'Wise Business' SME Summit sheds light on new opportunities

While the road to global economic recovery remains bumpy, the Mainland is undoubtedly the strongest growing market for Hong Kong companies. Local SMEs are urged to embark on business transformation and industrial upgrading as the key to tap new opportunities accompanying the National 12 th  Five-Year Plan and closer Guangdong-Hong Kong cooperation, said speakers at a summit jointly organized by the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and now Business News Channel today (23 August 2010).

Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the ‘Wise Business’ SME Summit explored the economic outlook from a macro perspective, with an aim to identify new business opportunities for local enterprises. The event was a highlight of the ‘Wise Business’ Programme, the first joint initiative by HSBC and HKPC to provide information support to local SMEs to strengthen their competitiveness.

Opening the Summit, Mr Albert Chan, HSBC Head of Commercial Banking Hong Kong, said: “Based on a recent HSBC survey, the vast majority of Hong Kong SMEs are holding a stable outlook on the local economy, with 18 per cent expecting the pace of economic growth to increase and 64 per cent expecting it to maintain its current momentum in the next six months. However, the global economy remains unstable and the traditional US and European markets are still weak, SMEs need to gear up to increase competitiveness.”

Mr Clement Chen, Chairman of HKPC, who was also the guest host of the summit, said: “As the soon-to-be-announced National 12 th  Five-Year Plan and the signing of the Framework Agreement on Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation earlier this year will have long-term impact on the Hong Kong economy, local companies must be more pro-active in upgrading and transforming their business to align with the Mainland economic development. The focus of which will be on high-end manufacturing, professional services and domestic sales.”

“As the close partner of industry, HKPC has over the years been supporting SMEs to strengthen their competitiveness and secure new opportunities through our comprehensive services. Looking ahead, we will continue to help local businesses tap the mainland market, enhance their manufacturing and service standards, ultimately using value rather than low pricing as their competition strategy.”

Summit speakers included the Hon. Jeffrey Lam, Legislative Councillor of HKSAR; Mr Anthony Wu, Chairman, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Mr George Leung, Advisor, Strategy & Economics, Asia-Pacific, HSBC; Dr David Wong, President, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong; Mr Stanley Lau, Deputy Chairman, Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Dr Boby Chan, Chairman & Managing Director, Moiselle International Holdings Limited; and Mr Albert Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Providence Enterprise Limited.

Highlights of the summit will be broadcast at 9:30 pm, 28 and 29 August, on now Business News Channel and uploaded to the HKPC website ( www.hkpc.org ) thereafter.

Apart from the summit, the ‘Wise Business’ programme, running from April to October this year, also includes an TV series and free consulting services for SMEs.

For media enquiries, please contact Mr Felix Chan at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

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Mr Jonathan Ho
General Manager
Corporate Communications
Tel: (852) 2788 6390
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: jonathanho@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

23 August 2010

Jointly organized by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, the Hong Kong Productivity Council and NOW Business News Channel, the ‘Wise Business’ SME Summit, Held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (23 August 2010), brought together industry heavyweights, business leaders and economists to share their insights on the outlook of the economy from a macro-economic perspective and identify new business opportunities for local enterprises.