The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, hosted a Mainland Enterprises Partnership Exchange & Interface Session today.

The platform is intended to promote ties connecting both state-owned enterprises (SoEs) and Mainland enterprises in Hong Kong with local providers of professional services geared towards leveraging opportunities arising from the Belt & Road Initiative.

With the series able to resume following the removal of COVID-19 restrictions, today’s session drew more than 170 participants from both Mainland and Hong Kong entities, with representatives spanning investment and financing, green finance, insurance, architectural and engineering design, accounting, legal and consultancy services, and more.

More than 80 Hong Kong entities attended, with more than 140 one-on-one business matching sessions being facilitated with representatives from 13 SoEs or Mainland enterprises.

Speaking at the opening session, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau stressed that SoEs are an important force in driving the initiative, having undertaken more than 3,000 Belt & Road projects so far.

He pointed out that Hong Kong’s diversified and comprehensive professional services sector demonstrates the unique advantages the city enjoys under “one country, two systems”, making it the premier professional services platform for SoEs and Mainland enterprises in taking forward Belt & Road projects.

Mr Yau also highlighted the bureau’s efforts in assisting different sectors in Hong Kong to partner with Mainland enterprises in going global together.

Noting that SoEs plan to take on more “small and beautiful” projects which are high-standard, sustainable and beneficial to people’s livelihoods, Mr Yau indicated that such projects are a good fit with Hong Kong’s professional services ecosystem, in which small and medium-sized enterprises are in the majority.

He said he believed Hong Kong’s professional services sector will henceforth be presented with more opportunities to participate in the initiative.

Mr Yau also thanked the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council, and other participating parties, for their continued support for Hong Kong's work in taking the initiative forward.

He stated that the commission has been a staunch collaborator with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and has continuously supported SoEs in working with Hong Kong partners to raise quality, cost-effectiveness and resilience.

The Hong Kong SAR Government, he said, will take forward relevant work in full stride, with a view to better integrating Hong Kong into national development while at the same time leveraging the competitive edge enjoyed by the city's professional services sector.