HKETO Director and Ottawa Mayor look into stronger business links between Hong Kong and Ottawa

February 22nd, 2007

The Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada), Mr. Bassanio So, today (Thursday) shared ideas with Mayor Larry O’Brien of Ottawa on commercialization of technology and the modernization of mass transit railway system, and how these two issues could help build stronger business ties between the Canadian capital and Asia’s world city, Hong Kong.

A meeting was held in the Mayor’s office with the presence of Mr. Michael Murr, Manager of Economic Development of the City of Ottawa; Mr. Michael Darch, Executive Director of the Ottawa Centre of Research and Innovation; and Mr. Frank Ling, founding president of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Ottawa Section.

Mayor O’Brien, who once sat on the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACST), has a very strong business and technical background. One of the central points of his election campaign platform late last year was a review of Ottawa’s light rail expansion plans.

Other topics discussed included how Hong Kong can help Ottawa tap into the China market in the areas of technology transfer, environmental protection, waste-to-energy production, engineering and innovation.

Picture shows Mr. Bassanio So (right), Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Canada), presenting a souvenir book to Mayor Larry O'Brien (left) of Ottawa after the meeting.

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