BASF's Dr Dietmar Nissen with InvestHK's Ophelia Tsang

The President of BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters Limited, Dr Dietmar Nissen said: "Hong Kong remains an important gateway for trading with China and with the rest of Asia."

German-based BASF established its roots in Hong Kong in the early 1980s with a representative trading office. Hong Kong is now the home of the company's Greater China and East Asia headquarters with more than 260 employees.

On Hong Kong's competitive advantages, Dr Nissen said: "The professionalism of the working population and their industrious work attitude are among those qualities that we value here."

"Hong Kong's response to SARS demonstrates the vitality and the caring mind of the Hong Kong people which goes in line with our corporate philosophy to contribute to the communities where we operate.  We look forward to pursue further business opportunities here in the years to come".

BASF has experienced unprecedented regional growth during the last decade.  The company is the largest foreign investor in China's chemical industry, with eight production facilities in the mainland employing more than 2,600 people.  The company currently operates four wholly-owned and eight joint venture facilities in cities like Shanghai, Nanjing and Guangzhou.

In 2002, BASF achieved sales of EUR1.4 billion in Greater China, an increase of 27 per cent over the previous year.  Its total investment in Asia will reach about EUR5.6 billion by 2005.

Ophelia Tsang, associate director-general of Invest Hong Kong, a government agency tasked with attracting foreign investment to Hong Kong was present at the opening ceremony of BASF's expanded Greater China and East Asia headquarter.

Related link:
Invest Hong Kong www.investhk.gov.hk