Introduction

This Annual Plan is the final one in our current three-year planning cycle, for which three medium-term objectives were set to guide our work from 2011 to 2014. They are:

A set of measurements has been set against which we will evaluate our success in achieving these objectives.

The lingering sovereign debt crisis in Europe and a slow recovery in the US dragged down by persistently high unemployment pointed to a conservative outlook for the world economy in 2013/14. Consumption is expected to remain weak in mature economies.

The top priority for HKTDC in the coming year is hence to help SMEs identify new markets and enhance their competitiveness through upgrading or relocation of manufacturing base to lower cost alternatives. The mainland will continue to be the focus of our work. We will help SMEs leverage on the government’s $1 billion dedicated fund targeted at the mainland market. We will also aggressively expand our Design Gallery network and build up the image of Hong Kong brands through our Style Hong Kong Shows, as well as greatly expand our service promotions on the mainland.

For developing emerging markets, our focus will be on economies with good consumption power, including India, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey and Latin America. A comprehensive strategy comprising inbound and outbound missions, recruitment of major importers and distributors to HKTDC fairs, enhanced business matching and networking events will be developed for each market. Large-scale promotions will be held in Mumbai, Jakarta and Istanbul to raise awareness of Hong Kong product brands.

The sluggish performance in the traditional markets has led many overseas companies to look eastward, creating opportunities for Hong Kong SMEs interested in acquiring overseas technology or brands to enhance their competitiveness globally and in the mainland market. We will also assist Hong Kong service providers to seize opportunities arising from the increased use of the Hong Kong platform as the natural point of entry to the mainland and Asian markets.

To put Hong Kong on the radar screen of potential companies eyeing Asia, we will mount the signature campaign, Think Asia, Think Hong Kong, in the US in June 2013, highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths as a marketing hub for Asia, an offshore RMB centre, a technology and intellectual property marketplace and the headquarters for mainland enterprises’ outward investment ventures.

2013 will be full of challenges. HKTDC will spare no efforts in working with the government and members of the Hong Kong family to help our resilient SMEs weather this storm.