Apr-May 2023 Dear Reader,
Since the reopening of the border in February, business travel and tourism between Hong Kong and Mainland China have been steadily picking up again. While initial challenges regarding the visa application process have been largely resolved, some roadblocks remain on the way to a truly seamless cross-border experience; first and foremost, the restricted access to mobile payment services for visitors travelling into the Greater Bay Area from Hong Kong or overseas.
In this issue, we look at some of the developments and activities in the GBA in recent weeks, which have been all about reconnecting and regaining momentum. Other topics include application potentials of AR technology in e-commerce as well as an update on the Hong Kong labour market.
As always, we thank you for your continuous support and look forward to receiving your feedback.
Enjoy the read and stay connected!
Your GIC/GCC Team |
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Reconnecting with the Greater Bay Area |
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Nearly three months after the full reopening of the border on 6 February, the Greater Bay Area is becoming an increasingly popular destination again for businesspeople and tourists from Hong Kong – and vice versa. In the month of February, the Hong Kong Tourism Board recorded a total of 1.46 million visitor arrivals, including 1.11 million visitors from Mainland China as well as some 350,000 international tourists. The returning momentum has not only been a positive signal for the local retail and hospitality sectors, but also for the international business community at large, as corporate leaders have been busy reconnecting with their colleagues, suppliers, and partners across the border. |
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| A lot has happened since our last edition! In our April update, Hannes Farlock and Johannes Hack talk about the latest developments and activities in Hong Kong and the surrounding Greater Bay Area and give an outlook on some exciting dates in Germany in the coming weeks. We hope you enjoy watching and, as always, look forward to your questions and suggestions for the next edition. |
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| The rise of e-commerce and digital marketing has given consumers more control over what they buy and how they buy it than arguably ever before. The global e-commerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.7% until 2027. With such promising growth predictions, many retailers and brands are looking for innovative ways to boost their online sales using augmented reality (AR). |
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| More than 90% of Hong Kong’s economic output is generated in the service industries. For instance, the trading and logistics industry accounts for around 20% of the total GDP. As the economy continues to recover, sectors such as logistics, education, and healthcare in particular are facing a shortage of skilled workers. Read more in the latest labour market update from our partner Germany Trade & Invest (German language). |
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| 12 May 2023 | Berlin | Language: German Join us for a panel discussion and networking with InvestHK as we explore the role of Hong Kong as a springboard for German startups in the Chinese and Asian markets, various funding options, as well as cross-border synergy effects and growth opportunities in the Greater Bay Area! |
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| 16 May 2023 | Frankfurt | Language: German
Join us for an exclusive roundtable discussion together with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as we discuss the potentials of Hong Kong as a hub for trading, logistics and finance for German businesses in Asia. |
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| Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. |
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Career Hackers is a brand created by Speakmanity Ltd. that aims to democratise career mobility and opportunities through scalable virtual career simulations. Since 2021, Career Hackers have pre-skilled more than 100,000 students from 150+ universities worldwide. |
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ExecMC2 supports executive managers to fulfil their goals by providing mentoring, coaching, and consulting services. Other services include: board directorships and mandates; interim management; business development; strategic marketing; market research; and leadership development. |
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Horizon Technology Recruitment specialises in permanent and fixed-term contract recruitment across the IT, telecommunications, financial services, crypto and related industries. The company has worked with some of the world’s most prestigious businesses across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. |
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Hudora is a German company that specialises in the design and manufacturing of sports and leisure equipment. The company was founded in 1919 and has since become a well-known brand in the industry, particularly in Europe. |
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Impala Services helps retail brands go to market faster and boost sales of existing products by communicating what a product can do, how it works, and why it is the best choice for their target audience. |
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novomind AG is a German software developer of intelligent commerce and customer service solutions. The company was founded more than 20 years ago and has become one of the technology leaders in Europe. |
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On the Road Experiences specialises in self-driving holidays and bespoke automotive events. The company offers journeys in Europe, Japan and Asia with a distinct orientation to serve clients with curiosity for back roads and hidden gems. |
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Since 1987, Primasia has been dedicated to helping companies from all over the world to establish operations in Hong Kong, China and other on- and offshore jurisdictions. |
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New Primary Corporate Representatives - BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters Ltd. – Mr. Agus Ciputra, Senior Vice President Care Chemicals Asia Pacific
- Eurogroup Far East Ltd. – Mr. Michel Solioz, Managing Director
- Rhenus Logistics Hong Kong Ltd. – Mr. Stefan Jost, Strategic Account Manager
Find all 2022-23 representative changes at a glance here. |
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Is Your Profile Up to Date?
Our online Member Directory is your access point to relevant information and contacts within the GCC network – anytime from anywhere. To maintain a reliable source for new connections and business opportunities, it’s essential that your company profile is kept up to date.
Learn how to update your profile here.
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...Hong Kong is one of the world’s most biodiverse cities? |
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Hong Kong is notorious for its densely built-up urban environment. With a population density of around 6,800 people per square kilometre, the SAR ranks fourth worldwide behind only Macao, Monaco, and Singapore. But Hong Kong is much more than just a concrete jungle: it is also one of the most biodiverse cities in the world.
Around 75% of Hong Kong remains in a relatively natural state and is covered by country parks, marine reserves, and special conservation areas. This extensive green environment provides a habitat for 3,300 species of plants, 55 species of land animals, as many as 570 species of birds, 200 species of fish – and nearly 250 species of butterflies! In 2018, a global photo challenge on the app iNaturalist encouraged participants to observe and submit photos of the flora and fauna in their cities. Out of a total of nearly 3,000 identified species, 124 had reportedly never been observed before. Almost half of these new discoveries (57) came from Hong Kong.
With that being said, many endangered species such as the green turtle and Chinese white dolphin have all but disappeared from Hong Kong in recent years. A stronger collective effort is therefore required, in order to ensure the protection and preservation of Hong Kong’s unique ecosystem in the coming decades. |
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Contact
Do you have any questions or comments? Let us know!
Hendrik Hillebrecht Manager, Communications & Committees
T: +852 2526 5481 | D: +852 2532 1218 |
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“新聞” (“sunmun”) is the Cantonese word for “news”. GCsunmun provides you with regular news and updates from the Hong Kong–German business community.
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