The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) supported the 10th Transpacific Entrepreneurial Conference jointly hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) on January 22 (Toronto time). This annual rendezvous focussed on exploring innovative ideas, biotech start-ups and business opportunities, and strengthening commercial relationships between Canada, Hong Kong, and other Asian economies.
In delivering opening remarks at the hybrid conference to delve into Hong Kong’s role as a Super Connector, Director of HKETO, Ms Emily Mo, is delighted to share with participants that Hong Kong has been bouncing back over the past year as travel between Canada and Hong Kong resumed.
“Hong Kong’s 2023 GDP growth is forecast to be 3.2%,” said Ms Mo. “Inflation was moderate at 2%, unemployment rate at 2.9%, and flight connection capacity recovered to about 80% with an anticipated full recovery this year.”
Ms Mo pointed out that more than 9,000 companies with mainland China or foreign head offices had chosen to set foot in Hong Kong, representing an increase in 2023. Regarding the strategic enterprises opening in Hong Kong, Ms Mo add that “they brought in not just strategic enterprises benefitting Hong Kong’s business landscape, but also an initial investment of around HK$30 billion and the creation of 10,000 jobs between December 2022 and October 2023.”.
She also noted that Hong Kong got a new record of numbers of startups and their staff employed in 2023. Over 4,200 start-ups were in Hong Kong, and a quarter of them are founded by non-locals. Among the non-local start-ups, Canada has the seventh largest share.
“Looking forward, with the institutional advantages of Hong Kong under the ‘One Country, Two Systems’, Hong Kong has been prepared and inspired to offer opportunities and to create new opportunities for the city and everyone who sees it as their destination for business, career or personal growth,” said Ms Mo.
As the world’s top international financial centre, and a global offshore wealth management centre ranked second worldwide after Switzerland, Hong Kong’s place in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and various new policies and tax concessions make it an increasingly attractive hub for family offices.
“Over 40 Canadian delegates will join the Asian Financial Forum to be held in Hong Kong this week, including the Canadian venture capitalists looking for investment projects and companies seeking for capital and partners,” Ms Mo remarked.
Ms Mo added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is in an internationally leading position to promote green finance, ESG, web 3.0, and talent attraction, etc., facilitating all long-sighted business to grow. She reassured all participants that Hong Kong is moving fast to cope with the evolving world and is the best place to do business in Asia.
The 10th Transpacific Entrepreneurial Conference included six panel discussions with over 30 speakers from leading companies in different sectors including wealth management, investment opportunities, innovation and technology, biotech, sustainability, renewable energy, health-tech and artificial intelligence. Head of Business and Talent Attraction of InvestHK Canada, Mr Christopher Chen, shared insights at the second panel themed “Trade & Investment Expansion Strategies into Hong Kong and Asia”.
第十屆跨太平洋企業家會議探討香港「超級聯繫人」角色
由香港加拿大商會及港加商會合辦的第十屆跨太平洋企業家會議於一月二十二日（多倫多時間）舉行，活動獲香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）及投資推廣署支持。今年會議主要探討創新意念、生物科技初創企業及商機，以及加強加拿大、香港及亞洲其他經濟體之間的商貿關係。
會議聚焦香港「超級聯繫人」的角色，並以網上及實體方式舉行。香港經貿處處長巫菀菁致開幕辭時表示，自去年港加兩地通關後，香港已迅速復蘇。
她說：「二○二三年香港的人均經濟增長預測為3.2%；通脹率維持在2%，反映通脹溫和；失業率為2.9%，而航班載客量亦回復近80%，並預計今年會全面恢復。」
巫菀菁指出超過9 000間中國內地或外國企業辦公室已選擇落戶香港，在二○二三年錄得增幅。就重點企業在香港發展，她說：「這些重點企業不但豐富香港的市場格局，更在二○二二年十二月至二○二三年十月期間為香港帶來約300億港元的初始資金，並創造10 000個職位。」
她亦提到香港於二○二三年刷下初創企業及其聘用員工數目的新紀錄。現時，香港有逾4 200間初創企業，當中四分之一由非本地人創立，而在這些非本地創立的企業中，加拿大的佔比排行第七。
巫菀菁說：「展望將來，香港繼續享有『一國兩制』的制度優勢，並已準備就緒為選擇在港拓展業務、建立事業或個人發展的人士提供和創造新機遇。
香港作為世界頂尖的國際金融中心、作為排名僅次瑞士的環球離岸資產管理中心，在粵港澳大灣區的地位獨一無二，各項新政策和稅務優惠亦令其成為更受歡迎的家族辦公室落腳點。
巫菀菁特別提到：「超過40位加拿大訪問代表將會參加本星期在香港舉行的亞洲金融論壇，當中包括正在物色投資項目的加拿大創投家，以及尋找資金和合作伙伴的加拿大企業。」
她續說，香港特區政府在推廣綠色金融、環境、社會及管治（ESG）、網絡3.0和吸引人才等方面領先國際，能協助高瞻遠矚的企業發展。她向與會者強調，面對瞬息萬變的世界，香港力求進步，是在亞洲發展業務的不二之選。
第十屆跨太平洋企業家會議共有六個專題討論，逾30位來自不同界別的頂尖企業講者參與其中，包括資產管理、投資機遇、創科、生物科技、可持續發展、可再生能源、健康科技及人工智能。投資推廣署多倫多辦事處招商引才／投資推廣總監陳立智亦在題為「Trade & Investment Expansion Strategies into Hong Kong and Asia」的第二場專題討論上分享真知灼見。
