COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Among the year's promotional highlights was a series of activities to help local SMES build on Hong Kong's 'first mover' advantage in the widening Mainland market, prior to China's accession to the WTO. These activities also covered promotions for professional services such as accounting, legal and business consulting, sectors that are opening up in the Mainland. Strong emphasis was placed on positioning Hong Kong as a trade services platform and partner for Mainland businesses seeking global opportunities and for overseas firms targeting the Mainland market.
The TDC continued to connect Hong Kong companies to buyers and sellers through customised trade matching services and an expanding range of e-commerce applications. Its Internet trade portal provides a cyber marketplace for comprehensive trade information, e-commerce facilities and other value-added services, most of which are available free of charge. The portal has been significantly enhanced with the launch of a multimedia broadcast platform to provide timely market information in concise audio and video clips, as well as portal interfaces for non-English speaking overseas buyers.
Access by overseas users to the TDC's databank of 100 000 local companies was further liberalised during the year, enabling users to obtain information free of charge. The TDC's global databank stood at about 600 000 business contacts.
In addition, the TDC produced more than 100 research publications; maintained an on-line product catalogue and published 15 trade magazines and numerous supplements; handled over one million trade enquiries; organised some 140 business training seminars and workshops for SMEs; and published the SME News Flash which disseminates important trade news by e-mail. A Customer Service line and a Customer Service Centre, in the HKCEC, were introduced to provide personalised one-stop service.
During the year, the TDC continued to attract international traders to Hong Kong's trade platform and promote a good image of Hong Kong. It did this through high-level business seminars in the world's business capitals, roadshows, speaking engagements at international events, global advertising campaigns in the world's top business and trade publications, and its business publication Hong Kong Trader, distributed to senior corporate executives and decision-makers around the world and now available on-line.
The TDC's global networking and advocacy for Hong Kong is also pursued with high-level bilateral business committees for the United States, the European Union and Japan and 28 Hong Kong Business Associations around the world. The associations' global federation, which TDC helped to create, is a networking platform connecting 7 700 SMEs with close links to Hong Kong. It facilitates greater co- operation and business linkages among member associations and strengthens support for Hong Kong in world markets.
Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation
The Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) was created by statute in 1966 to provide insurance protection for Hong Kong exporters against non- payment risks arising from commercial and political events. Its capital is wholly owned by the Government, which also guarantees its maximum contingent liability, currently standing at $12.5 billion.
119
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.