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Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (March 5) hosted a "Hong Kong - Your Platform to Going Global" seminar in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The seminar marked the start of a post-Lunar New Year Mainland roadshow to encourage companies in central Mainland China to use Hong Kong's business advantages and the opportunities it offers under the national policy of "going global" to expand into overseas markets.
The seminar showcased Hong Kong's business advantages and the latest developments in its modern service industry, updating Hubei enterprise representatives on how their companies could expand overseas via Hong Kong. The event was jointly organised by InvestHK and the Department of Commerce of Hubei Province. It also gained support from co-organisers the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hubei Sub-Council and the Hubei Federation of Industry and Commerce. InvestHK's Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Simon Galpin, and the Vice Governor of the Municipal People's Government of Hubei Province, Mr Gan Rongkun, delivered speeches during the seminar.
In outlining Hong Kong's enduring business advantages, Mr Galpin said, "Hong Kong is known for having a business-friendly environment, free flows of capital and information, free trade and a free market economy, a deep pool of international talent, world-class infrastructure, and a sound and independent legal system, plus a low and stable tax regime. Against this backdrop, it serves as an ideal testing ground for Mainland companies to 'go global'."
He continued, "As an international city in Asia, Hong Kong offers effective financial, insurance, accounting and legal services, all of which work together to create a comprehensive and modern service industry platform ready to assist Mainland companies. I would like to take this opportunity to encourage Mainland enterprises to make use of Hong Kong as the platform to connect with the world."
The Head of InvestHK's North and Central China Investment Promotion, Mr Matt Hu, also gave a presentation during the seminar, highlighting Hong Kong's business advantages and opportunities, the examples of the successful Mainland companies set up in Hong Kong and the various types of free services and assistance that InvestHK can offer to Hubei companies that intend to set up in Hong Kong and "go global".
Other speakers at the seminar included Senior Manager, Tax and China Business Advisory Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd, Mr Syd Lin; Head and Director, Commodity Traders and Agribusiness, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), Ms Celia Cheng; Chief Immigration Officer, Immigration Division of the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Beijing, Mr Jacky Wong; and Executive Vice President, Changjiang Securities Co Ltd, Mr Xu Jinwen. Each talked about how Hong Kong's taxation regime benefits Mainland enterprises and what services the city's financial and capital market services firms could provide for them to go global. They also provided the latest information about work visa arrangements for entry to Hong Kong from Mainland China, and success stories from Hubei enterprises that had set up a business in Hong Kong.
Following the first seminar in Wuhan, the InvestHK delegation will head to Zhengzhou, Henan Province, to host the second seminar tomorrow (March 6) under the same theme, presenting Hong Kong's business advantages to local entrepreneurs.
About InvestHK
InvestHK is the department of the HKSAR Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As of December 2014, InvestHK had completed over 3 440 investment projects creating more than 37 500 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and over HK$91 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157648812139043/.
Ends/Thursday, March 5, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:40
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