Americas Committee 

High-level Delegation from Uruguay Visits Chamber

Fernando Mattos, Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, of the Government of Uruguay, led a high-level delegation to the Chamber on 8 May, where they were welcomed by Chamber CEO George Leung, Americas Committee Chairman Evaristo Treviño Berlanga, and members.

Minister Mattos explained that Uruguay was eager to expand business in Asia, and is confident that with the country’s clean environment, quality produce, especially its beef which is 100% traceable from farm to plate, discerning restaurants will appreciate its products. Fernando Lugris, Ambassador of Uruguay in China, accompanied the delegation which will be visiting key cities in the Mainland as part of the trip.  

Asia & Africa Committee 

Getting into the Halal Market

Nik Hakimi Mustaqim, MIHAS Project Manager, accompanied by Yazrin Syakhairi Mahlan, Malaysian Trade Commissioner of the Trade Section of the Consulate General of Malaysia in Hong Kong, and his colleague Wong Yuen Zhan, called on the Chamber on 11 May to discuss the upcoming MIHAS, the world’s largest halal trade exhibition. Dewan Saiful Alam, Vice Chairman of the Chamber’s Asia & Africa Committee, and Malcolm Ainsworth, Director of PR & Programs, welcomed the visitors.

This year, MIHAS will take place in Kuala Lumpur from 12-15 September, with over 30,000 visitors from 90 countries expected to attend. Apart from halal F&B or consumables, the exhibition will showcase other segments along the supply chain including personal care products, pharmaceuticals and health supplements, logistics services, modest fashion. Visit www.mihas.com.my for more details.

Exploring Opportunities in Kenya

A delegation from the Republic of Kenya Embassy in Beijing, led by Ambassador Edwin Afande, Charge D’Affaires, visited Asia and Africa Committee Chairman Jonathan Lamport and PR & Programs Director Malcolm Ainsworth on 17 May to discuss opportunities for cooperation. 

Ambassador Afande said Kenya had implemented a bottom-up economic transformation plan in 2022 to attract foreign investment, create jobs, and inject innovation into high-tech agriculture and manufacturing. As East Africa’s largest economy and one of the last frontiers for rapid economic growth, there were many opportunities for investment across sectors such as in transport and infrastructure, tourism and hospitality, healthcare and life sciences, as well as smart city and ICT.

Kenya was an ideal destination for investors, he said, for several reasons. Kenya is politically and economically stable and away from geopolitical and territorial conflicts. The country possesses a very advanced mobile technology infrastructure and is a global hotbed for fintech innovation. Over 80% of the country’s electricity is generated from green sources such as geothermal, hydro and wind. In addition, investors can benefit from the country’s young, educated and tech-savvy workforce as over two-thirds of the population is under 30.

Tam Wing-kun, Kenya’s Honorary Consul General in Hong Kong, said that apart from being renowned for its roses, carnations, coffee and tea, the country’s high-quality products, such as seafood and pork, also have high potential. Direct flights to Nairobi are expected to resume later in the year after the long Covid hiatus, and will bring business and tourism back.

Europe Committee  

Enhancing Hong Kong-Poland Connections

Polish Ambassador to China Wojciech Zajączkowski, together with Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong, Aleksander Dańda, visited the Chamber on 28 April, where they were welcomed by CEO George Leung, Europe Committee Chairman Davide De Rosa and Vice Chairman Alfonso Ballesteros. Both sides shared their views on a wide range of topics, from Hong Kong’s position as a gateway to the Greater Bay Area, to post-pandemic economic development, and Polish communities around the region. De Rosa and Ballesteros expressed optimism for growing cooperation, and were confident that Hong Kong would continue to be a compelling destination for Polish companies looking to establish a regional foothold.

Realities of Trade and Investment with the U.K.

Chris Woodward, Director General, TID for Business & Trade, and Jonathan Marshall, Consul, Head of Economic Section, at the British Consulate General Hong Kong, provided a fascinating update on the business environment in the U.K. at the Europe Committee’s talk on 3 May. Despite the economic challenges around the world, FDI into the U.K. grew in 2022, while its global exports jumped 24%, and total trade with Hong Kong registering a very healthy 11%. It will be interesting to see how this growth develops as the uncertainties surrounding its departure from the EU dissipate and the global economy picks up steam.