XN000022-1986-01-22 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1980

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TDC ACTIVELY PROMOTING TRADE

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THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS THE STATUTORY BODY SET UP TO PROMOTE, ASSIST AND DEVELOP HONG KONG'S OVERSEAS TRADE, ESPECIALLY EXPORTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR HO SAID DIVERSIFICATION OF EXPORT MARKETS FOR HONG KONG PRODUCTS HAD BEEN AN IMPORTANT PROMOTIONAL OBJECTIVE OF THE COUNCIL.

+ITS PROMOTIONAL STRATEGY IS TO FOCUS ON THOSE MARKETS WHERE THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASING TRADE IS GREATEST AND ITS SUPPORT CAN BE OF GREATEST VALUE IN COMPLEMENTING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY'S OWN MARKETING EFFORTS. PRIORITY IS CURRENTLY BEING GIVEN TO DEVELOPING THE JAPANESE AND CHINESE MARKETS, HE SAID.

MR HO WAS SPEAKING IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI ON WHAT STEPS THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS HAD TAKEN TOWARDS ACHIEVING DIVERSIFICATION OF MARKETS FOR HONG KONG PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY IN SUCH REGIONS AS THE MIDDLE EAST, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

+AS FAR AS THE MIDDLE EAST IS CONCERNED, THE COUNCIL HAS OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS ORGANISED OVER 40 BUSINESS GROUPS TO THE AREA.

+IN 1985-86, THE COUNCIL HAS SCHEDULED TWO BUSINESS GROUPS TO AND RECEIVED FIVE INCOMING TRADE MISSIONS FROM THIS REGION. IT WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE MORE MIDDLE EAST BUSINESSMEN TO COME TO HONG KONG IN THE FUTURE.

AS REGARDS CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, MR HO SAID THE COUNCIL HAD A BRANCH OFFICE IN PANAMA WHICH LIAISED CLOSELY WITH IMPORTERS IN THE REGION, KEPT IN CONTACT WITH BUYERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AN MAINTAINED AN UP-TO-DATE DATA BANK TO ANSWER TRADE ENQUIRIES FROM HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS.

MR HO SAID THE OFFICE ALSO PARTICIPATED AND PUBLICISED HONG KONG AMONG CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA BUYERS IN MAJOR TRADE FAIRS IN THE REGION AS WELL AS IN NORTH AMERICA.

+ATHOUGH MARKT CONDITIONS IN THE REGION ARE STILL GENERALLY UNFAVOURABLE, THE COUNCIL IS READY TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO ANY PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WHICH MAY ARISE IN THE FUTURE.+

MR HO NOTED THAT BESIDES ACTIVE TRADE PROMOTION, HONG KONG NEEDED TO HAVE ITS OWN COMPETITIVE INDUSTRIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE DIVERS IF ICATION OF MARKETS FOR ITS PRODUCTS.

AS REGARDS PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN TAKING ACTIVE MEASURES TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT AND ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDE A STABLE ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT, ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF TRAINED MANPOWER, ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICES.

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