Nearly 20 entrepreneurs operating in a cross-section of sectors return to Malta tomorrow after a trade mission to Hong Kong and Guangzhou led by Malta Enterprise and accompanied by business groups.

Incorporating many financial and professional services representatives, the delegation travelled to two of China’s major markets, in a region that has been one of the foremost drivers in the country’s impressive economic growth and its positioning as the second largest economy in the world.

While Guangzhou is the main manufacturing hub in the area as well as a key transportation hub and trading port, Hong Kong is more service-oriented and enjoys the reputation of one of the leading financial centres in the world.

The food and beverages, education and training, and tourism sectors were also represented by several business people in the group; there has been increasing Chinese interest in all these sectors in recent years.

The entrepreneurs had the opportunity to explore business leads or make new contacts, through one-to-one meetings pre-arranged by Malta Enterprise and the other supporting organisations. The trade mission was also an opportunity for some local business people to follow up on a similar trip last year to Beijing, Shanghai and Ningbo.

A business forum was held in each city to showcase Malta; there were presentations by Malta Enterprise and panel discussions involving the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, the Malta-China Chamber of Commerce, Finance Malta, KPMG and HSBC.

In Hong Kong, Malta Enterprise signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to facilitate bilateral business.

The business delegation was supported by the Embassy of Malta in Beijing, the Consul of Malta in Hong Kong, the General Retailers and Traders Union, the Gozo Business Chamber, the Malta Tourism Authority, the Malta-China Friendship Society and the Enterprise Europe Network.