Business seminar held in Auckland with Hong Kong

Business seminar held in Auckland to showcase Hong Kong’s unparalleled business opportunities

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (HKETO), jointly with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, held a business seminar in Auckland on March 12 on Hong Kong’s unparalleled business opportunities for New Zealand.
Entitled “Hong Kong – The Gateway to Success”, the seminar presented to about 100 New Zealand business leaders Hong Kong’s tremendous business opportunities, in particular under the Belt and Road Initiative and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area.

The seminar comprised three sessions - “A World of Opportunities: Hong Kong’s Advantages”, “Building the Global Economy: Investing in Belt and Road” and “Future of International Trade: What Does It Look Like?” - and panel discussions.

The Director of HKETO, Mr Raymond Fan welcomed the participants and spoke on Hong Kong’s strong ties with New Zealand. As a key speaker, the Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Phillips highlighted Hong Kong's unique advantages under "one country, two systems", together with the city's geographical location, robust legal system and low and simple tax system, could bring unequalled benefits to New Zealand business.

He said Hong Kong, as the gateway to Mainland China, also enjoyed unique advantages for participation in the Belt and Road Initiative.

“The arrangement that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has signed with the National Development and Reform Commission will advance Hong Kong's participation in the Initiative. Hong Kong will continue to enhance its role as a facilitator and promoter for the Initiative,” he said.

“Strategic infrastructure facilities connecting Hong Kong and Mainland China including the soon-to-be commissioned Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link will enable Hong Kong tap opportunities arising from the prosperous Bay Area, which comprises Hong Kong, Macao and nine Guangdong cities with an estimated GDP of US$1.3 trillion and a population of some 68 million,” he added.

Mr Phillips encouraged New Zealand companies to leverage on Hong Kong to embrace new opportunities offered by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Bay Area.

Other speakers at the seminar included the Chief Executive Officer of HSBC New Zealand, Mr Chris Russell; the General Manager Supply Chain of Ports of Auckland, Mr Reinhold Goeschl; and the Regional Director of Greater China at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Mr Glen Murphy.

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