Hong Kong business leaders to visit Dubai against backdrop of Hong Kong in Style 2005

The aim of the delegation's mission is to promote bilateral trade links between the two cities.

The mission, led by David Eldon, Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, has been organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the official agency tasked with promoting trade with and through Hong Kong.

Hong Kong and Dubai share many similarities. Both are duty-free ports with bustling commerce and diverse business concerns sustained by modern infrastructural amenities. Both cities are free-trade gateways for their surrounding regions, and both have witnessed massive economic growth in recent years. Dubai provides access to a UAE market that accounted for US$ 2.9 billion worth of exports from Hong Kong in 2004, a sharp rise of 15 per cent over 2003. The upward inclination has continued into 2005, with a further 2 percent increase in the first seven months of the year.

"Dubai is a business and commercial hub for the Middle East, and serves as an access point to a 260- million strong consumer market with high disposable incomes. Hong Kong companies are extremely interested in developing a stronger understanding of trade opportunities that this region provides,"

said Jeff Ambjorn, Director of the HKTDC's Dubai Office. "We feel there is a lot of room to grow our bilateral trade and we look forward to productive meetings."

The delegation's visit complements a 200-strong participation of Hong Kong companies at the largest Expo of Hong Kong products, Hong Kong in Style 2005, to be held from November 7-10 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC), and is part of a larger Middle East tour that includes a subsequent visit to Iran.