Press Release - May 26, 2006
Over 300 business people from across Canada will be attending a major business forum in Winnipeg early next week to gain an insight of the rapidly growing China market, and to devise their own win-win strategy to sell their products, technology and know-how to mainland China without facing the otherwise preventable business risks.

Following last year's success in its first national forum in Ottawa, the eight sections of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, are joining hands to present the association�s second national business forum this year in the leading city of Canada�s Prairie provinces.

The 2006 HKCBA National Canada-Hong Kong Business Forum, to be held next Monday and Tuesday at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, will present key elements that Canadian businesses need to know in exploring the rapidly growing markets in China, including using Hong Kong as a platform to other parts of China and South East Asia. In addition, the forum will also showcase Western Canada�s best capabilities to serve that market and tell the participants how to work cooperatively with Hong Kong and Chinese companies.

"The forum is organized to encourage particularly the small and medium enterprises to take the initiative to expand their business activities by taking advantage of the exciting opportunities that are available now�. and increasingly in future�. in the rapidly growing China marketplace," said Bassanio So, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (HKETO) in Canada, and Honorary Chair of the business forum. "We�ll provide advice and example as to how they may do this, in confidence and safely, using Hong Kong as their business platform, while Canada is developing its national Asian Pacific strategy."

With the theme "Your Smart Link to China: HONG KONG", the two-day business forum will include panel presentations on various subjects that are of special interest and importance to Canadian companies. They include: "The Mutual Gateways of Hong Kong & Manitoba", "Matching the China Need & the Prairie Capability", and "Challenges & Opportunities in Logistics, Transportation and Business Style". The Hon. Rosann Wowchuk, Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, and the HKETO Director will be officiating at the opening of the forum.

Senior representatives and trade experts from the public and business sectors will share their winning strategies and success stories in fast-tracking into the China market. They will discuss ways to remove some of the potential risks and anxieties that some Canadian business people have.

A luncheon presentation on "Hong Kong �Turning China into Opportunity" will be given by Steve Alexander, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, who will share with the participants his more than 20 years� experience in international business management, strategic market entry planning, cross-cultural communication and overseas expatriate experience in China, Hong Kong and other Asian cities.

The forum's speakers include: David McNamara, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canadian Consulate in Hong Kong; Ian McNabb of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong; Simon Galpin, Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong; Dale Botting, President of Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership; Elizabeth Thomson of ICS Trust (Hong Kong); Paul Deprez of Manitoba Environmental Industries Association/Nordevco; Randy Stoyko of Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives; Philippe Lacamp, Vice President of Cathay Pacific in Canada; Michael Rodyniuk, Senior Vice President of Winnipeg Airports Authority; Mona Ip, Senior Trade Commissioner of Canadian Consulate in Guangzhou, China; and Craig Chapman, Partner of Long Term Asset Management.

A gala dinner -- "A Night in Hong Kong � Discover the Spirit" -- will be held after the discussion sessions on Monday. Norm Lo, Vice President (Asia-Pacific ) of Research in Motion will deliver a keynote speech on "A Canada-Hong Kong Success Story" at the dinner.

To mark the occasion, the HKETO, the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural & Community Centre, and the Winnipeg Public Library & Winnipeg Library Foundation will jointly present 'The Heritage of Hong Kong" display at the Millennium Library from May 30 to June 19. An opening ceremony will be held next Tuesday at the library at 4:30 p.m.

The two-day 2006 Forum is supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Invest Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Tourism Board.

For further information on the business forum, please visit: www.hkcba.com/canhkforum.

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For more information, please contact: Stephen Siu, Assistant Director (Public Relations) of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office at: (416)456-8623(cell) or email: [email protected] or Elison Chu, Senior Information Officer, at (416)924-5544 or email: [email protected]

Click here to download a Chinese version of this press release in PDF format.