A report in the Ottawa Citizen said Canada steel fabricator Canam Group is strengthening its ties with Asia. The company, based in the Beauce town of St. Georges, Quebec, said recently its Technyx division has bought the assets and trademark of InteliBuild Ltd. of Hong Kong. InteliBuild is best known for its consulting services in Asia, China and the Middle East. The new company formed from the acquisition will operate as InteliBuild Technyx Asia, a joint venture in which Canam will hold a majority stake. Canam, a major producer of steel joists and other building products, did not disclose the cost of the acquisition.
Archive for the 'Canadians in Hong Kong' Category
A positive reaction to the wine duty exemption and various other wine industry supportive measures have seen Canada-based Wines to Go Ltd enter Hong Kong’s vibrant wine industry with the opening December 17 of its first retail shop in Hong Kong, located in the Mong Kok East MTR station concourse on the East Rail Line.
Wines to Go Ltd aims to bring a fresh and exciting selection of fine wines from around the world into Hong Kong and the Asia region. The company’s goal is to open up the market to wines other than Bordeaux and to let consumers discover other quality wines at competitive prices in an open and attractive space where wines are featured based on their style and taste profiles.
The company’s first wine shop in Hong Kong is the first such licensed premises to operate inside the MTR station. The wine retailer is endeavouring to present wine in a user-friendly location to capture passing young professionals who have a burgeoning interest in wine. The company plans to further expand its business in Hong Kong by opening several more shops along the MTR lines in the next 12 months.
President of Wines to Go Ltd, Mr Leo Baduria, said, “The trend in wine appreciation in Asia continues to grow and will affect the global wine industry in the coming decades. Our decision to expand Wine to Go Ltd into Hong Kong is the result of the rapid growth and promising prospects of the city’s wine industry. Hong Kong provides the best combination of efficiency, world-class infrastructure and sophisticated culture, the key determinants behind our investment in this city.”
Commenting on the strategic regional role of its Hong Kong operation, Mr Baduria said, “Hong Kong remains the best hub in Asia for the wine market because of its highly efficient systems and zero duty on wine. We will keep Hong Kong as our regional headquarters as we grow, enabling us to manage our business operations in other cities in Asia from our hub in Hong Kong.”
Officiating at the opening ceremony of Wines to Go Ltd’s first retail outlet in Hong Kong, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Charles Ng, warmly welcomed the company’s establishment in Hong Kong. He said, “We are delighted to have a Canadian wine retailer expanding its business into the Hong Kong market. The presence of Wines to Go Ltd not only enriches the portfolio of the wine industry in our city, but also enhances our position as a regional hub for wine-related businesses. Our investment promotion teams stand ready to provide further support and assistance to Wines to Go Ltd in its future business expansion here and regionwide.”
Mr Ng also said that since the exemption of wine duty in early 2008, many wine sector-related companies have set up or expanded their businesses in Hong Kong to provide support in areas such as trading, storage, distribution, auctions, etc. He noted that the new policy has also brought benefits to related economic activities such as tourism, catering and hospitality and exhibitions.
Photo by Robert S. Donovan
Hong Kong-based global consumer goods exporter Li & Fung Limited and the Hudson’s Bay Trading Company announced a global sourcing strategic partnership for Hudson’s Bay Trading Company’s four main retail banners, the Bay, Zellers, Home Outfitters and Lord & Taylor.
According to Jeff Sherman, Chief Executive Officer, Hudson’s Bay Trading Company, the consolidation of the company’s global sourcing requirements and activities into one North American shared services group with a best-in-class partner will accelerate the company’s overall business strategy to integrate and improve operating effectiveness of each of the retail brand merchandising entities.
“The signing of buying agency agreement with Li & Fung complements our shared services strategy to consolidate and align global sourcing needs into one group for all of our banners. By partnering with the world’s leading consumer goods sourcing company, we will be able to leverage Li & Fung’s scale and expertise,” said Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Bruce Rockowitz, President of Li & Fung (Trading) Company, said, “We are delighted to see the execution of this outsourcing deal with one of the oldest companies and one of the leading retail groups in North America. We are very excited about this strategic relationship as the four main retail banners are well-established and we see great potential in them. With our strong network of offices in over 40 economies, we are confident that we will be able to contribute to the long term success of Hudson’s Bay Trading Company in North America.”
The new buying agency arrangement with Li & Fung will go into effect in 2010.
One of the outcomes of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s trip to China and Hong Kong is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to mark the establishment of a bilateral working holiday arrangement to benefit young people of the two places from March 1, 2010.
The Memorandum was signed Saturday, following a meeting between Prime Minister Harper and Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang, at the Government House by Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Mr Stockwell Day, and Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung.
