Hong Kong is really the diamond in Asia as far as the centre of business is concerned, says Rob Wilson of Markwins International
Andrew Warrender of WL Gore & Associates says Hong Kong has a cutting-edge advantage in logistics
Todd Judy of Vermeer Manufacturing says Hong Kong is the best place to carry out its Asia and China distribution strategy
Tony Tong of Pacific Net Inc notes that Hong Kong is a good place for raising funds

Through a series of webcast interviews with prominent US businesses present in Hong Kong, practical examples demonstrate how Hong Kong helps reduce risk and achieve stronger business results, for companies doing business on the Chinese mainland.

The webcasts have been distributed as CDs throughout the US business community. They can also be viewed on tdctrade.com here.

"Hong Kong is really the diamond in Asia as far as the centre of business is concerned. So when you speak Asia, you're really talking Hong Kong," commented Rob Wilson, executive vice-president of Markwins International.

On the distribution side, Hong Kong offers a great deal to companies looking to capture a share of the mainland's growing markets. Agricultural equipment company, Vermeer Manufacturing, found Hong Kong the best base from which to carry out its Asia and China distribution strategy.

Regional sales manager, Todd Judy, enthused, "We've been very impressed with our dealer in Hong Kong. For the past 3 years, they've been our number one international dealer for Vermeer Manufacturing worldwide. We've been very impressed with their professionalism, and organisation and the network they've set up throughout China."

Hong Kong's status as a regional logistics hub has also been a considerable attraction to companies who produce or sell in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Chinese mainland.

Andrew Warrender, Associate at W L Gore & Associates, sees Hong Kong as being of strategic importance to their business.

"Hong Kong has an incredibly well-developed infrastructure, in terms of air, and sea transport in particular, with frequent connections between the areas that we service, and between our customers' domestic premises in Europe, and North America. And that is a critical part of our business decision-making process, to be based here and also have our facility in Shenzhen," he said.

In addition to a cutting-edge advantage in logistics and distribution, Hong Kong is an important financial centre for companies seeking to raise capital, both in debt and equity markets.

Tony Tong, CEO of Pacific Net Inc. noted that Hong Kong housed a lot of wealthy individuals and corporate investors, which made raising finance an easy task.

"All the leading investment banks, and venture capital firms, have offices in Hong Kong, so we think there's a wide selection of investors in Hong Kong," said Mr Tong.

All the US companies interviewed see their long-term prospects as being decidedly positive. 

WL Gore has enjoyed very strong growth rates in the last few years in this region. And as Mr Warrender projects, "we're certainly expecting that trend to continue and we expect to be many times larger than we presently are in this region."

Related links:
Markwins International  
Vermeer Manufacturing 
WL Gore & Associates   
Pacific Net Inc