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Cirque du Soleil, a Canadian organisation providing artistic entertainment and producing its own costumes and props, today (May 12) announced the opening of its first production workshop in Hong Kong.
From a group of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil has grown to employ 5,000 staff, including more than 1,200 artists, from about 50 countries. The company produces costumes and props for its multiple shows staged around the world.
Cirque du Soleil Director of Props and Costumes for Asia, Ms Gaebriella Wilkins, said, "The Hong Kong office is a regional office, where we will produce costumes, accessories and hats for different shows around the world.
"The excellent pool of talent in the creative industry and a variety of professional service providers in Hong Kong are key reasons why we invested in the city. We will work with local suppliers to localise our collection of fabrics, with printing and dyeing companies to transform fabrics, and with local manufacturers to develop our costume, accessory and hat manufacturing capabilities to the highest standards," Ms Gaebriella added.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Andrew Davis, extended his warmest welcome to Cirque du Soleil. He said, "I am glad to learn that Cirque du Soleil finds our local talent helpful in the course of its business development in Hong Kong, Mainland China and the Asian region as a whole. As in many other leading economies in the world, the Hong Kong Government is committed to speeding up the development of our local creative industries. This is why creative industry has been identified as one of the six new economic areas that Hong Kong is keen to drive."
Mr Davis added, "The presence of Cirque du Soleil in our city not only enriches the portfolio of our creative industry but also provides an opportunity to empower our young people with the latest knowledge and skills in the creative field."
About Cirque du Soleil
Founded in Montreal, Canada, in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is an organisation providing artistic entertainment and producing costumes and props. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,200 artists, from about 50 different countries. For more information, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government responsible for Foreign Direct Investment, supporting overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese businesses to set up and expand in Hong Kong. We provide free advice and customised services to help your business succeed in our vibrant economy. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:01
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