The "2017 Guangdong/Hong Kong Seminar on Intellectual Property (IP) and the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) (Dongguan)" was held in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, today (June 23).
     
     The seminar, entitled "Intellectual Property and Enterprises' Competitiveness", targeted Hong Kong SMEs and Mainland enterprises in Guangdong Province. It aimed to assist enterprises to make use of IP to enhance their competitiveness as well as develop overseas markets.

     Speaking at the opening ceremony of the seminar, the Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Ms Maria Ng, said the seminar was a major annual event under the framework of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.  

     Ms Ng said, "IP trading not only provides a driving force for the development of enterprises, but also enhances the ability of enterprises to compete in the international market and allows enterprises to grasp the opportunities offered by the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area." During the seminar, she introduced the updated work of the Intellectual Property Department in promoting the development of Hong Kong as an intellectual property trading hub in the region, including the implementation of various support measures for SMEs.

     The seminar, which brought together more than 200 SMEs' representatives and government officials from Guangdong and Hong Kong, was one of the key programmes of Guangdong/Hong Kong IP co-operation this year. The seminar was jointly organised by the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Guangdong Intellectual Property Office and the People's Government of Dongguan Municipality; undertaken by the Intellectual Property Office of Dongguan Municipality; and co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong of the HKSAR Government. The event was also supported by other members of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.

     Since 2004, Guangdong and Hong Kong have been working together to organise seminars to promote the importance of IP protection among SMEs. Similar seminars have been held in cities including Dongguan, Shaoguan, Shunde, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhanjiang, Zhuhai, Shantou, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Foshan, Qingyuan, Shanwei and Shenzhen.

     Details of the seminar in Dongguan are available on the Intellectual Property Department's website www.ipd.gov.hk.
 

Ends/Friday, June 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 12:30

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