180k+ to "SME ReachOut: Fund Fair Everywhere 2020" HKPC, Government and Business Sector Unite to Promote Re-Industrialisation in Hong Kong

(Hong Kong, 27 August 2020) Organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and co-organised by the Trade and Industry Department (TID), “SME ReachOut: Fund Fair Everywhere 2020” (https://fundfair.hkpc.org/), a large-scale online event, has attracted an overwhelming response with 30k+ having joined nearly 40 live webinars, around 15k visited the 50+ virtual exhibition booths and recorded 180k+ traffic to the online portal in the past three days, reflecting the desire of SMEs and industries for funding support.

Recognising the enormous business opportunities arising from re-industrialisation, Mr Alfred Sit, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, and Dr Dennis Ng, President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, joined Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, in a webinar to discuss re-industrialisation and retrieval of traditional industries in Hong Kong, offering the views of the government, R&D organisation and industry on the topic. They explored the present situation and challenges, opportunities for businesses and success case sharing in Hong Kong’s road to re-industrialisation, aiming to map out an effective strategy for local implementation by enterprises.

Mr Sit said, “The Government has been actively promoting ‘re-industrialisation’ in recent years to develop advanced manufacturing industries that are based on new technologies and smart production, so as to identify new growth points for Hong Kong’s economic development and diversify our economy. By leveraging four areas of support – infrastructure, financial, technology and talent, the Government aims to create an ecosystem in favour for the development of ‘re-industrialisation’ in Hong Kong. Among them is the recently-launched HK$2 billion Re-industrialisation Funding Scheme, aiming to subsidise manufacturers on a matching basis to setting up new smart production lines in Hong Kong.  It assists local enterprises in moving towards high value-added production and upgrading to ‘Industry 4.0’.”

Mr Lin said, “Re-industrialisation is a global trend. Epidemic-related R&D has provided a timely demonstration of the tremendous strength of Hong Kong industries. Hence, with the policy direction and support of the Government, companies can engage in more R&D and applications and utilise the strengths of Hong Kong in promoting their products to the rest of the world. As the expert in promoting ‘Industry 4.0’, HKPC’s technical team has been helping local companies on production automation with the use of artificial intelligence, robotics, data analytics, Internet of Things technologies to achieve advanced manufacturing. By leveraging such related experience as well as knowledge and experience in promoting smart production and smart enterprise accumulated in recent years, HKPC firmly believes it can assist local businesses in setting up advanced smart production lines in Hong Kong to realise re-industrialisation.”

Sponsored by strategic banking partner HSBC, diamond sponsor SAP Hong Kong Co., Ltd and gold sponsor PwC; and supported by over 70 industry association and public organisations, “SME ReachOut: Fund Fair Everywhere 2020” is jointly participated by over 20 governments and public organs of Hong Kong and the GBA, offering 50+ virtual booths and close to 40 live webinars. The public can go to the Fund Fair’s website (https://fundfair.hkpc.org/) to recap the webinars and practical application form explanatory workshops of popular funding schemes. 

On top of the Fund Fair, SME ReachOut, which has been set up specifically to promote government funding schemes, will continue to strengthen its services, introducing various government funding schemes to SMEs nonstop and offering one-on-one matching and support, in addressing their pressing needs on funding scheme applications. For instance, it will go to business districts across Hong Kong to provide on-site or online consultation. For enquiry, please contact SME ReachOut at tel.: 2788 6262, email: sme_reachout@hkpc.org; or HKPC’s WhatsApp: 5283 4131.

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Mr Alfred Sit, Secretary for Innovation and Technology (centre), and Dr Dennis Ng, President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (right), join Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, in a webinar to discuss re-industrialisation and retrieval of traditional industries in Hong Kong, offering the views of the government, R&D organisation and industry on the topic. They also explore the present situation and challenges, opportunities for businesses and success case sharing in Hong Kong’s road to re-industrialisation, aiming to map out an effective strategy for local implementation by enterprises.