The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and support of HSBC, organised a seminar entitled, “Hong Kong – Your Gateway to China” at its premises recently.
With its aim of consolidating trading ties between Dubai and Hong Kong, the seminar introduced valuable information about Hong Kong products and business services, as well as various HKTDC services, which are geared to helping UAE-based SMEs understand more and learn how to use Hong Kong as the gateway to China, which is one of the biggest markets in the world.
Presided over by Atiq J. Nassib, Senior Director, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber, speakers at the seminar included Stephen Wong, Regional Director, Middle East & Africa, HKTDC, Kim Tran, Head of Trade Sales, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, and Mohmaed Aref Chara, General Manager, Electric Avenue Trading Co. L.L.C, and was attended by a large number of representatives of a cross-section of Dubai companies.
Atiq J. Nassib, Senior Director, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber pointed out that “As a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong could provide the key to doing business there as the country’s business ethics and modern infrastructure make it an ideal platform for Dubai companies to expand into China, especially in the Pearl River Delta region, which is located on the north of Hong Kong and is China’s largest and most productive manufacturing region.
“Dubai’s strategic location and excellent logistics facilities make it the number one re-export destination in the region and a trading hub for many global businesses, therefore, we would like to encourage Dubai and Hong Kong’s business communities to foster stronger relations and seek new partnerships in the long term,” he added.
In his presentation, Stephen Wong highlighted Hong Kong’s advantages as a business centre and trading partner and an entry point for the Chinese mainland market. He gave a detailed account of booming business opportunities for UAE businesses in Hong Kong as well as the facilities offered by HKTDC including subsidised air tickets and hotel stay packages to global buyers attending the trade fairs organised by the Council.
On his part, Kim Tran explained aspects of trade finance and the internationalisation of the Chinese RMB currency while as a successful businessman, Mohamed Aref Chara shared his experiences and discussed the business prospects afforded to local traders by expanding into the region from Hong Kong, which is knows as Asia’s world city.
