Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau promoted the vast business opportunities brought about by the Greater Bay Area development at a conference in Munich, Germany, on September 6.

More than 400 participants were drawn to the Greater Bay Area & Europe Economic & Trade Co-operation Conference that comprised a themed forum and a business matchmaking session.

The event was jointly organised by the Guangdong Department of Commerce, Invest Hong Kong of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Macao Trade & Investment Promotion Institute.

While addressing those gathered at the conference, Mr Yau pointed out that the bay area, which has a population of over 86 million and contributed around US$2 trillion to the national Gross Domestic Product in 2022, is one of the most open and economically vibrant regions of China and demonstrates enormous development potential.

Mr Yau said: “Hong Kong has the distinctive and prominent advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world.

“Being the most open international city in the bay area, Hong Kong will serve as one of the core engines to drive co-ordinated regional economic growth of the bay area.”

He added that Hong Kong is committed to deepening co-operation with Guangdong and Macau under the principles of complementarity and mutual benefits, and contributing its strengths in different areas to the bay area’s overall development.

The commerce chief called on German businesses to grasp the opportunities to establish their presence in Hong Kong and capitalise on the opportunities brought about by the bay area development.

After attending the conference, Mr Yau took the opportunity to meet State Secretary of the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development & Energy Roland Weigert, one of the key speakers at the conference.

He updated the German official on Hong Kong’s latest developments and exchanged views with him on various economic issues.

Separately, Mr Yau promoted Hong Kong’s business opportunities and potential to the German business community.

Apart from having a lunch meeting with members of the German Chamber of Commerce & Industry for Munich & Upper Bavaria, Mr Yau also met Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Financial Services, Munich, Germany, Veronika Bienert.

Additionally, upon his arrival in Munich on September 5, he met Chinaforum Bayern Managing Director & Board Member Stefan Geiger.

Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow.