HKPC Organizes Growth Leadership Forum - Fourth Event under its

More than 400 representatives from the local manufacturing and services sectors today (20 September 2006) attended the "Growth Leadership Forum" organized by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong). The event was part of the "Productivity Conference Series" under the "HKPC – Into the 40th Year" Programme.

Under the theme of "Master of the Game", the event provided a platform for local enterprises to share their successful experiences in spearheading their business growth under today's globalized competition. Forum panelists representing business leaders from various industry sectors shared their views on their strategies in market expansion, corporate financing, branding and cost control.

The opening ceremony of the Forum was officiated by Mr Clement Leung, Acting Director-General of Trade and Industry, HKSAR Government, and Dr Stephen Lee, Acting Executive Director of HKPC.

Speaking at the opening, Dr Lee said, "According to the 'Corporate Growth Survey' conducted by the SME Centre of HKPC in 2005, the major barriers to the development of local enterprises in the coming three years included: difficulties in market expansion (45%), high production costs (38%), problems related to human resources issues (20%) and product development (19%), lack of management capabilities and leadership (13%), and financing (12%)."

"As the majority of Hong Kong's SME manufacturers are still engaging in low value-adding OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) mode of operation, they are faced with other challenges, including the rising production costs in the Pearl River Delta, stringent environmental regulations, and intensified competition in the international markets," he said.

"Amid these challenges, new business opportunities brought by the lowered entry barriers to the Mainland market under CEPA, the globalized economy and the electronic trading platform continue to fuel the growth of local enterprises," Dr Lee added.

On HKPC's support for local SMEs in corporate development, Dr Lee said, "Through the provision of one-stop consultancy services, HKPC's SME Centre offers enterprises with solutions to tackle business operation problems, facilitating their transformation towards high value-adding ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) and OBM (Original Brand Manufacturing), and assisting them to foray into the international market."

At the Forum, panelists representing the legal, banking, finance and accounting services also highlighted their SME-specific services.

For further information on HKPC's SME services, please contact Ms Brenda Lam at tel. (852) 2788 6151, or e-mail at: brendal@hkpc.org.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Betty Lee
General Manager
Corporate Communications & Events
Tel: (852) 2788 5895
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
E-mail: justina@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

20 September 2006