HKPC Announces Four Immediate Concessions for SMEs and Startups - Helping Industry Overcome Unprecedented Challenges

(Hong Kong, 16 September 2019) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) released immediate concessions to support SMEs and startups to navigate the rough economic seas in view of the challenges posed by the global trade uncertainties. Effective from today, all new R&D and consultancy projects, testing services, HKPC venue charges as well as corporate training programmes will enjoy concessionary offers* with details as follows:

• 30% off the list price of labour portion for R&D and consultancy services (excluding consultancy services under government funding schemes);
• 30% off the list price of labour portion for testing services;
• 30% off the HKPC venue charges;
• "Buy-3-get-1-free" incentive to extend for ALL corporate training courses.

These concessionary offers are applicable to SMEs and startups engaging HKPC’s services and training courses on or after 16 September 2019 till 31 March 2020.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the HKPC SME One Fund Fair, Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC shared, “HKPC has the hearts set on the well-being of the local SMEs and startups. Our decision to launch such price concessions aims to alleviate the economic burden of local SMEs and startups, help them grown and overcome challenges arising from unpredictable external factors. We will be absorbing any respective costs through generating saving from this year’s budget, and such arrangements will not impact the quality deliverables of our work.”

HKPC organised an inaugural SME Fund Fair today, officiated by Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government; accompanied by Ms Annie Choi, Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology; Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology and Mr Willy Lin, is a signature event for SMEs and startups to understand the close to 50 funding schemes of the government and public organisations in Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area (GBA), which are already available for applications with a total value of over HK$ 35 billion, serving their needs on market expansion, innovation and technology R&D or transformation retraining.

Ms Salina Yan, Director-General of Trade and Industry for "Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs" (SUCCESS); Ms Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for “SME Centre”; Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC for “SME One” and Mr Oscar Wong, Head of Client Development of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation for “TecONE” and also joined at the ceremony to pledge the launch of the “four-in-one” integrated services for the SMEs. This strong alliance will take care of front-line inquiry and referral services, with key focus on funding. Also, a dedicated promotion team from the four centres will reach out to potential funding applicants from 1 October to boost the awareness of various funding schemes, as per the HKSAR Government’s earlier announcement.

The two-day Fair, with an anticipated visitors of over 5,000, comprises three designated zones - namely Finance and Business Development; Startups & Innovation Industry, and GBA & Specific Industries. On top of on-site advisory services by relevant funding bodies, there will also be best practice sharing and funding information seminars, offering a one-stop platform for SMEs and startups to receive first-hand useful information on funding schemes in the most convenient manner.  
The Fair is one of the key support measures unveiled by HKPC to assist SMEs in minimising business risk and helping them expand their Mainland domestic and overseas new markets and production lines. Other notable measures include implementing the enhanced Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales (BUD Fund) and launching the guidebook of “Reindustrialisation in Hong Kong and Opportunities and Limitations for Hong Kong Enterprises Entering into ASEAN”.

The Fair is open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm today (16 September), and will close at 5:00 pm tomorrow (17 September). Admission is free. Representatives from SMEs and startups are most welcome.

*Terms and conditions apply.

- Ends -

Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (front row, forth from right); and Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (front row, forth from left); Ms Annie Choi, Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology (front row, third from right); and Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (front row, third from left) officiated the opening of the HKPC SME One Fund Fair and witnessed the service pledge made by Ms Salina Yan, Director-General of Trade and Industry for “Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs” (SUCCESS) (front row, second from left); Ms Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council for “SME Centre” (front row, first from left); Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC for “SME One” (front row, second from right) and Mr Oscar Wong, Head of Client Development of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation for “TecONE” (front row, first from right), over the HKSAR Government’s earlier announcement to launch the “four-in-one” integrated funding scheme inquiry and referral service. The guests also posed for a group photo with representatives of the funding schemes at the HKPC SME One Fund Fair.

Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR Government spoke at the HKPC SME One Fund Fair.

Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC gave the welcoming speech at the HKPC SME One Fund Fair.

Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (centre); Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC (third from left); Ms Annie Choi, Permanent Secretary for Innovation and Technology (third from right); Ms Rebecca Pun, Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (first from left); Ms Salina Yan, Director-General of Trade and Industry (second from left) ; Ms Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (second from right); Mr Mohamed Butt, Executive Director of HKPC (first from right) showcased the freshly launched guidebook of “Reindustrialisation in Hong Kong and Opportunities and Limitations for Hong Kong Enterprises Entering into ASEAN”.