CEO Forum Facilitates Experience Exchange on Innovative Management and Branding Strategies

To help young local entrepreneurs enhance their creativity and leadership skills as well as other abilities to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong (JCIHK) and Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today (5 May 2006) organized the "CEO Forum on Entrepreneur Tactics in New Era".

Under the theme of "Creativity and Innovative Corporate Strategies for the Society", the Forum is co-organized by the Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) of the Trade and Industry Department, The Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Brand Development Council, The Outstanding Young Persons' Association and International Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises. More than 200 representatives from the business community attended the Forum.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Mr Zhang Chun Sheng, Deputy Director General Youth Department, Liaison Office of The Central People's Government in the HKSAR; Mr Leon Chuang, Vice President, Junior Chamber International; Mr James Tsui, National President, Junior Chamber International Hong Kong; Dr Stephen Lee, Director (Product Productivity), HKPC; Miss Jeritza Wong, President of Hong Kong Jayceettes Junior Chamber; Mr K K Cheung, President, Apex Junior Chamber; and Miss Shirley Lai, Project Chairman of the Entrepreneur in Action Program; and Miss Fanny Ng, Chairman of the CEO Forum.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr Stephen Lee, Director (Product Productivity) of HKPC, said, "To tap the business opportunities under CEPA, Hong Kong industry has to move up the value chain. However, the success of the value creation process very much hinges on the ability of entrepreneurs in turning innovative ideas into quality products and services, building up their brands and capitalizing on market opportunities."

"Through this Forum, we hope to provide with new entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn from the valuable experiences of established innovative enterprises, broaden their scope of vision and helping them on the path of innovation," Dr Lee continued. "Over the years, HKPC has been promoting enterprise innovation and providing one-stop IP management services to help enterprises protect and utilize the fruits of their innovation. This program is a timely initiative to nurture a new generation of creative industry leaders."

According to Mr James Tsui, National President of Junior Chamber International Hong Kong, the CEO Forum is part of the "Entrepreneurs in Action" Program for New Era Leaders 2006 (EiA Program) organized by the JCIHK and HKPC to enhance the creativity, brand building capability, leadership skills as well as other abilities of fledging leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises through a variety of exchange and training events on innovation and branding. "Under the Program, a series of activities will be held in the coming months, including training courses on entrepreneurial creativity and branding, the Young Creative Entrepreneur Award, Best Business Plan Contest, business writing workshops, publications on entrepreneurial creativity and creative branding, as well as visits to innovative enterprises both in Hong Kong and the Mainland," Mr Tsui said.

Guest speakers at the Forum included Mr Wong See Sum J.P., Chairman of Hong Thai Travel Co., Ltd; Mr Richard Yeung, CEO of Circle K Convenience Stores (HK) Ltd; Mr Tai Tak Fung J.P., Chairman of Four Seasons Group Co., Ltd and Mr Jacky Ng, Strategic Planning Director (HK) of Mengniu Milk Industrial (Hong Kong) Ltd.

For further details on the EiA Program, please contact Ms Shirley Lai of JCIHK/ Ms Patricia Chun of HKPC at tel. (852) 9085 0555/ 2788 5535, or email to shirley.lai@jcihk.org / patricia@hkpc.org, or visit the Program website: www.eia-program.hk.


For media enquiries, please contact:
Junior Chamber International Hong Kong
Ms Shirley Lai
EiA Project Chairman
Tel: (852) 9085 0555
Fax: (852) 2543 6271
Email: shirley.lai@jcihk.org

Hong Kong Productivity Council
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications and Events
Tel: (852) 2788 5036
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
E-mail: emilyc@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

5 May 2006