XN000022-1990-06-06 — Page 32

AFDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1990

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MORE POSITIVE MARKETING APPROACH URGED

* * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND (WEDNESDAY) URGED LOCAL TRADERS AND

INDUSTRY, MR JOHN CHAN, TODAY MANUFACTURERS ΤΟ ADOPT

POSITIVE AND AGGRESSIVE APPROACH IN MARKETING THEIR PRODUCTS.

A MORE

SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR CHAN SAID THIS COULD BE DONE BY ESTABLISHING OVERSEAS SALES AND MARKETING OFFICES; STEPPING UP EFFORTS IN MARKET AND PRODUCT RESEARCH; ADVERTISING PRODUCTS IN TRADE MAGAZINES; PARTICIPATING

IN

INTERNATIONAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS; AND MAKING DIRECT CONTACT WITH CUSTOMERS.

TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, HE SAID, HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURERS MUST BE ABLE TO PRODUCE QUALITY GOODS OF HIGHER PRECISION AND ACCURACY AND WITH BETTER RELIABILITY AND LOWER DEFECT RATES.

"TO MOVE UP MARKET, MANUFACTURERS WILL HAVE ΤΟ MAKE GREATER USE OF NOT ONLY HARD TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS ADVANCED MACHINERY, PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND TESTING AND MEASURING EQUIPMENT, BUT ALSO SOFT TECHNOLOGIES LIKE QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, HE SAID.

T+

MR CHAN SAID THAT, TOGETHER WITH THE MOVE TOWARDS HIGHER TECHNOLOGY, IT WAS TIME FOR HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS ΤΟ CONSIDER DEVELOPING THEIR OWN BRAND NAMES AND REDUCING CONVENTIONAL RELIANCE ON ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURE (OEM) BUSINESS.

"AN IDENTIFIABLE BRAND NAME ASSOCIATED WITH HONG KONG'S REPUTABLE TRADING IMAGE WOULD BE A STRONG IMPETUS TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR TRADE PERFORMANCE,' HE SAID,

"

MR CHAN ALSO CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY AS ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE EXPORT PERFORMANCE.

A

WHOLE TO REDOUBLE

"AFTER ALL, WELCOME AS THE GROWTH OF OUR RE-EXPORTS MAY BE, OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS COUNT FAR MORE IN TERMS OF VALUE ADDED IN HONG KONG AND OF CONTRIBUTION TO THE WEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.

"WE MUST THEREFORE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OPENING UP NEW MARKETS AS WELL AS TO INCREASING OUR SALES TO EXISTING ONES.

"AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST CONTINUE TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCTS IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN OUR EDGE IN WORLD MARKETS AGAINST EVER-INCREASING COMPETITION, HE SAID.

י.

IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, MR CHAN SAID, HONG KONG PLAYED A FULL PART IN THE ONGOING URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH NOT ONLY EMBRACED TRADITIONAL AREAS OF TRADE IN GOODS, BUT ALSO BROKE NEW GROUND BY ADDRESSING ISSUES SUCH AS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TRADE IN SERVICES.

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