Top job: The International Direct Investment Group's Samuel Passow presents the Award for the Best Overall Managed Investment Promotion Agency in the Asia-Pacific region to InvestHK's Mike Rowse.

InvestHK has been chosen the best overall managed investment promotion agency in the Asia-Pacific region by Strategic Direct Investor magazine.

InvestHK's Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse accepted the award from the International Direct Investment Group's Samuel Passow today.

Mr Rowse said his team accepts the award as encouragement to work even harder to promote Hong Kong's advantages to international investors and provide them with quality services to help their investment decisions.

Praising InvestHK's achievements, Mr Passow said it has demonstrated the way to get to the top is by adopting a focused strategy.

"InvestHK restructured its operations along specific industry lines, and concentrated on promoting clusters of excellence, be it in financial services, telecommunications or biotechnology," Mr Passow said.

"Much of this has to do with the fact that Hong Kong is still the primary gateway to China. Hong Kong is the 10th largest market in the world for foreign direct investment, and the fourth largest market in the APEC region."

Mr Passow said Hong Kong continues to be the leading choice for foreign firms setting up a regional office in Asia.

In the magazine's inaugural Asia Pacific IPA Awards 2003, InvestHK won Best Overall Managed IPA in the Asia-Pacific region, Best North Asia IPA, Best IPA in Creating Partnerships and Best IPA in Attracting Financial Services Investment.

The agency was runner-up for the Best Marketing Campaign, Best Targeted Strategy and Best Client Service Provision, while Mr Rowse was runner-up in the CEO Lifetime Achievement category.