Participants at the Conference include (from left) Paulo Ferreira, Banco do Brasil's HK rep; Seiko Ishiwaka from the Venezuela Embassy in Japan; Fernando Perez Consul General of Chile and Mario Leal Campos Consul General of Mexico in HK

Mexico and China have agreed to establish direct air services between the two countries, and Hong Kong/ Shanghai - Mexico flights are expected to be available in the future, a move certain to boost tourism in both regions, according to Consul General of Mexico in Hong Kong, Mario Leal Campos, at the seminar.

Mr Leal Campos explained that there were vast opportunities for exchanging products imported by China and Hong Kong from Mexico such as computer parts.

"The Latin American region is rebounding with forecast of 3.9 per cent GDP growth for 2004. There are many opportunities for intensifying trade with Asia," said TDC assistant chief economist Daniel Poon. "There are huge opportunities for OEM/ODM manufacturing, and Hong Kong companies should offer price-competitive and differentiated products to stay competitive."

Other speakers at the seminar included: Ambassador of Colombia to the People's Republic of China Dr Guillermo Ricardo Velez; Consul General of Argentina in Hong Kong, Ricardo Haroldo Forrester; Acting Consul General of Peru Enrique Bonelli Vasquez; Consul General of Chile Fernando Perez; Commercial Consul of the Embassy of Venezuela in Japan Seiko Ishiwaka, and chief representative of the Banco do Brasil in Hong Kong, Paulo Ferreira.

The seminar is part of a series of events organised by TDC designed to help Hong Kong companies explore opportunities in some of the world's most exciting markets. The next event on business opportunities in India, will be held on 5 October.