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May 2012

HLB member firms in Hong Kong and Japan exploring opportunities with Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Established in 1966, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory and international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With a network of more than 40 offices worldwide, HKTDC aims to create opportunities for Hong Kong companies by focusing on delivering value. This is achieved by promoting trade in goods and services, whilst connecting the world's small and medium-sized enterprises through Hong Kong's business platform. (Source: http://www.hktdc.com/ )

Each year, HKTDC organises major Hong Kong promotions "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" in different locations around the world. This year, "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" featured two main symposia and thematic seminars in Tokyo and Osaka on 15 and 17 May respectively.

More than 3,000 Japanese business leaders and government officials took part, which is the largest promotional campaign ever launched in Japan by HKTDC. It highlighted Hong Kong's advantages for Japanese companies looking to tap new business opportunities in Asia, particularly on the Chinese mainland.

In line with HLB International's Business Channel Development Strategy, and following successful establishment of the "HLB Hong Kong- UK Business Channel", HLB Japan also started exploring opportunities of collaboration with HKTDC.

Mr. Hideshi Yasuda, International Contact Partner of HLB Meisei Audit Corporation, attended the "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" symposia in Tokyo on 15 May 2012. On behalf of HLB Japan, a national association of 3 independent member firms with 18 partners and over 100 staff, Mr. Yasuda expressed HLB Japan's intension to work closely with HKTDC and HLB Hong Kong member firm HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng to support Hong Kong business in Japan.

Mr. Hideshi Yasuda handing over a brochure of HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng in Hong Kong to HKTDC's Head of Japan office, Director Mr. Samuel W.S. Cheng. 

According to The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Mr. Gregory So Kam-leung, Hong Kong has been growing aggressively over the last 3 or 5 years and is recognized as one of the important gate cities to the Chinese main land and Southeast Asia.

Davos Forum in 2011 announced that Hong Kong achieved number 1 ranking of financial centers in the world.

And Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Chief Executive Mr. Norman T.L. Chan gave a comment, "Japan being the third largest economic country in the world has accumulated most financial assets and cutting-edge technologies in Asia. Strengthening the relationship between Hong Kong and Japan would therefore give powerful impact to the Asian economic growth."

Mr. Hideshi Yasuda, on behalf of HLB Japan, is interviewed by the local media at the symposium.

According to a recent HKTDC interview with Yuji Kumamaru, Consul-General and Ambassador of Japan in Hong Kong, there is a renewed wave of interest on the part of SMEs to go overseas, and they're eyeing the Asian market. Japanese manufacturing, in particular, has been actively considering moving outside Japan, including to the Chinese mainland. Many Japanese companies are looking to find good partnerships to get into areas unfamiliar to them. In particular, many Japanese SMEs from the northeastern region in Japan, who had not considered going overseas before.

Being the number-one market for Japanese food, agricultural and fishery products since 2005 and accounting for 26 per cent of total Japanese exports, Hong Kong is not only one of the key markets for Japanese exports, but also an important gateway for opportunities in China and Southeast Asia.

HLB International's CEO Rob Tautges and Head of Business Channel Development Coco Liu, will visit Japan in late August 2012. Supported by local teams from HLB Japan, this trip aims to strengthen the ties between HKTCD, HLB International and member firms to establish business channels with other key internal influencers and to facilitate two-way trade and investment for HLB member firms.

Mr. Hideshi Yasuda would like to share the following pictures of this year's "Think Global, Think Hong Kong" with colleagues from other HLB member firms:

MOU signing ceremony by HKTDC and Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) was held at HKTDC event in Tokyo. Both authorities agreed to strengthen their relationship and cooperate to promote international trade each other. The contents of MOU include that both authorities would share their latest market information and dispatch a mission each other every year.

Contact information:

For more pictures click here

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