HKPC Welcomes Budget Proposals on "Supporting Enterprises, Safeguarding Jobs, Stimulating the Economy and Relieving People's Burden" - Pledges to Facilitate “Anti-epidemic Support Scheme” to Help SMEs Overcome Challenges

(Hong Kong, 26 February 2020) The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) welcomes the HKSAR Government’s 2020-2021 Budget proposals to roll out measures on “supporting enterprises, safeguarding jobs, stimulating the economy and relieving people's burden”, to alleviate SMEs’ imminent needs and help them battle the economic headwinds. HKPC supports prior measures that the Government has already implemented to back up the industry. As the implementation organisation of some Government funding schemes and the operation agent of “SME Reach Out”, HKPC is committed to combating the challenges together with SMEs and the industry leveraging our in-depth knowledge to promote Government funding schemes, as well as competitiveness boosting applied technological solutions.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) not only hinders economic development, but also affects increases demand on surgical face masks in the everyday lives. HKPC has spared no effort in fighting against the epidemic. To expedite the establishment of local face mask production, HKPC has set up a cross-division expert team to provide technical support to manufacturers with intentions to establish face mask production in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, being the implementer of “Local Mask Production Subsidy Scheme”, HKPC will work to create greatest synergies to relieve the pressure for face masks supply soonest.

HKPC is also keen to offer useful information for enterprises to sustain their work during the epidemic by spreading across the cyber security and management tips about “work from home”. The “SME Remote Office Tips” were launched to enable SMEs and the wider industry to maintain their operations during different circumstances.

To allow SMEs and the industry to equip themselves continuously, HKPC Academy demonstrates through remote teaching channel to continue providing relevant training courses, including courses registered under the “Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme” (RTTP), so as to assist the industry nurturing digital talents and implementing digital transformation. HKPC endeavours to partner with SMEs to alleviate the adverse impact brought from the downward winding economy.

HKPC is in full swing to accommodate the Government’s implementation of relevant measures, as well as fully supports SMEs development through harnessing HKPC’s strengths in talent, research and technology, funding schemes and more, to achieve “supporting enterprises, safeguarding jobs, stimulating the economy and relieving people's burden”, walking hand in hand with the SMEs. At the same time, HKPC will continue to support local manufacturers’ transition to digital transformation. Through Industry 4.0 and smart technologies, HKPC will take lead in Hong Kong’s reindustrialisation and reinforce the brand of “Made in Hong Kong”.

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