New TDC Chief Fred Lam says Hong Kong has a strong role to play in helping international companies access opportunities in China

The roadshow, which covered the Piedmont and Sicily regions, focused on the new opportunities in China and highlighted Hong Kong's role in helping Italian companies access new business leads.

"China is a market that Italian companies cannot afford to ignore," Mr Lam told more than 300 predominately small and medium sized Italian companies.

But Mr Lam cautioned that the China market could be complex for newcomers, and that finding a partner with experience and expertise was often the easiest way to achieve commercial success.

"Italian companies already working in Hong Kong pinpoint three core advantages: the sophistication and reliability of our business support services; our wide China experience and networks; and our international business connections," Mr Lam explained.

More than 40 Italian companies have their Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, using the city as a base for their China and Asia-wide business expansion. In particular Hong Kong plays a strong role as a shop window for Italian fashion brands interested in capturing new customers from the Chinese mainland.

Strong international focus for TDC's new executive director

Mr Lam's Italy visit was his first overseas visit since taking up his new position on May 1, and is in line with his commitment and vision to spend more time marketing Hong Kong's advantages to overseas companies.

"International businesses are looking to access new opportunities in China and we feel that Hong Kong has a strong role to play in streamlining these companies market entry. I want to talk direct to business communities around the world about how Hong Kong can help them," he said.

TDC in particular will be stepping up its work in emerging markets, Mr Lam explained. "We will be staging large-scale promotions in the Middle East, which we see as a very interesting business partner, as well as developing more contacts in Eastern Europe."

As well as meeting more business people overseas, Mr Lam said TDC would be further developing its portfolio of services designed to connect overseas and Hong Kong businesses, including enhanced 'business matching' services on and offline, easier access to sector-specific market intelligence and wider access to Hong Kong products and services via international trade fairs.

The Executive Director is TDC's chief executive, heading a Hong Kong-based team as well as an international network of 42 offices in key business centres around the world.

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