ANVIL TO "INVESTHK."

Members of the Association of Young Filipino-Chinese Entrepreneurs (Anvil Business Club) became VIPs of the top officers of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, as the latter hosted the Club's Business Exchange Forum at the E's Bar in EDSA Shangri-La Hotel.
An impressive delegation of Hong Kong's Economic Trade Officers, led by Mr. Fong Ngai (方倪), Director of Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in ASEAN, and accompanied by Mr. Jim Wong (黄掁輝), Assistant Director (Trade); Mr. Melvin Lee (李國煒), Investment Promotion Head, and Mr. Willie Tan (陳威利), Investment Promotion Deputy Head, braved Manila's three-hour traffic and made its case for Anvil members to "InvestHK."
"InvestHK" (投資推廣署) is a special department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, launched primarily to "support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong." Founded on July 1, 2000, its mission is to confirm and strengthen Hong Kong as Asia's leading international business center and to attract economically and strategically important investment.
"Hong Kong is the number one business city in Asia. It is the perfect base for companies that want to do business in Mainland China and across the region," Director Fong began. "As Asia’s world city and the gateway to China, Hong Kong is known around the world as the freest economy, the hub for international business as well as a highly competitive financial and services center."
After rendering key economic data which showed Hong Kong's robust business prospects, Director Fong enumerated its "Four Pillar Industries" which currently define Hong Kong's Gross Domestic Product performance, namely: Trading and Logistics (25%), Financial Services (16%), Business and Professional Services (12%) and Tourism (4.5%). Moreover, he also noted the phenomenal rise of what he calls "Diversified New Industries" which the Hong Kong Government is supporting. These industries include Start-Ups, Social Enterprises, and Cultural and Creative Industries (i.e. design, fashion, film, arts and culture). Concomitant with the increasing demand for manpower sources, Director Fong noted that the City's acute shortage in skilled professionals, particularly in the insurance and asset/wealth management sectors, has led to more attractive immigration policies for investors and skilled manpower. He also outlined a number of new developments in the business landscape, including the construction of a new, 488-hectare Central Business District in Kowloon East with an ambitious plan of making it a "Smart City."
Director Fong also enumerated various programs designed to help overseas and local SMEs set up in Hong Kong. These include: government support for companies, incubator programs, loan guarantees, funds for marketing, low and simple tax system, as well as its globally-recognized for being one of the world’s most business-friendly cities. Free market policies, the rule of law and free flow of information mean a level playing field for all companies.
The forum ended with an extended question-and-answer session, as well as a commitment by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to include the Anvil Business Club as one of its "priority" partners in establishing more trade and investment relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong.