2021 Policy Address Supplement (Related Extract)

Chapter V

Unlimited Business Opportunities

Hong Kong has the strong backing of the Motherland and the staunch support of the Central Government: capitalising on our strengths and enhancing our role in the Nation’s 14th Five‑Year Plan, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area and the dual circulation economic strategy of the Mainland, Hong Kong enjoys unlimited business opportunities. The Government has endeavoured and will continue to seize those abundant opportunities by introducing policy measures, providing funding support, nurturing talents, enhancing international networks and creating closer partnership with the Central and Provincial authorities.

Achievements

Belt and Road Initiative

Signed the “Arrangement between the National Development and Reform Commission and the Government of the HKSAR for Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative” in December 2017 and set up the Joint Conference mechanism in 2018. Launched the Belt and Road Joint Conference Policy Exchange and Capacity Building Programme in 2019.
Established the Mainland and Hong Kong Belt and Road Task Group in 2018 to co-ordinate trade and economic co-operation by the HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce.
Co-organised the annual Belt and Road Summit with the HKTDC. The sixth Summit in 2021 attracted over 6 000 registrants from over 80 countries and regions. Arranged more than 770 one-on-one business matching sessions.
Established exchange and collaboration platforms for promoting Belt and Road (B&R) participation of Hong Kong enterprises and professional services sector, including the Mainland Enterprises Partnership Exchange and Interface Programme in May 2021, and carried out a number of business and professional missions overseas.
Enhanced the HKTDC’s B&R Portal in July 2019 and introduced the SME Transformation Sandbox in April 2020.
Secured the support of the Ministry of Commerce in encouraging Hong Kong enterprises to utilise the Mainland’s overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones (ETCZs) in business development. Two online exchange sessions were held in 2021 to further Hong Kong’s business understanding of the five ETCZs in Southeast Asia.
Signed MoU on enhancing exchanges and co-operation in promoting high-quality development of ETCZs with the Ministry of Commerce in September 2021.

New Initiatives

Enhancing Hong Kong’s Position as an International Trade Centre

Make preparation for the resumption of overseas visits to open up B&R opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises and professional services when circumstances permit.