Logistics, Transportation and Business Style".
Senior representatives and trade experts from the public and business sectors share their winning strategies and success stories in fast-tracking into the China market. They discuss ways to remove some of the potential risks and anxieties that some Canadian business people have.
The forum's speakers include Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC Steve Alexander, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong David McNamara, Ian McNabb of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong Simon Gaplin, President of Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership Dale Botting, Ms Elizabeth Thomson of ICS Trust (Hong Kong); Paul Deprez of Manitoba Environmental Industries Association/ Nordevco; Randy Stoyko of Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives; Vice-President of Cathay Pacific in Canada Philippe Lacamp, Senior Vice-President of Winnipeg Airports Authority Michael Rodyniuk, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou, China Ms Mona Ip, and Partner of Long Term Asset Management Craig Chapman.
Ends/Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:10
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