InvestHK encourages Heilongjiang enterprises to tap new overseas business opportunities via Hong Kong

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Heilongjiang Provincial Government and Harbin Municipal People's Government cohosted a seminar in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, today (3 July 2024), encouraging local enterprises to make use of Hong Kong's business advantages and opportunities amid the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development to expand overseas.

Entitled Hong Kong-Heilongjiang Co-operation: Leveraging Hong Kong for Overseas Business Opportunities, the seminar was co-organised by InvestHK, the Commercial Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Department of Commerce of Heilongjiang Province, and the Harbin Municipal People’s Government.

The seminar began with welcoming remarks by the Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang, followed by Second-level Inspector from the Commercial Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the LOCPG in the HKSAR Mr Yan Yongqing; Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce of Heilongjiang Province Mr Tan Yinghui and Deputy Secretary-General of Harbin Municipal People's Government Mr Yin Chengyun.

Dr Chiang said, "Heilongjiang and Hong Kong have a long-standing relationship. Hong Kong has been Heilongjiang's largest source of foreign investment. Under the 'one country, two systems' principle, Hong Kong has reinforced its traditional strengths including its financial centre status, and has been moving full steam ahead to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre to better integrate into the overall development of the country. The Policy Address delivered by the Chief Executive emphasises the importance of I&T, and provides more support to I&T industries including artificial intelligence, biomedical technology, new energy, new materials, and advanced manufacturing. The Hong Kong Government earlier promulgated the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint to promote the synergistic development of scientific research, encourage the transformation of outcomes, promote the new industrialisation, and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces." He said he hoped that InvestHK's services and promotions can offer Mainland enterprises a better understanding of Hong Kong's unique advantages and opportunities, so that they can leverage the city's role as a bridge between the Mainland and the world.

Delivering his remarks, Mr Yan said, "In recent years, Heilongjiang Province has demonstrated its confidence, determination and uniqueness in opening up to the outside world through high-quality development. This year, Harbin has been added into the Individual Visit Scheme, and the direct flights between Harbin to Hong Kong have just been opened. I believe all these favourable policies and measures will deepen the economic, trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges between Heilongjiang Province and Hong Kong, resulting in closer co-operation between the two places. I hope that Heilongjiang enterprises will make full use of Hong Kong's sophisticated financial market, advanced professional services and positive business environment to accelerate the pace of 'going global'. As the representative of the Ministry of Commerce in Hong Kong responsible for the economic and trade co-operation between the two places, the Commercial Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the LOCPG in the HKSAR is willing to provide support and services for all Mainland enterprises, including Heilongjiang enterprises, to invest in Hong Kong and expand to overseas markets via the city."

Mr Tan added, "Heilongjiang Province is actively opening up to the north and accelerating its pace of opening up to the world. Hong Kong and Heilongjiang highly complement each other in terms of resources, economic structure and development. I hope that enterprises from the two places can leverage Hong Kong's advantages to strengthen economic and trade exchanges and co-operation, and explore further development opportunities."

Mr Yin said, "We are co-ordinating the construction of various trade and investment distribution means and platforms in Harbin to accelerate the pace of opening up to the world comprehensively, and enhance the co-operation and exchange between Harbin and Hong Kong to better promote the investment co-operation between the two cities."

The Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK in Beijing, Mr Andy Wu, introduced Hong Kong's business environment and the diverse services InvestHK offers to Mainland clients in his keynote speech. The Principal Immigration Officer of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing, Mr Jacky Wong, also provided a briefing on Hong Kong's latest immigration schemes and services for Mainland residents.

Other speakers included the Chief Representative of the Beijing Representative Office of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, Ms Xu Chunmeng, as well as Partner, Audit and Assurance, Capital Market Services Group, Deloitte China Mr Raymond Ng. They shared the latest developments and opportunities of the Hong Kong capital market at the seminar.
           
For photos of the seminar, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720318436155.