Hong Kong next on the agenda

Hong Kong next on the agenda

Hong Kong is next on the agenda of trade and investment minister Andrew Robb.

Robb is set to visit Hong Kong between March 24 and 27, in order to further promote trade, major investment and tourism linkages.

Robb will deliver keynote addresses at the annual Mines and Money conference and the Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference. He will also address the Australian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and Macau (AustCham).

A range of meetings are scheduled with senior business people and investors to explore opportunities for investment in priority areas such as infrastructure and tourism.

Robb said Hong Kong was a significant economic partner for Australia and a major financial hub and the visit was a good opportunity to further leverage the relationship.

“Hong Kong is also an important entrepôt for re-export into mainland China of premium Australian products and services, including wine, agriculture, high-end manufactured items and a wide spread of services for which Australia is globally renowned,” he said.

Robb will also promote the many benefits of Australia’s recently concluded Free Trade Agreement with China, which features unprecedented market access for Australian services.

“Australian services firms are highly visible in Hong Kong and there is huge future potential to use Hong Kong as a launching pad into China and beyond,” he said.

China continues to be the leading market for Australian services exports, worth $7.5 billion in 2013-14. Overall services exports rose more than 7% to $57.4 billion, with services exports to China growing more than 11%.

Hong Kong is also a valued trading partner for Australia in its own right with total two-way trade worth over $8 billion in 2013-2014. The current two-way investment relationship is worth $81 billion with strong scope for future growth.

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