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Shanghai and Hong Kong targeted by ME business delegation

More than 120 companies in Shanghai and Hong Kong held meetings with around 25 Maltese companies which were visiting the two cities whilst partaking in a business delegation organised by Malta Enterprise. 

The delegation, comprising Maltese companies involved in beverage, engineering, alternative energy, travel and financial services, advisory and construction, was supported by HSBC.

In Shanghai, more than 65 Chinese companies participated in the business forum which sought to provide more details about the advantages that Malta offers to Chinese companies wishing to use the country as a gateway to enter the nearby European and North African markets, whilst enjoying the benefits of operating in Malta’s business-friendly environment.

The Chinese companies took particular interest in the testimonial given by the President of the Shanghai International Investment Association Linsheng Huang, who spoke about his positive experience on doing business with Malta and highlighted the opportunities that exist for Chinese companies to look to Malta as an investment location.

Presentations were delivered by Malta Enterprise’s Chief Officer for Trade, Investment and Enterprise Support Joe Schembri, HSBC Bank Malta’s Head of Commercial Banking Michel Cordina, as well as the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry’s representative Anton Borg.

These were then joined by the Head of HSBC China Outbound Li Zhen and FinanceMalta’s Bruno L’Ecuyer for a panel discussion, during which participants also had the opportunity to ask for further information and clarify any queries.

The business forum was followed by a series of one-to-one meetings which enabled companies from Malta and China to establish new contacts and business leads with a view towards reaching some form of business agreement.

A similar programme was followed in Hong Kong earlier this week, where a business seminar and a series of one-to-one meetings were also organised with the support of HSBC. The Hon. Consul of Malta to Hong Kong Vivien Chou Chen opened the seminar, which was attended by around 50 companies from Hong Kong.

HSBC Hong Kong Director International Corporate Paul Edgar was the keynote speaker during the panel discussion in Hong Kong. Mr Schembri, Mr Cordina and Mr Borg - who again delivered presentations on Malta’s business environment and the benefits it offers to Chinese companies – as well as Mr L’Ecuyer also took part in the panel discussion.

In both Shanghai and Hong Kong, Malta Enterprise representatives also held a number of individual meetings with Chinese companies that were interested to consider Malta as an investment location, while the Maltese companies were holding their own meetings.

The business delegation was following up on similar initiatives undertaken in the past years – with Malta Enterprise leading business delegations to Shanghai and Beijing in 2010 and to Hong Kong and Guangzhou in 2011 – in recognition of the exponential growth the Chinese market has registered in the past years.