Wise Business Summit 2015: Business Leaders Discussed Growth and Opportunities in the Changing Landscape

Senior government officials, prominent industrialists and business leaders gathered at today's Wise Business Summit 2015 to share their insights in global economic trends, as well as challenges and opportunities in the ever-changing business landscape. More than 500 businesses and entrepreneurs from different sectors and industries attended the event.

Mr John Tsang, the Financial Secretary of the Government of the HKSAR, officiated at the summit, which was sponsored by HSBC Commercial Banking and jointly organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and Hong Kong Economic Times.

Mr Albert Chan, HSBC's Head of Commercial Banking Hong Kong, said "As the centre of global economic shifts from west to east, Hong Kong is the gateway of China's trade. The territory directly benefits from China's economic opening and development, including 'One belt, One Road' and new free trade zones. Companies should be flexible enough to grasp these unprecedented opportunities, for example, crossborder investment. Most importantly, they have to embrace the new social media phenomenon, and find new ways to acquire new and serve better current customers in the digital era. We hope companies attending this summit will be inspired by today's events and presentation when they do their own business planning."

Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of HKPC, said, "In response to the rapidly changing market environment, local manufacturers should adopt automation for cost control and process optimization; and leveraging the 3D printing technology to develop original products and drive innovation. HKPC will soon establish the first one-stop, dedicated service hubs in Hong Kong - '3D Printing One' and 'i-Robot One' - to provide comprehensive technical support and consultancy services to industry. Furthermore, SMEs should tap resources from the variety of support and funding schemes offered by the Government and public/private sectors to enhance their competitiveness."

The theme of Wise Business Summit 2015 was "Growth and Opportunities in a Changing Landscape". Speakers from local small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) shared their success stories on how new sales channels, new customer segments, new technologies and new products can be leveraged to help tackle challenges in the evolving business environment.

Launched in 2010, Wise Business is a year-round integrated programme designed to support SMEs in Hong Kong with professional expertise and market insights on running their businesses. This programme aims to provide SMEs with market updates, advice from industry leaders and professionals through a multi-dimensional platform, including a TV series and TV infomercial, print editorial series, the SME Summit, seminars and free consultancy services.

Panelists and speakers at today's summit included:

Dr Clement Chen, Chairman, Hong Kong Productivity Council
Mr George Leung, Advisor, Asia-Pacific, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Mr Stanley Lau, Chairman, Federation of Hong Kong Industries
Mr Benjamin Chau, Deputy Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Mr Alan Cheung, Managing Director, Grandion Industrial Ltd.
Mr Tam Wing Yiu, Director, Tool and Mold Hong Kong Ltd.
Mr Jason Chiu, Founder & CEO, cherrypicks
Ms Prudence Mak, Founder and Creative Director, Chocolate Rain
Mr Ronnie Cheng, Co-founder, Lab Made Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Mr Tacky Tong, Founder, Mastermind Production International Ltd.
(in no particular order)

Source: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited Press Release

Mr John Tsang, the Financial Secretary of the Government of the HKSAR (front row, third from left), Dr Clement Chen, Chairman of HKPC (front row, third from right) and Mr Joseph Poon, Acting Executive Director of HKPC (front row, first from right) attended Wise Business Summit 2015.

10 June 2015