Source: China Daily    Published: 2015-12-8

Gregory So Kam-leung (third from right, front row), secretary for commerce and economic development, and Vincent Lo Hong-shui (center), chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, exchange toasts to mark the launch of a Hong Kong-oriented Belt and Road Initiative website at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday. Parker Zheng / China Daily

Hong Kong`s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should actively look for trading opportunities with countries involved in the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, said Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Deputy Executive Director Raymond Yip.

Thanks to the central government`s strategic project, there`ll be plenty of business opportunities for SAR companies, including financial institutions and infrastructure firms, Yip told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

He pointed out that financial and infrastructure projects might be more suitable for bigger firms.

Hong Kong`s total imports and exports value had exceeded $1 trillion last year, noted Yip, adding there are many emerging economies that are related to the Belt and Road, especially the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economies, which are very attractive to Hong Kong SMEs.

"Looking for trading businesses in those countries (and regions) is something that local SMEs can start doing immediately," he said.

Next year, the HKTDC will organize trips to several countries related to the Belt and Road for private mainland enterprises and Hong Kong SMEs to help them promote their services and products. It will also organize a trade fair in New Delhi, India, and a road show in Warsaw, Poland.

Hopefully, mainland and Hong Kong companies can find business to start with there, Yip said.

The council has just released the results of a survey covering more than 200 private mainland enterprises, with 99 percent of the respondents saying they are very bullish about the Belt and Road initiative. About 30 percent of them said they planned to invest in the countries concerned.

What encouraged Hong Kong companies the most, Yip said, is that Chinese firms intend to seek professional services beyond the mainland, and the SAR will be their first choice.

He urged local professional organizations to actively look for such opportunities to help mainland companies "go overseas".

The most important thing for local SMEs when looking for business opportunities in countries and regions related to the Belt and Road is to get a better understanding of these markets. In this respect, the HKTDC launched an online information portal of the Belt and Road Initiative on Monday, offering detailed information on all the 65 countries involved in the project.

The council will also launch a database soon with information on all companies that can offer business opportunities related to the Belt and Road. It will help local SMEs to get advisory services from professional organizations when they consider doing business in the Belt and Road nations, Yip said.