HK can be ASEAN-GBA connector

A local chamber of commerce believes Hong Kong firms can grow their business in Southeast Asia by leveraging the city’s strengths in integrating various industries in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Chief Executive John Lee will visit Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, three members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), at the end of this month, and his delegation on the trip will include Chairman of The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Jonathan Choi.

Mr Choi, whose family has been investing in Vietnam since the 1970s, highlighted the emphasis Vietnam and Cambodia have placed on the new energy industry in recent years. He believes the GBA offers a platform via which Hong Kong firms can help to connect ASEAN markets with the mainland’s rapidly advancing new energy automobile and energy storage sectors, and other related industries.

“Hong Kong is part of the GBA, nine plus two cities, and we are one of the core cities in the GBA,” he said. “Hong Kong’s strengths, we are strong in finance, services and training, while China in the GBA is strong in manufacturing, especially in innovation and technology or new energy business.”

“Therefore we need to work together with them. Because we have good connections with the manufacturers in this sector. We work with them, we get the financing, and then we work with them on how to deal with the local government.”

Mr Choi believes Mr Lee’s high-level visit will be a demonstration of Hong Kong's strong commitment to enhancing co-operation with ASEAN countries, and can also prompt officials to swiftly implement relevant policies.

“It shows that the whole of Hong Kong, all the business community, is going to work together with these three countries.”

He added that the visit will help to strengthen the confidence of entrepreneurs and lead to more contacts between all sides.