Hong Kong: Ideal Platform for Thai Business Expansion
 |
|
|
(From left) Hans Audric B. Estialbo, Creative & Business Development Director, PAÑPURI; Chaiyarit Anuchitworawong, Executive Vice President, Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited, Thailand; Sunny Chau, Director, Thailand, HKTDC; Bhanu Inkawat Executive Creative Director, Greyhound Company Limited; Nattaporn Runghajornklin, International Business Director, Greyhound Company Limited, join a luncheon to discuss advantages of Hong Kong as a launch pad for Thai business expansion |
|
Bangkok, 7 September 2016 – Hong Kong is an ideal launch pad for Thai businesses seeking to grow their brands on a regional and global level. The upcoming “In Style • Hong Kong” Symposium, part of a large-scale promotion organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in Bangkok next month presents a golden opportunity for Thai business to discover ways to take advantage of regional and global opportunities through Hong Kong.
To celebrate the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), the HKTDC is bringing its mega-promotion, “In Style • Hong Kong” to Thailand, the second-largest economy in the ASEAN bloc, for the first time. Sunny Chau, Director, Thailand, HKTDC, said a major highlight of the promotion will be the "In Style • Hong Kong" Symposium on 6 October at Plaza Athenee Bangkok. The symposium will feature more than 30 high-level speakers from Hong Kong and Thailand, sharing insights related to their respective industries, including logistics, finance, infrastructure, marketing and legal services. Participants will learn how to ride on opportunities emerging from the Belt and Road Initiative by using Hong Kong’s stable and open business platform for fund raising, investment and professional services related to infrastructure development.
Bangkok Bank, Greyhound and Panpuri are among Thai companies that have found success by using Hong Kong as a hub for overseas business expansion.
World-class financial market
Bangkok Bank opened its first international branch in Hong Kong back in 1954. Since then the bank has become a leading financial institution in ASEAN. Bangkok Bank Executive Vice President Chaiyarit Anuchitworawong said: “Hong Kong is the financial centre of Asia. A presence in Hong Kong helps us to utilise the best financial tools that suit the bank’s strategy. We really feel that having a platform in Hong Kong gives us a competitive advantage. Likewise, we encourage promising Thai companies to also consider the many attributes of Hong Kong as a launching platform to bigger opportunities in markets in the region. This is especially true for China.”
Business friendly regime
Leading Thai lifestyle brand, Greyhound also understands the great opportunities in Hong Kong. Greyhound International Business Director Nattaporn Runghajornklin said that as the company sought opportunities beyond Thailand, and determined Hong Kong was one of the best choices. The group opened its first Greyhound Café outside Bangkok through a franchisee in Hong Kong in 2011. Its five outlets in Hong Kong are among the most stylish catering brands in town.
“We really never anticipated having problems or issues in Hong Kong, but it gives us peace of mind to know that we can rely on the collaboration with our local partner in Hong Kong and Hong Kong law to protect our interests should an issue arise. Hong Kong has a very strong legal system, a solid and transparent regulatory framework, and a clean pro-business government. Given all of this, opening our business in Hong Kong was a logical, and fruitful choice,” said Mr Runghajornklin.
Asian super-connector
Many Thai businesses use Hong Kong as a gateway to the Chinese mainland, such as luxury spa and wellness brand, Panpuri. According to Panpuri Creative & Business Development Director Hans Audric B Estialbo, the company’s strategy targets middle income mainland visitors to Hong Kong. Today, Panpuri operates four retail stores in Hong Kong and sees potential for further expansion.
“One of the key challenges for us is logistics, especially stock management,” says Mr Estiablo. “Thanks to the sophisticated and cost effective logistics systems Hong Kong has to offer, we are able to deliver our premium products and experience to consumers not only in Hong Kong, but also on the Chinese mainland and major Asian cities and nearby countries.”
Register to attend the symposium
Thai enterprises wishing to find out more about how Hong Kong’s world-class services can help them grow their business, should join the “In Style • Hong Kong" Symposium on 6 October. Officiating the opening session will be Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC and Rimsky Yuen, Secretary for Justice, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The symposium will also hear from business leaders, including Prof Royce Yuen, Chief Executive Officer, MaLogic; Jason Chiu, Chief Executive Officer, cherrypicks; Pang King-fai, Group President and Executive Director, VTech Holdings Limited; Gary So, Deputy Managing Director, Kerry Logistics; Chen Shuang, Executive Director and CEO, China Everbright Limited; Eva Chan, Vice Chairman, Hong Kong Public Key Infrastructure Forum. To register for the event of get more information, please visit the symposium website: http://symposium.instyle-hk.com.
For more information, please visit the following “In Style • Hong Kong” websites:
Main event: www.instyle-hk.com
Symposium: http://symposium.instyle-hk.com
Follow us on Facebook: HKTDC Bangkok
Follow us on LinkedIn: HKTDC
Media Enquiries
Hong Kong: Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Joe Kainz Tel: (852) 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
Bangkok: Please contact Vero Public Relations
Piyachat Nambundid Tel: 0 2684 1552-2 ext 21, Mobile: 0 86 093 9019
Email: piyachat@veropr.com
Papatsorn Pisutpunya Tel: 0 2684 1551 ext. 19, Mobile: 0 89 499 8349
Email: papatsorn@veropr.com
About the HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.