The mission of the Business Council is to support, disseminate and deepen co-operative activities in the respective areas of business interests between Hungary and Hong Kong. It is a private sector initiative that aims to act as a significant catalyst of the Hungarian – Hong Kong partnership and business co-operation.

Mr Mihaly Jambrik, Administrative State Secretary of Hungarian Ministry of Informatics and Communications, currently visiting Hong Kong with his delegation of senior government officials, businessmen, and professionals, gave his opening remarks at the signing ceremony, “Hong Kong is the gateway to China, and plays a strategic role in helping expand Hungary’s business reach and international co-operation beyond Europe. Our government is very supportive of private sector initiatives such as this joint Business Council to pursue enhanced business co-operation between Hungary and Hong Kong.”

Paul Kan, as Convener of the Business Council, remarked, “The partnership with Hungary represents an exceptional opportunity for Hong Kong. Hungary, with a population slightly bigger than Hong Kong, has a rich culture and innovative bent. It has generated 18 Nobel Prize winners, and is uniquely placed in the high value-add disciplines of IT, biotechnology, life sciences, nanotechnology, and research and development. This is certainly good news to Hong Kong in terms of collaboration.”

Paul Kan continued, “The idea of the Business Council was first mooted six months ago. I am very thankful to the support of both governments, various trade bodies and industry groups, whose joint efforts have made possible the birth of the Business Council. I’m keen to enlist the wider participation and support of the industry across the board.”

Alan Wong, deputy Executive Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council had this to add, “The entrepreneurial spirit and dynamism is something common between Hong Kong and Hungarian businessmen. The combination of Hong Kong as the largest investor in Mainland China, and the advantage of our services could provide a lucrative business model for Hungarian companies. Equally, Hungary’s role as a trading hub in Europe and a leading economy in the fast-growing Central Europe region could open up new areas of business interest.”

Both Paul Kan and Antal Kuthy, Co-Convener of the Business Council, expressed confidence that the new council will bring fruitful partnerships and that they looked forward to reporting on concrete achievements on a regular basis.

The signing ceremony and reception was well attended. Supporting organisations include Federation of Hong Kong Industries, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Information Technology Industry Council, Hong Kong IT Alliance, Hungarian Association of IT Companies, Hungarian Biotechnology Association, and AHEAD Asia (Asian-Hungarian Economic Association for Development).

Champion Technology (www.championtechnology.com) is a global technology group offering innovative solutions in the areas of communications software, wireless, telematics, e-commerce, security, online entertainment and e-gaming. The Group’s solutions are dedicated to bettering the lives of people, enriching lifestyles, promoting health consciousness, preventing accidents, saving lives, as well as promoting probity and responsibility in the conduct of the online industry. Such solutions include software-enhanced wireless messaging, radio products and systems, spark proof intrinsically safe communications systems, responsible gaming solutions, as well as networking and Internet access products for customers, network operators, and commercial, government and industrial clients.

With total assets of over $5.5 billion, the Group has a presence in more than 50 countries through a network of regional offices and distributors. It includes 3 Hong Kong listed companies, namely Champion Technology and Kantone Holdings Limited, whose shares are traded on the main board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Exchange“), and DIGITALHONGKONG.COM, whose shares are traded on the Growth Enterprise Market (“GEM”) of the Exchange. The Group also includes a UK subsidiary, which was previously listed on the London Stock Exchange.