Edge enhanced: Principal Assistant Secretary for Commerce, Industry & Technology Gordon Leung (centre) said the Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme is raising Hong Kong's competitiveness.

The Professional Services Development Assistance Scheme has enhanced the competitiveness and standard of Hong Kong's professional services sector, the Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau says.

The bureau's Principal Assistant Secretary Gordon Leung today said in the eight rounds of applications under the scheme so far, 116 projects have been approved with a total grant of $45.8 million, 31 of which have been completed.

Projects include capacity-building programmes like seminars, training and workshops, research on market and professional developments in different sectors, and promotional activities.

30,000 benefited

Mr Leung said the projects have yielded 197 deliverables and benefited 30,000 participants. In addition, 191 deliverables benefiting 43,000 participants have been produced by projects still in progress.

"We are glad to note most of the projects have achieved their objectives of enhancing the standard of the concerned professions and the external competitiveness of the various professional sectors. This is evidenced by positive feedback from professional bodies and project participants," he said.

Launched in 2002 with an allocation of $100 million, the scheme finances projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness of local professional services on the Mainland and other external markets, and enhancing the standard of local services.

Professional, trade or industrial organisations and research institutes are eligible to apply. Grants are given on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis. The maximum grant for a project is $2 million. The deadline for the ninth round of applications is June 16. Information and application forms are available here. For enquiries call 2918 7593.