Australia-based eco-friendly coffin manufacturer uses Hong Kong to expand in Asia

Australia-based eco-friendly coffins manufacturer, LifeArt, announced today (30 March 2020) that it has opened its regional office and factory in Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s strategic location to tap into the vast funeral market in Asia, as well as promoting the new concept of eco-friendly coffin in the region.

The new factory in Aberdeen occupies 5 000 square feet and mainly produces paper casket made by world's latest eco technology for families who choose cremation of their deceased relatives. The company is also planning to launch next year tailor design service with an easy-to-use mobile application allowing customers to put down special coffin design instructions to pay tribute to their loved ones who have passed away.

Its Asia CEO, Mr Wilson Tong, said that Asia is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. The company believes that cremations would be an inevitable trend in the funeral industry and decided to use Hong Kong as the base to expand in Asia tapping the business opportunities as well as helping the industry become more environmental. He said, “Hong Kong as a major international city in Asia with a business-friendly environment has excellent trade and production logistics network. It is an ideal location for us to expand in the region.”

He added, “Hong Kong is close to the Mainland and the rest of Asian markets with a simple and low tax regime. People here respect intellectual property rights. There is a high awareness of the importance of technology, environmental protection and re-industrialisation. We believe that it is the best time to use Hong Kong as a starting point to expand our business in Asia. The Hong Kong office will be responsible for market development, production, technology research and development, logistics and distribution, as well as all financial matters in the region. In fact, we have signed an agreement with a leading funeral service provider in the Mainland and delivered the first batch of our eco-friendly caskets to the Mainland earlier this month, taking our first step in accessing the Mainland market.”

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang, said, “We are happy to see LifeArt choose Hong Kong as the base to expand in the region. The Hong Kong Government opens up development opportunities for manufacturing industries and actively promotes re-industrialisation in recent years. Together with its superb location, its Asian hub status as well as its well-established logistic networks make it an ideal gateway for manufacturers, like LifeArt, to use the city as the platform to access Mainland China and other markets in the region.”

About LifeArt

Established in 2005 in Australia, LifeArt specialises in manufacturing eco-friendly coffins. It has opened an Innovation Centre in Gloucester, England in 2017 and supplying to more than 250 funeral service locations in UK within two years. Its products are available in 28 countries including France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Mainland China and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.lifeart.com.

About Invest Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government responsible for attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services for overseas and Mainland companies. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

For photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157713681590377 .

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