Hong Kong Priority – 1st ABAC Meeting in Hong Kong 2012

Hong Kong hosted the first ABAC meeting of 2012 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, on February 21-24. The event marked a successful start of the Russian year in ABAC under the leadership of the new ABAC Chair, Mr. Ziyavudin Magomedov of Russia.

APEC’s senior officials for trade converged on Hong Kong and met with ABAC, to discuss policy priorities for the year ahead. The dialogues have fostered communication and coordination between ABAC and APEC senior officials to ensure efficient collaboration and to remain result-oriented in targeting tangible outcome to contribute to achieving the Bogor Goals.

Building on the progress made in the previous year, ABAC has adopted the theme “Aspirations to Reality”.  At the first ABAC meeting in Hong Kong, ABAC endorsed priorities and action plans of its working groups this year.

ABAC HK1 kicked start with the 2012 APEC SME meeting on February 21, which was organised jointly by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and ABAC. The event attracted more than 700 participants from Hong Kong and in the region. The summit was followed by a 3-day meeting of ABAC members and APEC senior officials.

2012 APEC SME Summit – Entrepreneurship, February 21, 2012

Under the theme “Entrepreneurship”, the 2012 APEC SME Summit featured leaders from across the region, including Anthony Nightingale of Jardine Matheson Group (also ABAC HK member), Cher Wang, Chairman of HTC (also ABAC Taipei member); Wang Shi, Chairman of China Vanke Company Ltd and William Fung, Executive Deputy Chairman of Li & Fung Ltd.

Summit discussions focused on how to grow small businesses with successful examples of outstanding entrepreneurs from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It was a unique opportunity for business owners, senior business managers, entrepreneurs and opinion leaders to share best practices and experience, discuss current business issues, highlight winning market strategies, network and strike new partnerships.

With more than 700 participants including over 70 ABAC members from 21 economies, the summit has generated substantial positive feedback from the business community and encouraging press coverage.