Canada is the sixth country and the first in North America to establish such bilateral arrangement with Hong Kong. The arrangement provides an opportunity for young people to broaden their horizons and to gain first-hand living and working experience while they are travelling.
“It is encouraging that Canada and Hong Kong has entered into this bilateral arrangement,” said Ms Maureen Siu, Director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, the representative of the Hong Kong SAR Government in Canada. “It will further strengthen our long-standing relations and make Canada a popular destination for our youngsters.”
The MOU will allow qualified young people aged 18 to 30 from Canada and Hong Kong to travel and take up employment in each other’s territory for up to one year. There are 200 places available on each side for 2010 under the arrangement. Hong Kong established bilateral working holiday schemes with New Zealand and Australia in 2001, Ireland in 2005, and Germany and Japan in 2009.
So far, more than 9,450 Hong Kong youngsters have benefited from participating in the schemes while about 1,280 young people from New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and Germany have experienced Hong Kong’s cosmopolitan and vibrant way of life.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department or the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong will issue a working holiday visa to a successful applicant from Canada or Hong Kong respectively who meets the following eligibility criteria among others:
- The applicant must be either a Canadian citizen possessing a valid Canadian passport, or a HKSAR passport or British National (Overseas) passport holder ordinarily residing in Hong Kong, who is aged between 18 and 30 and intends primarily to holiday in Canada or Hong Kong for a specified period of not more than one year;
- The applicant must not be accompanied by dependent family members;
- The applicant must possess a departure ticket or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket, and sufficient funds for his/her maintenance during the period of initial stay in Canada or Hong Kong; and
The applicant must hold insurance for medical and health care for the duration of stay.
Details on visa application procedures for Hong Kong applicants can be found via the website of the Consulate General of Canada at www.hongkong.gc.ca.
Canadian applicants may contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department by telephone on 2824 6111 or download the necessary information from the Department’s website www.immd.gov.hk.
Primer Minister Stephen Harper has chalked up some important accomplishments during his mission to China. Chief among them is the announcement that Canada has approved destination status in China. The tourism industry has been seeking this status for many years. Here is the Canadian government’s release and a story from the Niagara region with reaction from the tourism industry.
Canadian beef producers will be pleased that Hong Kong is once again open to their products. Hong Kong represents a sizable market for beef producers as was emphasized in January when the Minister of Agriculture spent some time in Hong Kong.
Also on the Prime Minister’s agenda, an address to the Canada China Business Council where he spoke about investments in clean technology and new Canadian commercial offices,
The Prime Minister emphasized in today’s speech the importance of Canada and China working together on energy and clean technology and working with other G-20 partners to help ensure global economic recovery. He stressed the need to remain committed to sustained economic stimulus, coordinated exit strategies and to fighting protectionism given the role trade plays in creating new opportunities for both countries.
“Pacific nations like Canada and China have much to gain by increased cooperation as the centre of gravity of the world economy swings toward the Pacific,” said the Prime Minister. “Now is the time to enhance and expand our relationship, to build upon our mutual successes, and to use the authority those successes have afforded us to set an example for others in the world.”
Read more about the Prime Minister’s mission.
Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang put it simply in his February 2008 budget address. In announcing the abolition of wine duties in Hong Kong, he said the government wanted to spur an entire industry into action. The results have been impressive, to say the least.
In the year ending March 2009, Hong Kong’s wine imports soared to US$412.5 million. That’s a year-on-year increase of about 80 per cent – thanks to the scrapping of wine duties.
The Financial Secretary continues to spread the good word on wine in his travels this year. He’s eager to drum up business and to let the international market know just how vibrant the wine trade in Hong Kong has become.
“The wine industry predicts the Asia market to boom in the next decade,” Mr Tsang explained to a “Hong Kong – Asia’s Wine & Gourmet Centre” luncheon, held at a vineyard in the historic wine-growing region of Napa Valley, California, earlier this year.
“In the mainland of China alone, wine imports are estimated to reach US$870 million by 2017. This would account for 58 per cent of the projected market for wine in Asia, excluding Japan.
“Hong Kong,” he added, “is well placed to facilitate the growth of the wine market in our region.”
That’s putting it mildly. There has been an impressive growth in opportunities on the ground in Hong Kong, according to wine industry players, as well as a rapid rise in interest in wine among the general public. In short, the city is a getting a taste for the business of wine – and fast.
A report released in April this year by British industry consultants the International Wine and Spirit Record found that wine consumption in Hong Kong is expected to surge by a third, to 4.2 litres per capita by 2012, which would make it the highest in the region.
Urban Winery
That spells opportunity for companies such as 8th Estate. Hong Kong’s first “urban winery,” 8th Estate is situated in an industrial building in Hong Kong’s Ap Lei Chau district. Continue reading ‘Grape Expectations’
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon is midway through a visit to China, having just finished his visit to Beijing. While there he met with both his Chinese Counterpart, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping.
