Admin & Civic Affairs

CE hails Jakarta deal

(September 16, 2015)

Chief Executive CY Leung met Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta today.
 
He thanked the Indonesian government for allowing the establishment of a Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in the Indonesian capital.
 
It will become the 12th Economic & Trade Office opened by Hong Kong in a foreign country.
 
"The establishment of the Jakarta ETO will help identify business opportunities in Indonesia for Hong Kong investors, and enhance our bilateral trade and economic relations with the region," he added.
 
"As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat is located in Jakarta, it will greatly facilitate the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s follow-up work on the Hong Kong-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement."
 
He also noted ASEAN is Hong Kong's second largest trading partner. The total value of Hong Kong's merchandise trade with ASEAN exceeded $825 billion last year, and that with Indonesia alone exceeded $40 billion.
 
"ASEAN countries including Indonesia are major economies along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road of the 'Belt & Road' initiative. The new ETO in Jakarta will further enhance our 'super-connector' role to bridge trade and investment flow between China and ASEAN, and underline the part Hong Kong can play in the 'Belt & Road' initiative.
 
"The economic and cultural ties between Indonesia and Hong Kong would also be brought to a new height."
 
Mr Leung said 10% of the total trade between the Mainland and ASEAN is routed through Hong Kong.
 
The office is expected to open next year.