Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Toronto (HKETO) co-organized a roundtable discussion together with the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) in Canada on March 27 on opportunities for Canadian companies to expand into Asia through Hong Kong.

Entitled “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong”, the event brought together Canadian business leaders, policymakers and trade experts to explore the vast opportunities Hong Kong offers for overseas business to tap into Asian markets.

The Acting Director of the HKETO, Gavin Yeung, gave an opening remark at the event. He highlighted Hong Kong’s economic strength as one of the most open and competitive economies in the world. He said, “The Global Financial Centres Index recently reaffirmed Hong Kong’s standing as the third top financial center globally and first in the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the International Monetary Fund recognized our robust financial system and institutional strength, underscoring our stability amid global uncertainties.”

He also shared about Hong Kong’s unique role in the region. “With 120 operating airlines, businesses in Hong Kong can reach all of Asia’s key markets within four hours, and half of the world’s population within five hours,” he said. “Our strong economic ties with Mainland China as well as the ASEAN region, and our unique role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area further solidify Hong Kong’s position as a vital hub for trade and investment.”

The event also featured insights from Frank Yam, Director of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; Christopher Chen, Head of Business and Talent Attraction at InvestHK in Canada; and Andrew Yui, Director for Canada at the HKTDC. They discussed Hong Kong’s unique value proposition for Canadian businesses, including market diversification, investment opportunities and trade expansion. Participants also had the opportunity to exchange views on trade strategies and business expansion at the Q&A session.