The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels organised a business seminar in Bucharest on 10 March 2009.  The seminar "Hong Kong – Your high speed connection to China opportunities", which was well attended by over a hundred local businessmen, aimed to allow Romanian businessmen to gain first hand information about Hong Kong’s latest economic developments and how Hong Kong can help Romanian companies seize the many business opportunities in China and Asia.

Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Communities, Miss Mary Chow, highlighted in her opening remarks the latest developments in Hong Kong and the advantages that Hong Kong can offer to businessmen.

"Hong Kong has its own separate and convertible currency, a simple and low tax system, legal protection for contracts and intellectual property rights, a high standard of transparency, a corruption free business environment, good infrastructure and a comprehensive range of business support services for businessmen," said Miss Chow.

"Being a gateway to the Mainland, Hong Kong offers rich expertise and experience for supporting foreign companies interested in entering the Chinese market.  The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which is a free trade agreement signed between Hong Kong and Mainland China, offers favourable trading and investment conditions to Hong Kong-based companies when they want to enter the Mainland market."

Director, Germany and Central Europe of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council in Frankfurt, Mr Winchell Cheung, introduced the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's full range of services available to Romanian businesses. He also encouraged Romanian companies to take advantage of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's 30 plus international trade fairs to source or market their products.

"We can help you tap the growing opportunities in China through our integrated services", said Mr Winchell Cheung.

"For the fourth time, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council is bringing Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta to your region. And you don't have to travel all the way to Hong Kong to see some of the best lifestyle products. Our Lifestyle Expo will take place from September 21 to 23 in Warsaw this year; and some 180 suppliers from Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region will showcase their wide range of quality products with very competitive prices, including electronics, gifts and premiums, houseware and electrical appliances.”

Senior Investment Promotion Executive, Invest Hong Kong, Mr Siegfried Verstappen, further elaborated the advantages that Hong Kong offers to investors.

"Hong Kong offers strategic advantages to those companies wishing to expand their business activities, not only in Mainland China, but in the Asia Pacific Region. Its key location grants access to the countries in the region within 5 hours' flight, making Hong Kong the preferred location for regional headquarters. Hong Kong is a safe place to do business with a high level of legal protection and efficient tax structure, not to mention its high-skilled labour force."

Other speakers included Mr Domnul Gabriel Cosmin Ghelmegeanu, Preşedinte, Camera de Comerţ şi Industrie România-China, and Ms Doamna Carmen Viorica Voinescu, Director of Amiva Export-Import S.R.L.  Participants had a good exchange of views and shared experience in doing business with China via Hong Kong business partners.

"There are still plenty of opportunities for those who are prepared to seize them. Now is a good time to make a move in order to be well placed as soon as business in our part of the world takes off again," said Miss Mary Chow.

The 10 March seminar was organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels and co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. This seminar was the second seminar in Bucharest organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels. The last one was held on 5 December 2007.

Miss Chow's opening remarks