Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto) (HKETO), Ms Emily Mo, shared updates on Hong Kong’s economic landscape and promoted Hong Kong’s economic strengths and opportunities at 2024 Canada Spring Economic and Trade Summit on May 9.
In her video speech at the Hong Kong segment of the Summit, Ms Mo emphasised Hong Kong's pivotal role as a gateway to Mainland China and Asia, noting its status as the most internationalised city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong's business-friendly environment with its common law system, free economy, a simple tax regime, a renowned financial system as well as world-class international talent and professional services with extensive knowledge on the global markets.
Ms Mo emphasised that the benefits of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement and other bilateral agreements such as the Canada-Hong Kong Avoidance of Double Taxation Treaty and the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, provided a solid support for Canadian companies to expand their business operation in Hong Kong and the mainland China.
She highlighted some recent developments, including the influx of companies setting foot in Hong Kong in 2023, particularly strategic enterprises bringing substantial investments and job opportunities. “Hong Kong also 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. Canada has the 7th largest share,” she said.
Looking ahead, Ms Mo expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s resilience in the face of global economic challenges. Noting that "flight capacity between Canada and Hong Kong will fully resume to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, making business travel to Hong Kong very convenient", she invited forum attendees to consider Hong Kong as a destination for business growth.
Ms Connie Lam, Assistant Manager of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong (Canada), moderated the Hong Kong segment of the Summit, at which the Founder and Business Development Director of Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes, Mr Benson Lau, shared his success story of using Hong Kong as a platform for their business expansion globally.
The three-day Summit was organised by the Canada Xinflix Entrepreneur Chamber of Commerce with the support of Destination Markham and the Markham Board of Trade.
香港經貿處在二○二四春季經貿高峰論壇推廣香港的經濟優勢和機遇
香港駐多倫多經濟貿易辦事處（香港經貿處）處長巫菀菁於五月九日在二○二四春季經貿高峰論壇上，分享香港最新的經濟環境，並推廣香港的經濟優勢和機遇。
巫菀菁在論壇的香港環節以視像致辭時強調，香港作為粵港澳大灣區最國際化的城市，擔當通往中國內地和亞洲門戶的重要角色，香港的環境有利營商，而且採用普通法系統，實行自由經濟制度，擁有簡單稅制和廣為人知的完善金融系統，熟識環球市場的世界頂尖國際專才均在港提供專業服務。
巫菀菁續指香港受惠於《更緊密經貿關係安排》及與多地簽訂的其他雙邊協定（包括香港與加拿大簽訂避免雙重徵稅協定，以及促進和保護外國投資協定），為有意在香港及中國內地擴充業務的加拿大企業提供穩固基石。
巫菀菁又提及一些最新發展，例如不少公司於二○二三年落戶香港，當中包括帶來龐大投資及就業職位的重點企業。她說：「香港在二○二三年刷下初創企業成立及其聘用員工數目的新紀錄，超過4,200家初創企業在港發展，其中四分之一由非本地企業家創立，加拿大的佔比排行第七。」
展望未來，巫菀菁對香港面對環球經濟挑戰的抗逆力充滿信心。她提到往來加拿大與香港的航運流量將於今年底回復至疫情前水平，屆時來港經商將更為便利，她邀請與會者考慮選擇香港為拓展業務的目的地。
論壇的香港環節由香港投資推廣署加拿大辦事處助理經理林少丹主持，Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes創辦人暨業務發展總裁劉京翰亦在環節中分享他利用香港平台成功在全球擴充業務的經驗。
為期三天的高峰論壇由加拿大新動力企業界商會主辦，並獲目的地萬錦及萬錦貿易委員會支持。
