Expansion of International Presence in Hong Kong

More major international corporations have established or expanded their business activities in Hong Kong in the last three months to capitalize on its strategic location, business-friendly environment and its excellent business networks with China.

Messe Frankfurt, Germany’s biggest trade fair and exhibition organiser and owner of the world’s third biggest exhibition centre, is expanding the operations of its regional headquarters in Hong Kong. The step is in response to increasing exhibition activities and strong market potential in Hong Kong and the Mainland.

The company has also arranged for the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries to hold its annual garment, accessories and machinery sourcing exhibition, “Source It”, in Hong Kong for 5 years, beginning in 2004. “There is nowhere better located or with better knowledge of the international textile and garment business,” said Ms Katy Lam, Director of Trade Fairs for Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

The University of Ulster (UU), the largest university in Ireland, has opened a regional office in Hong Kong. The move reaffirms Hong Kong’s importance as a strategic location for overseas higher education institutions to expand into the Asia Pacific, and reinforces the city as a knowledge-based economy.

“Our new office in Hong Kong will enable the University to consolidate and expand our international activities. It will also serve as a base for further developments in the region,” said UU’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerry McKenna.

French Connection, a UK-based fashion retailer, has opened its first flagship store in Hong Kong. The company has plans to open 3 to 4 more stores in Hong Kong within the next 2 years, and is exploring opportunities on the Mainland.

“Hong Kong and Greater China are our key future markets and we are particularly impressed by the energy and sense of fashion here in Hong Kong,” said Chairman and Chief Executive of French Connection Group, Mr Stephen Marks.

Royal Ten Cate, a leading international supplier of industrial products based in the Netherlands, is establishing its Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong. The move underscores Hong Kong’s position as a regional hub for companies serving China and the rest of the region.

The company upgraded its representative office to a regional HQ “because of Hong Kong’s very good geographical location, excellent physical and financial infrastructure, common law legal system and outstanding human capital,” said the Chairman of Royal Ten Cate, Mr Loek de Vries.

Japanese die-cast manufacturer, Hong Kong Yamazaki Diecast, has recently opened its regional headquarters in Hong Kong to serve as the sales and distribution arm for the company, supporting and managing its two factories in Huizhou and Qingdao in Mainland China.

“We decided to choose Hong Kong as the location to set up an office to oversee our China production. With its proximity to the Mainland, we will be able to have easy access to real-time information from China, which is crucial to our daily operation. In addition, the familiarity with business practices in China will be beneficial to our business development,” said the company’s Managing Director, Mr Hidetomo Yamazaki.

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