Hong Kong Continues to Attract International Business 

Another 11 major international corporations have set up or expanded their business activities in Hong Kong to show their confidence in Hong Kong’s business strengths.

Kingdee International Software Group Co Ltd, China’s top enterprise software applications provider, is expanding its Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. The Shenzhen-based firm plans to use Hong Kong as its springboard for a major push into the global enterprise software arena.

“Hong Kong is one of the busiest and most successful cities in the world and has a rich supply of experienced international talent,” said Mr Toa Charm, General Manager of Kingdee Asia Pacific. 

The first Asian flagship store of leading Belgian ladies fashion brand SCAPA opened March 9 in Hong Kong. It is operated by Look (HK) Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan’s Look Inc.

The President of Look Inc., Mr Shigeharu Tao, said that Hong Kong’s “sophistication in retail, distribution and management is the main attraction for us to set up a subsidiary.” The company plans to open 3 more SCAPA shops in Hong Kong during the next 2 years.

The US-based NanoMuscle Inc., a leader in the next generation of small motors used in the children’s toy industry, has established its regional headquarters in Hong Kong. The new headquarters acts as a strategic base for the company’s expansion in Asia, and as a gateway to the Mainland market.

CEO and co-founder of NanoMuscle Inc., Mr Rod MacGregor, said, “We look to Hong Kong to provide us with world-class talent and expertise to help manage our explosive growth.” NanoMuscle expects to further build demand for its silent, affordable motors by focusing on the US$8.1 billion Hong Kong toy market. 

Japan’s top technology solutions provider, ITX E-Globaledge Corporation, has chosen Hong Kong as the location for its regional office. The new operation will oversee business operations in China.

Mr Tomoaki Yokoyama, the President and COO of ITX E-Globaledge Hong Kong and China Limited, cited Hong Kong’s excellent business environment, talented workforce and geographic location as the reasons for its being selected as the regional headquarters. “These unique offerings of Hong Kong cannot be matched by other Asian markets,” he said. 

Belgium-based telecom company, Topcom, has established its regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Topcom is a leading manufacturer of data and telecommunications products, with a focus on the end-consumer market. 

The CEO of Topcom, Mr Stan Lowette, said “The Greater Pearl River Delta offers an attractive location. It serves as the manufacturing centre for telecommunications and also offers an excellent logistics, business and financial environment in Hong Kong. The pool of local talent allows us to establish seamless communication with our European headquarters.”

MedWaves, Inc., A San Diego-based biomedical company, is expanding its operations in Hong Kong through MedWaves Hong Kong Limited. The new company will develop and commercialise MedWaves, Inc’s proprietary microwave technology throughout Asia from this new base.

The President of MedWaves, Inc, Dr George Leung, said, “The quality of the people, the resources and the location were the primary factors that led us to select Hong Kong to be our base.” He pointed to Hong Kong’s wealth of talented technical and marketing professionals and its central location with a strong financial and manufacturing infrastructure.

Swiss-based watchmaker Ulysse Nardin, producer of some of the world’s most complex timepieces, opened its first Asia flagship store in Hong Kong in January, 2004. 

Managing Director of Ulysse Nardin SA, Mr Marc Rogivue, said the company chose Hong Kong for several reasons, including its central location, stable infrastructure, inviting economy and low bureaucracy. He added that, “since Hong Kong serves as the gateway to Mainland China, this offers us an excellent and strategic position for penetrating the Mainland market.”

The US-based OppenheimerFunds Inc, one of the world’s largest asset management companies, is establishing its first overseas office in Hong Kong. From its new regional base, the company will develop business in Hong Kong and other markets in the Asia Pacific region.

Japan’s largest education company, Benesse Corporation, has opened a regional office in Hong Kong to develop, source and deliver education toys, tools and supplements to Benesse in Japan. The office will also act as a base for collecting information and exploring business opportunities in the Mainland and other parts of Asia.

The Benesse Corporation’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr Masayoshi Morimoto, described Hong Kong as a natural choice. “With Hong Kong’s world-class infrastructure and location in the centre of Asia, we will be able to grow in the region and react to the market and opportunities with flexibility.”

Hong Kong is the new regional headquarters location for the New Zealand-invested anti-spam and security service provider, MailProve Limited. The Hong Kong base will oversee various strategic development, corporate expansion, sales and marketing and administrative functions.

The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jeffrey Vong, said that the selection of Hong Kong was based on “its excellent business environment, which offers great opportunities for IT companies like ours. We believe that Hong Kong, with well-established IT and telecommunications infrastructure in place, allows us to stay close to the latest developments in the industry.”

The Chinese high-tech company, NUCTECH Company Limited, has opened its first regional office outside the Mainland in Hong Kong. Originally established by Tsinghua University in Beijing, NUCTECH is one of the world’s largest suppliers of container inspection systems. 

The Managing Director of NUCTECH Hong Kong, Mr Li Zhijun, said that the company “carry out its responsibilities of managing the overseas business and investment through Hong Kong’s advantages in finance, trade, transportation and technology areas. Relying on the talented people here, NUCTECH HK will gradually fulfill its functions of integrating the material supply chains and searching for new co-operation opportunities.”


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