Chamber Chairman Agnes Chan and CEO Patrick Yeung led a delegation to the 2nd Zhejiang-Hong Kong Modern Professional Services Cooperation Conference in Ningbo on 25-26 July, a landmark event that brought together over 500 political and business leaders, industry experts and innovators.
Held under the theme “Pursuing Integrated Development through Innovation and Combining Efforts to Promote Modernization,” the focus was on shaping the future of high-quality development under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan.
Zhejiang and Hong Kong have long maintained strong business ties. Trade soared to US$8.82 billion last year, representing a robust growth of 10.9%. Currently, Hong Kong boasts investments in over 32,000 enterprises across Zhejiang, while 130 companies from Zhejiang are listed in Hong Kong.
Ahead of the main event, the delegation engaged in four thematic tours for insights into Ningbo’s development landscape. The “Tracing the Legacy of Ningbo Bang” cultural tour offered a deep dive into the entrepreneurial spirit and rich cultural heritage of Ningbo’s merchants. Another was the “Technology and Innovation in Ningbo” tour, which showcased cutting-edge innovation and technology platforms pushing the boundaries of development. “Oriental Port” provided a glimpse into the city’s world-class port operations and the robust support service systems that power them. Lastly, “Investing in Ningbo” explored Zhejiang’s favourable investment climate and industrial synergies, uncovering opportunities for collaboration.
Speaking at the plenary session during the conference at Ningbo International Conference Center on 26 July, Chan highlighted Zhejiang and Hong Kong’s complementary strengths in professional services and industrial integration, which are essential for modernization. Chan also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Chamber with the Zhejiang Young Entrepreneurs Association, which will deepen exchanges and collaboration, paving the way for growth among the next generation of business leaders.
At the “Invest in Zhejiang” business-matching session co-hosted by the Chamber, Brandon Yu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NWS (Guangdong) Investment Company, outlined the promising prospects of industrial cooperation.
The roundtable discussion that followed delved into three critical themes: the integrated development of Hong Kong’s modern professional services alongside Zhejiang’s high-end manufacturing sectors; Hong Kong’s role within Zhejiang’s innovation ecosystem and the potential to share talent, technology and market advantages; and how leveraging Hong Kong’s service industry expertise can drive the transformation and upgrading of Zhejiang’s service sector.
Additionally, Law Yee Ping, Managing Director of Hong Kong Innovation Services Limited, explored pathways for services to empower manufacturing upgrades, while Wiley Pun, Partner of Grant Thornton Hong Kong Ltd, shared international practices and effective transformation strategies.