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A business seminar was held by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) today (November 11) in Kanazawa city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, to encourage Japanese companies to leverage on Hong Kong's strategic location and its advantages to extend their reach in Mainland China, Asia and beyond.
Speaking to the guests at the seminar, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Ms Sally Wong, highlighted Hong Kong's competitive edge, including its low and simple tax regime, free market principles, strategic location and superb connectivity with the world.
She said that Hong Kong and Japan have enjoyed a stable and mature relationship for many years.
"Japan is Hong Kong's third largest trading partner. Indeed, Hong Kong has been Japan's largest overseas market for food and agricultural products since 2006. Last year, we took up more than one-fifth of Japan's total exports to the world in this sector," she said.
"Japan is also a favourite destination for Hong Kong travellers. Hong Kong visitors to Japan surged by 68 per cent to 1.1 million in the first nine months in 2015. For Ishikawa Prefecture and the Hokuriku area, Hong Kong has always been one of the top sources of tourists."
She also pointed out that the "Belt and Road" initiative, which involves infrastructural development and financial and cultural exchanges from Asia through to Africa and on to Europe, presents immense opportunities.
"Hong Kong has the means, the expertise and the connections to emerge as the fundraising and financial management centre for the 'Belt and Road'," she said, encouraging Japanese companies to reap the opportunities by leveraging on Hong Kong's many advantages.
Other speakers at the seminar were the Director, Osaka, of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Masahiro Ito; the Regional Director of Japan of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Mr Kazunori Hori; the Principal Consultant of Invest Hong Kong in Tokyo, Mr Yukio Sasaki; and the Director of Hachi-ban Company Limited, Mr Yoshinori Yoshimura.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:19
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