The best link in your global supply chain

In January, the Secretary for Transport and Housing and Chairman of the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL), Mr Frank Chan Fan, led a delegation from the logistics industry to Germany to promote Hong Kong as a regional premier logistics hub. Mr Chan and the delegation visited logistics facilities including the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe Railway in Duisburg – a signature infrastructure project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the Frankfurt Airport CargoCity and the DHL innovation centre. They also had a meeting with the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology to learn about the latest logistics developments in Germany and collaboration with Hong Kong. At a business luncheon in Dusseldorf, Mr Chan outlined Hong Kong’s advantageous position as the best link for the global supply chain of internationally operating companies. The robust economy, rule of law, free port status, low tax rates and simple tax regime, as well as customs efficiency made Hong Kong one of the best places to make business, Mr Chan said. He also emphasised Hong Kong’s outstanding connectivity and well-developed multi-modal transport networks that enable businesses to be more responsive to markets. Two representatives of the LOGSCOUNCIL subsequently provided insightful speeches. Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of Hong Kong Shippers’ Council and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Promotion of the LOGSCOUNCIL, introduced Hong Kong as an ideal platform for shippers, traders and logistics stakeholders. Dr Kelvin Leung, Chief Executive Officer (Asia Pacific) of DHL Global Forwarding (Hong Kong) Limited and Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Industry Development of the LOGSCOUNCIL, testified for the reaping opportunities arising from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area Development. Hong Kong and Macao, together with nine cities in the Guangdong Province along the Pearl River, form the Greater Bay Area, the leading economic region and manufacturing centre in China, and gigantic consumer market with about 68 million people. The luncheon was attended by about 100 participants from the business and government sectors, among them was Dusseldorf’s Mayor Mr Thomas Geisel.