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President's Message | HKCBA Ottawa

Message from the President

Dear HKCBA Ottawa Members and Friends:

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy New Year of the Ox! The Ox represents joy, hard work, perseverance, and reliability. We sincerely hope that the Year of the Ox will bring a year of blessings to everyone.

2021 marks our 37th anniversary. As one of the largest bilateral trade associations in Canada, we have grown to over 1,300 members across Canada, and over 13,000 members from 34 countries worldwide. We thank you for your support as HKCBA continues to facilitate trade and expand commercial relations between Canada and Asia.

2020 was an unprecedented year and presented many challenges to most of us. Thanks to the technology and the ongoing support from our Members, Directors, and the Hong Kong Family, we were able to pivot quickly to host our first-ever virtual event in March. Ever since then, our virtual events have allowed us to stay connected, continue to promote business opportunities and connections between Canada and Asia. Despite the challenges, our proud member, Trustiics won the Excellent Start-up Award while trade between China and Canada increased by 10%, and Hong Kong’s resiliency was evident by claiming the world’s No.1 IPO market for seven of the last 11 years, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a top global financial centre.

As we continue to manage global trade challenges, we will be keeping Hong Kong-Canadian business at the forefront. We will align our strategic focus with the priorities and initiatives of the businesses and governments of Canada, Hong Kong, and China, including Hong Kong’s role in the Greater Bay Area for overseas companies to tap into the Asian markets. We will continue to work closely with industry leaders, investors, partners, and policymakers to deliver timely emerging topics: business opportunities, market intelligence, risk mitigation, key issues related to trade and investment.

In 2020, Canadian companies continued to show confidence in Hong Kong through a number of investments drawn on Hong Kong’s significant advantages, including: the world-class infrastructure, strategic location, tax advantages, renowned financial and legal services. As well, leveraging the impressive 40+ missions annually organized by HKTDC, to reach out to global clients and increase their business footprints in Asia.

New year comes with new hope! We look forward to assisting you in achieving your business goals in Hong Kong, China, and throughout Asia. We thank you for your ongoing support and best wishes for a healthy, happy, and prosperous Year of the Ox!

 

Amy Willis, 威艾美, MBA, CPA, CMA

President

HKCBA Ottawa.