SCIT Leads Delegation to Visit Europe

The Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr Henry Tang, will lead a high-level business delegation to visit Ireland, Germany and Finland from March 10 to 14 to promote the development and business opportunities in information technology (IT), telecommunications and design between Hong Kong and these countries.

The 30-member delegation, comprising senior executives of information technology (IT) and telecommunications in Hong Kong, will meet with senior Government officials and visit major information and communication technology (ICT) companies in these countries as well as design establishments in Finland.

In Dublin of Ireland, Mr Tang will meet with the Irish Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Dermot Ahern to discuss ways to implement the Joint Statement on Co-operation in ICT, which was exchanged in November 2002.

Mr Tang will also meet with the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Michael Ahern to discuss matters of mutual interest on trade and WTO issues.

The delegation will be arriving in Hannover, Germany on March 11 to attend CeBIT, the world's leading exhibition for IT, telecommunications and software. Being the largest IT fair in the world, CeBIT last year attracted 7 500 exhibitors from 60 countries and some 700 000 visitors from across the globe. More than 110 Hong Kong IT and telecommunication companies will take part in the exhibition this year.

The Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau and the Hong Kong Computer Society have jointly set up the Hong Kong IT Innovation Pavilion at CeBIT. Five winners of the IT Excellence Awards, sponsored by CITB, will showcase their winning applications and products in the Pavilion.

After visiting CeBIT, Mr Tang will continue his European tour in Helsinki, Finland on March 13 and 14 at the invitation of the Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade, Mr Jari Vilen.

Mr Tang will brief the Minister on the latest developments in the Pearl River Delta region and explain how Hong Kong could be a strategic platform for Finnish companies to develop the China and Asian markets.

Mr Tang will also meet with the Finnish Minister for Transport and Communications, Mr Kimmo Sasi. They will discuss ways to facilitate exchanges under the MOU on ICT Co-operation signed between Hong Kong and Finland in 2000, particularly in the area of e-business.

Mr Tang and other delegation members will visit a number of research institutes and universities on ICT and design.

Mr Tang will return to Hong Kong on March 15.

Saturday, March 8, 2003

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