Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, May 24, by wire Title: Seize the opportunity and seize the momentum -- Lu Jinrong, President of the Hong Kong Chinese Manufacturers Association, talks about Hong Kong's development potential

Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Niu Wang Qian

Recently, Hong Kong's overall export of goods has been on the rise. The daily turnover of Hong Kong shares has increased significantly. The number of visitors to Hong Kong in the first four months of this year doubled year-on-year, and the GDP in the first quarter increased by 2.7%... A series of remarkable achievements have demonstrated the strong vitality and full resilience of Hong Kong's economy.

"This provides a solid foundation and opportunity for Hong Kong to pool industry strength, promote transformation and upgrading, and enhance economic momentum." Lu Jinrong, president of the Hong Kong Chinese Manufacturers Association, said that Hong Kong should seize the opportunities brought by the good momentum, seize the momentum, explore new cooperation models, actively develop new quality productivity, and integrate into the overall national development.

At present, Hong Kong's peripheral environment is still complex and changeable, which will have an impact on the recovery of the global economy, Hong Kong's exports, Hong Kong's local investment willingness and the performance of the asset market. However, for some time, the numerous economic and trade cooperation and frequent international events in Hong Kong have led to the continuous release of Hong Kong's consumption capacity, making Hong Kong's economic atmosphere constantly better.

The government of the Special Administrative Region recently said that since 2022, nearly 50 key enterprises have been attracted to settle in Hong Kong; In the first quarter of this year, the Investment Promotion Agency of the Special Administrative Region Government assisted 150 overseas companies to develop in Hong Kong, an increase of 46% over the same period last year; The number of local companies in Hong Kong hit a record high

Hong Kong's economic climate is improving, bringing more opportunities to Hong Kong. Lu Jinrong found during his inspection in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hungary and other countries jointly built along the "Belt and Road" that local officials or industry leaders pay close attention to Hong Kong's accounting, legal, ESG consulting and international certification services, hoping to use Hong Kong as a platform to sell products to other cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.

"This fully shows that the Belt and Road countries attach great importance to Hong Kong's various functions and its role as a commercial bridge connecting the mainland and the world. These needs will be an important opportunity for Hong Kong's development," said Lu Jinrong.

If we have opportunities, we should also have the ability to seize them. Lu Jinrong believes that the country's promotion of the development of new quality productivity will become the key to the development of innovative science and technology, the promotion of industrial upgrading and the improvement of development momentum in Hong Kong.

In Lu Jinrong's view, it is a global trend to promote high-quality development and transform to green production and intelligent production. "Hong Kong has the world's top scientific research capabilities and talents in artificial intelligence, electronic engineering and other disciplines, and has established a leading edge in green technology, environmental protection technology and other fields. In addition, Hong Kong also has the characteristics of 'high standards and strict requirements' in quality control, business norms and other aspects, which can not only help the country develop new quality productivity, but also form its own stronger competitiveness."

In order to encourage the industry to promote industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovation and assist enterprises in transformation and upgrading, the CMA Verification Center under the Manufacturers Association has successively established a technology commercialization platform and a pilot scale transformation center in 2021 and 2023 to assist enterprises in applying innovative technologies to research and develop new products, and provide a series of pilot scale transformation support and testing and certification services in the process of technology commercialization. At present, more than 20 enterprises and scientific research teams have entered the platform, and R&D achievements have also been launched in the market.

"Although the current external environment is complex and changeable, a series of economic performances in Hong Kong can still prove the attractiveness and potential of the Hong Kong market." Lu Jinrong revealed that how to pool industry strength, promote transformation and upgrading, and enhance the economic momentum of Hong Kong in the future will be the direction of manufacturers.

Over the years, manufacturers have regularly organized trade missions to visit cities in the mainland and overseas markets to understand the business environment of various regions and explore the development prospects of various major and emerging markets. During his visit, Lu Jinrong found that more and more "Made in China" are being integrated into the "Belt and Road" to jointly build a country. Hong Kong's professional services are high-quality, efficient and internationally renowned. He firmly believes that Hong Kong has great potential in supporting the development of the "Belt and Road".

Lu Jinrong believes that Hong Kong can give play to the advantages of "one country, two systems", establish the "Belt and Road" comprehensive service center, and expand the economic and trade relations with the "Belt and Road" countries. In addition to making efforts in traditional fields, Hong Kong can also expand new growth points of regional cooperation in emerging fields such as innovative technology and sustainable development.

When it comes to the future, Lu Jinrong is full of longing. "We will focus our efforts and take multiple measures to promote Hong Kong's economic growth, forge a new path of high-quality and sustainable development, and consolidate Hong Kong's' golden signboard '."

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