"Wise Business 2012" Kicks off with SME Forum on Business Opportunities

To help SMEs enhance their business competitiveness and excel in technology innovation, the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), HSBC Commercial Banking and the Hong Kong Economic Times jointly organize “Wise Business 2012”. The programme was kicked off with a forum today (12 March 2012) to explore the challenges and opportunities for SMEs.

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC, said, “Business opportunities are everywhere in the current diversified market. SMEs should leverage their flexibility and make the most of this competitive edge over big businesses, and develop their own markets for their products and services.”

She said, “In the past two years, we have organized the ‘Wise Business’ series to help businesses meet their challenges by sharing the success stories in different sectors. Covering hot issues in business, the series also includes the advice of HKPC consultants, enabling SMEs to learn from their counterparts as well as experts.”

 “Wise Business 2012” includes a series of newspaper features in April on SMEs’ challenges and opportunities amid the current market situation, SME Summit in June and free ‘clinic’ advisory services in November. Comprising 10 features, the special newspaper series will present case studies and expert analysis to shed light on successful solutions for SMEs.

Mrs Mak also noted that HKPC will strengthen its SMEs support this year. “Our new initiatives include the establishment of a one-stop SME support centre, ‘SME One Centre’, in HKPC Building in July. In addition to introducing our technology and management support services, this Centre is unique in offering comprehensive information on funding and financing schemes from both the public and private sectors that are suitable for SMEs to apply. We would also offer assistance to SMEs in application,” she said.

Apart from Mr Clement Chen, Chairman of HKPC, other forum speakers included Dr Dennis Ng, Vice President of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong; Dr Edward Lam, Co-Chairman of the Hong Kong SME Forum; Mrs Ayesha M Lau, Chair of Taxation Committee of The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants; and Professor Raymond So, renowned economist and Member of the Small and Medium Enterprises Committee of the HKSAR Government.

For more information about the programme, please contact HKPC’s Shirley Wong at tel. (852) 2788 5953 or email: shirleyw@hkpc.org. For other media enquiries, please contact Felix Chan of HKPC’s Corporate Communications Division at tel. (852) 2788 5036 or email: felixchan@hkpc.org.

*  *  *

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

12 March 2012

Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC, gives welcoming address

Mr Albert Chan, Head of Commercial Banking Hong Kong, HSBC (fourth from right); HKPC Chairman, Mr Clement Chen (third from right), and Executive Director, Mrs Agnes Mak (second from right), pose for a group photo with guests speakers of the “Wise Business 2012” SME Forum