Japan plan: Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse and Shanghai Municipal Government Foreign Economic Relations & Trade Commission Chairman Pan Longqing in Tokyo.

The first Hong Kong-Shanghai joint investment promotion seminar, staged in Tokyo, has attracted more than 380 senior executives from top Japanese firms who have shown strong interest in establishing or expanding business in the cities.

The seminar looks at business opportunities and market potential for Japanese companies on the Mainland, particularly in the Greater Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta.

Director-General of Investment Promotion Mike Rowse said he was pleased with the overwhelming response from investors, adding the seminar has set the stage for future co-operation between the two cites.

Super combo

Mr Rowse said combining with the delta has helped Hong Kong become a leading centre for management, information, co-ordination, finance and professional services.

"That is why so many foreign investors, including many large and small and medium-sized companies from Japan, have found it very attractive to perform these service activities in Hong Kong while placing their manufacturing facilities and some sales operations in the Pearl River Delta," Mr Rowse said.

He also introduced the numerous opportunities arising from the Mainland & Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

"We understand that many Japanese companies with a presence in Hong Kong are enjoying the 'first�Vmover' and 'WTO-plus' advantages in a wide range of trade and services sectors under CEPA. We encourage more Japanese companies to consider investing or expanding their operations in Hong Kong, and to use our city as the gateway to southern China."