Hong Kong and Guangdong: Your Partners for Success in China, Helsinki, 8 November 2006

Hong Kong and Guangdong: Your Partners for Success in China

8 November 2006, Helsinki

Companies in Finland, Hong Kong and Guangdong can form a three-way partnership to seize business opportunities as China develops it hi-tech sectors, over 500 delegates were told at a seminar in Helsinki, 8 November.

Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) and the Department of Trade & Economic Cooperation of Guangdong Province, it was the first overseas event jointly staged by the two organisations.

Delivering a keynote address, TDC Deputy Executive Director Alan Wong said China’s economic growth is unprecedented in world history, describing it as “the buzz word in business today.”

The Chinese mainland is no longer just a production base, he said, but also a market in its own right with demand for a wide range of goods and services fuelled by a middle class of 250 million consumers, growing by 13 million each year.

Mr Wong said that the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in Guangdong is driving China’s growth, with the highest level of industrial output and hi-tech production in the mainland. The region is now seeking overseas expertise to help further develop its technology industries. In particular he pointed to demand for technology-related to design and production, ICT applications, energy and power generation, environmental protection and medical equipment.

Mr Wong said Hong Kong offers Finnish companies a strategic location at the heart of the PRD, unrivalled experience of doing business in China, entrepreneurial spirit and an ability to act as a “risk manager” based on its common law system and strong protection of intellectual property.

“Hong Kong is the city that speaks your language,” he told delegates that included representatives of over 300 Finnish companies.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr Antti Joensuu, Deputy Director-General, Technology Department, Finnish Ministry of Trade & Industry, said Finland consistently scores well in international indices of technology, environmental protection and competitiveness.

He described Finland is an attractive partner, highly motivated for partnership with foreign companies, and hoped a reciprocal mission from Finland would visit Hong Kong and Guangdong in due course.

In his speech Mr. Liang Yaowen, Director-General, Department of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation (DOFTEC) of Guangdong Province, told delegates that Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau have a shared objective of the PRD becoming one of the most prosperous and vigorous economic centres in the world overt the next 10 to 20 years.

The seminar included panel discussions on IT & Electronics Technology and Innovation in Manufacturing. They featured experts from Finnish, Hong Kong and Guangdong companies and organisations.

A delegation of 80 leading companies from Guangdong attended the seminar to explore investment and partnership opportunities with Finnish businesses.

Further information on the seminar, including details of speakers, panellists, and presentations can be found at http://info.hktdc.com/finlandbusinessforum2006/

Feedback from delegates:

		Pentti Paalu, Senior ICT Consultant, ICP Tele “ I helped Nokia set up operations in China so have many friends there. I’ve come today principally for the networking, to catch up with what’s been happening, meet some new companies. I hope to meet some useful contacts which I can develop business with.”

		Alf Stenvall, Managing Director, Snowdrop Ky Kb “ My business is importing home accessories and jewellery. I’m looking at buying from China, which is why I came to this event. It was very interesting and well organised, and I got good information and made some useful contacts which may help me build my business. I need to study the material I’ve collected so see what my next step will be, though I am hoping to visit China in January.”

		Ms Eja Niittumaa-Lahdenpera, Managing Director, Enilar OY “ I’m looking for good partners, either in Hong Kong or China, for my business which is business gifts and promotional items. I have already been in contact with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, but I was very interested to learn more about the website tdctrade.com where I can look for new products and do online sourcing which is quicker and more convenient. That’s been the main benefit for me.”

		Pekka Naavvala, Euronaattorit Management Consultants “ I’m researching environmental protection issues in Asia on behalf of a Finnish company. This seminar was interesting, it gave a good impression of what’s happening in China today. For most Finnish companies interested in China, Hong Kong would be the logical starting place – it’s more Western-orientated. “

		Timo Korhonen, Professor, Helsinki University of Technology – TKK “ We are trying to establish a memorandum of understanding between Helsinki University of Technology – TKK and Beijing University. Using Hong Kong as a gateway is interesting, and TDC may be able to find a third party that could make it easier to work in China. “The seminar was interesting, with lots of material which we need to study to find out more, we can learn, make contacts and know how to proceed. It was a good morning.”

Picture Captions

		Picture 1: TDC Deputy Executive Director Alan Wong ( left ) with DOFTEC of Guangdong Province Director-General Liang Yaowen at the Helsinki seminar, the first overseas event jointly organised by the two organisations.

		Picture 2: A panel discussion on IT and electronics technology was led by Secretary General of the Finnish Business Council Ms Pirkko Sjogren-Lehto (left). Next to her is Dr. Erkki Ormala, Vice President, Technology Policy, Corporate Relations & Responsibility for Nokia Corporation. China is now the company’s largest market for mobile ‘phones.

		Picture 3: The seminar, Hong Kong – Guangdong, Your Partners for Success in China, was attended by over 500 delegates, including representatives of more than 300 Finnish companies.