Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po encouraged Italian companies in life sciences, precision engineering, advanced manufacturing, and luxury tech to set up R&D centres and operations in the Northern Metropolis.
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The remarks were made at the "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" event, held at the Italian Stock Exchange in Milan. A delegation of startups, professionals, and business leaders, led by Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang, attended the forum.
Before the opening ceremony, the audience observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Tai Po fire.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board treated guests to Chinese dim sum and pineapple buns.
Bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Italy reached 7.2 billion euros (HK$64.88 billion).
Ma noted that Italy is Hong Kong's fourth-largest trading partner among EU members, with some 200 Italian companies already established in the SAR.
Both Paul Chan and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing chief executive Bonnie Chan Yi-ting encouraged Italian firms to list and issue bonds in the city, citing Prada as a successful example. Bonnie Chan added that the London Stock Exchange's daily transaction volume is only one-sixth of that in Hong Kong.
Valentino Valentini, Italy's Deputy Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, described Hong Kong as a trusted partner. He highlighted that Italy's strengths extend beyond fashion, food, and football to include medical devices, industrial, and engineering technologies. He also noted that tax incentives are available for companies investing in Italy.
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Bernard Charnwut Chan, chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District, stated that Hong Kong consistently reinvents itself to serve China and that its two newest museums are among the most visited.
Fabio De Rosa, head of global transaction banking at Banco BPM and former president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said the city offers excellent support for SMEs.
Claudio de Bedin, a partner at Justin Chow & de Bedin Solutions, addressed the National Security Law, stating that many have misunderstandings about it. He added that its terms are reasonable compared with similar laws in other parts of the world.
