Air agreement: Slovakia State Secretary of Transportation, Posts & Telecommunication Milan Mojs and Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip witness the initialling of an Air Services Agreement between the two governments.

Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip has arrived in Central Europe to promote the strengths of Hong Kong as Asia's logistics hub. He is leading a delegation to Slovakia, Hungary and Estonia.

Mr Ip said riding on rapid economic growth on the Mainland and in Central Europe, the bilateral trade volume between Hong Kong and Slovakia, Hungary and Estonia has seen steady growth.

"We will showcase Hong Kong's logistics advantages to these thriving economies in Central Europe and impress upon them the investment opportunities in Hong Kong and Mainland China," he said.

In Slovakia today, Mr Ip met with State Secretary of Transportation, Posts & Telecommunication Milan Mojs and witnessed the initialling of an Air Services Agreement between the two governments.

The delegation also called on State Secretary of Economy Ivan Rybarik to exchange views on logistics, aviation and tourism and visited Bratislava Airport to see its air-cargo handling facilities. Later, Mr Ip delivered a keynote address at a seminar on investment opportunities offered by Hong Kong as the premier logistics hub.

The delegation will call on Foreign Minister Jan Kubis tomorrow before departing for Budapest.