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SGS - an international provider of testing, inspection, verification and certification services - celebrated its recent expansion in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) through strengthening its base in Hong Kong, as well as in Guangzhou.
This is an important recognition of the complementary advantages of foreign companies investing in both Hong Kong and the PRD. The Executive Director of SGS Hong Kong Ltd, Mr Fabrice Egloff, pointed out that it was the company's strategy to integrate Hong Kong and the Mainland as a whole due to the strategic role the city plays in the PRD.
To support clients in Hong Kong and manufacturing activities in the PRD, SGS officially opened its new laboratory facility in Guangzhou today (February 14).
As a result of the expansion in Guangzhou, the company has added 180 staff in Hong Kong for its sales and marketing, customer service and R&D functions. The total staff force in Hong Kong has increased to 830. SGS also took additional office space here and expanded its services to tie in with the expansion in Guangzhou.
Mr Egloff said, "Hong Kong meets our needs perfectly. Multinational corporations engage our services here, in the trusted and sophisticated business environment. Given Hong Kong's central location, the production facilities of these companies are usually nearby, often just over the border in the PRD. This works for us; we can easily meet clients' needs through our network of testing facilities."
The new premises in Guangzhou Scientech Park will focus on the testing of Food, Chemical, Textiles & Footwear, Electrical & Electronic Products, and Hard goods, such as furniture, auto parts, packaging and toys. It provides a wide range of services including agricultural, minerals, consumer product testing & inspection, systems & services certification, industrial and trade assurance services. Hong Kong will focus on the high end testing and R&D aspects of consumer businesses, as well as sales and marketing support. The Hong Kong office, and the lab facilities in particular, function as a centre and showroom of service excellence for high-end new product development and testing methods and for research and development. The know-how is then replicated in the Mainland and overseas.
"The integration of our high-end work in Hong Kong with our labour intensive work in the Mainland is critical for our success. We believe that this model of leveraging each place¡¯s strengths will bring complementary advantages to businesses", said Mr Egloff.
Established in Hong Kong in 1959, SGS Hong Kong Ltd functions as a key international hub for consumer goods testing for the group. It serves the Group's Greater China headquarters with the internationally accredited laboratory facilities in Shatin and the SGS City Learning Centre in Quarry Bay which provides public and customized training services to different industries. SGS now operates registered branches and offices in 21 major cities across the mainland, with more than 30 laboratories and near 4, 000 staff.
Mr Egloff stressed that SGS is very committed to further growth and development in Hong Kong, capitalising on the synergies of Hong Kong working together with the Mainland. For example, the company is hoping to build its collaboration and networks in the R&D function to facilitate ideas exchange. SGS has already established a technical partnership with Hong Kong Polytechnic University and will explore opportunities with other institutions.
The Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Mike Rowse, congratulated SGS on its expansion in the PRD and welcomed the economic benefits brought to Hong Kong as a result of the company's regional growth.
"This is a great example of Hong Kong directly benefiting from the expansion in the PRD of a leading multinational corporation."
"In recent years, Invest Hong Kong has been co-operating with our counterparts in the Mainland to encourage overseas investors to do business in both Hong Kong and the PRD or pan-PRD region. The proximity, close economic ties and the complementary advantages have created many new opportunities for foreign companies interested to enter or expand in the China market. I am delighted to witness today the successful results enjoyed by one major investor."
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, SGS SA is the world's leading provider of testing, inspection, verification and certification services. The company has more than 42,000 employees in some 1,000 offices over the world. For more information, please visit the website at www.hk.sgs.com.
Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating inward investment into the city by providing the support needed to establish a business presence here. For more information, please visit the website at www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:23
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