According to a government release, Cannon “noted that Canada wants a frank, friendly and forward-looking relationship with China, and that the upcoming 40th anniversary of bilateral relations offered an excellent opportunity to highlight Sino-Canadian ties.
Minister Yang expressed China’s appreciation for Canada’s assistance and support, and also reiterated China’s invitation to Prime Minister Harper to visit China at a mutually convenient time.”
Read the Government of Canada’s release here. And an article in China View, an online Chinese publication here.
This is the fourth in a series of stories about prominent Canadians in Hong Kong and their reflections on current and potential opportunities between Hong Kong and China, and Canada. So far we’ve learned about the natural affinity between Hong Kong and Canada, and the reason why it is a successful gateway into the Asia Pacific region.
Many sectors offer opportunities for Canadian firms, in Hong Kong as well as mainland China, but perhaps none more exciting as the environmental technology sector.
Bruce Hicks was born in Canada but his career took him to Hong Kong in 1984. Having experience in the telecom industry, Hicks is now Managing Director of TPIZ Resources, an environmental services and investment company. Operating through two joint ventures, the company provides expertise to small and medium sized companies on how to maximize energy efficiency, indoor air quality and water resources among others, in a way that will improve their environmental record while maximizing the financial returns. It also funds and develops large scale energy efficiency projects through Asia.
Hicks says that the green technology sector in China offers outstanding opportunities for Canadian firms who have good technology and extensive experience in the sector. In China, he explains, the sector is fragmented with many small companies yet there is huge domestic demand for techology and services in China.
Ironically, Hicks says that Canada was very helpful on the policy development side about five years ago. China now has well developed policies which have created enormous demands for green technology solutions. Canada was there to help develop the framework, but Canadian firms are nowhere in sight to reap the benefits. Australians have been quick to capitalize on these opportunities by putting good people in China and spending time to develop relationships.
Canada is commonly compared to Australia in Hong Kong with Australians described as more aggressive and with greater staying power.
“Canadians should just get off the stick and go do it,” says Hicks.
In the next story in this series, find out what one Canadian professional hockey player is doing in Hong Kong to introduce inner city kids to Canada’s game.
This is the third in a series of stories about prominent Canadians in Hong Kong and their reflections on current and potential opportunities between Hong Kong and China, and Canada. Parts 1 and 2 discussed some of the reasons for the vast connections between Hong Kong and Canada, history and education.
With the mutual fondness between Hong Kong and Canada as the foundation, Hong Kong provides fertile ground for Canadian business ventures. 
Business owner Bruce Hicks, a resident in Hong Kong since 1984, says the suggestion that Canadian companies use Hong Kong as their gateway into Asia, “makes absolute sense”. Building on the strong affinity between Canada and Hong Kong, Hicks explains that it’s possible to get work done in Hong Kong quickly. The labour force offers a key advantage. Hicks is the managing director of a green technology company called TPIZ Resources but has had experience in other sectors as well. Finding trained workers who speak English is much easier in Hong Kong than in Beijing where there is an intense demand on people with technical skills who speak English.
Hicks also praises the service attitude in Hong Kong explaining that, “there’s still pride in doing a good job in Hong Kong.”
In the environmental sector in particular, Hicks believes there is a great deal of opportunity for Canadian firms. Read more about that in the next story in this series.
Canada’s Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, John Zimmerman, agrees that setting up in Hong Kong can help Canadian firms accelerate the process of breaking into the market in mainland China. “It’s not the only entry into China but it’s an easy one,” says Zimmerman.
Continue reading ‘Canadian Reflections on Hong Kong – the stepping stone to Asia’
This is the second in a series of stories about prominent Canadians in Hong Kong and their reflections on current and potential opportunities between Hong Kong and China, and Canada. Part 1 discussed the reasons for the mutual fondness between Hong Kong and Canada.
The connection between Hong Kong and Canada, for many, begins with a blackboard. Twenty thousand mainland Chinese students are currently studying at Canadian universities. Ten thousand Hong Kong students are studying at Canadian universities and 55% of those are in Ontario, and still more Hong Kong born will venture to Canada as early as high school.
This connection to education is another integral reason for the close link between Hong Kong and Canada, according to Dr. William Yip, a Hong Kong born entrepreneur who himself graduated from Concordia University in 1967.
According to Dr. Yip, a Canadian education is considered the first choice in Hong Kong. The importance of a foreign education is explained in two ways: one, for a population of 7 million people, there are only nine universities in Hong Kong with limited enrolment. Secondly, in Hong Kong, education is considered the key to success, and English education, in particular, is highly valued. Continue reading ‘Canadian reflections on Hong Kong – Education strengthens connections’
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