Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company breaks ground for a production and R&D centre in Hong Kong. The firm views the plant as an important first step towards its internationalisation

Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine (TRT) is investing HK$150 million (US$19 million) to build its first production base outside the mainland at the Tai Po Industrial Estate of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP).

TRT's group vice-president Liu Shi Yi said the group aimed to reach out to international markets through Hong Kong although the city was a retail market in its own right for TRT's products.

TRT will utilise Hong Kong's strength in technology and finance to manufacture healthcare products and to conduct research and development.

"This helps improve the competitiveness of TRT's products and expand their economic scale as TRT's TCM products expand into international markets," said Mr Liu. TRT is experiencing rapid growth and markets its products in more than 40 countries and regions. The company has 17 outlets and branch companies in 12 countries and regions.

HKSTP vice-president (projects) Pau Shiu-hung said TCM was growing in popularity and acupuncture was now accepted by many in the western medical community as a viable treatment for pain. "These factors provide favourable conditions for the development of biotechnology in Hong Kong," he said.

Besides TRT, other well-known TCM manufacturers such as Han Sheng Tang and Eu Yan Seng have built production plants in Hong Kong.

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Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation