SCED visits Trade and Industry Department and Invest Hong Kong (with photos)

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, visited the Trade and Industry Department (TID) and Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) to get updates on their work in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and attracting foreign direct investment respectively.
      
     Accompanied by the Acting Director-General of Trade and Industry, Mr Francis Ho, Mr Yau visited the TID's Integrated Customer Service Centre (ICSC) today (July 8). The ICSC commenced operation in May this year, providing one-stop enquiry, licensing and registration services. He then visited the Support and Consultation Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises and was briefed on the department's initiatives in supporting SMEs, in particular the online support services during the pandemic.
      
     Mr Yau also met with the TID's directorate staff to learn about the department's major initiatives in facilitating the development of trade and industry, enhancing relations with trading partners and supporting SMEs, including various funding schemes such as the Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales and the SME Export Marketing Fund.
      
     Noting that SMEs are the backbone of Hong Kong's economy, Mr Yau said it is crucial to foster a favourable business environment and assist enterprises in upgrading and restructuring operations and promoting sales. He encouraged TID colleagues to stay committed to supporting SMEs in enhancing their overall competitiveness and assisting the industry in planning business strategies in the Mainland and overseas to open up bigger markets.
      
     Mr Yau also visited InvestHK earlier and was briefed by the Director-General of Investment Promotion, Mr Stephen Phillips, on the latest work in attracting foreign direct investment and supporting overseas and Mainland companies to set up or expand in Hong Kong.
      
     InvestHK will step up its efforts in promoting Hong Kong's business environment and opportunities overseas to showcase the up-to-date and real situation of Hong Kong, with a view to attracting more foreign investment and assisting overseas companies in making good use of Hong Kong as a major platform connecting the Mainland.
      
     Mr Yau said it is vital to tell a good Hong Kong story to the international business community on Hong Kong's unique advantages under the full support of the Central Government and "one country, two systems", as well as the abundant opportunities brought about by the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Ends/Friday, July 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:39

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