Hong Kong Foreign Direct Investment Issue 1 ... - Invest Hong Kong

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Hong Kong’s Business Partnering Environment Ideal for Carbon Strategy Firm For Jessica Robinson, Director of Enecore and head of the company’s advisory services, relocating to Hong Kong was an important move for the successful expansion of the company. “Hong Kong is a dynamic place where people see opportunities and come together to do deals, and that’s central to what we do,” Robinson explained. “Developing a carbon strategy is not just about reducing energy consumption in a building or project, it’s also about helping people to understand that increased regulation is around the corner, and that it’s essential to assess readiness and develop a long-term strategy right now. Being on the front foot will ensure that businesses reduce costs and maximise value.” Emissions trading, Robinson explains, is a market-based approach used to reduce greenhouse gases. It provides economic incentives for achieving emission reductions creating opportunities for polluting businesses to partner with developers of green projects, such as wind farms or tree plantations. One of Enecore’s roles is to bring together the various stakeholders – including project owners and project financers – involved in this process. “It’s a business deal like any other,” Robinson explained. “And when you’re facilitating partnerships, Hong Kong is the place to be.” 14 Enecore Despite most of its projects being based outside Hong Kong, Enecore, a market leader in carbon strategies, emission reduction and green investments, knew that Hong Kong was the right place for its regional headquarters � Head offi ce in Hong Kong, regional offi ces in Beijing and Hanoi � 30+ full time staff across the region � Advises companies in emission reduction and carbon management strategies � Brings together companies developing ER projects, such as wind farms, with fi nanciers � Offers a range of consultancy services on carbon fi nancing and strategies, sustainability issues and environmental markets Huge Market for Emissions Reduction Enecore started business in Beijing almost six years ago and continues to have a strong presence in China. “It’s a huge market for emission reductions and has taken a leading role in carbon reduction projects. We work with local and international stakeholders to develop projects, including due diligence and advice on registration for United Nations carbon financing,” Robinson said. Regional Expansion Pointed to Hong Kong As the business grew, there was a strong need to assess whether a second and third office was needed. “As well as China, Vietnam was also proving a strong market, but we realised that neither Beijing nor Hanoi offered the right environment for a long-term regional headquarters,” Robinson added. A range of factors finally drove the decision to set up the Hong Kong regional office. “The obvious one is that Hong Kong is very close to China, not only geographically, but also commercially and politically,” she explained. “When you’re in Hong Kong, you get a strong impression that you’re in the heart of Asia, and that this is where things are happening. There’s an easy business networking community and an entrepreneurial spirit that we’ve not felt so keenly elsewhere in the region,” she added. “It’s also a financial centre, with a strong financial solutions community, so we’re close to the people who are making the money decisions on major projects that are seeking some kind of carbon or other financing.” Hong Kong is a dynamic place where people see opportunities and come together to do deals, and that’s central to what we do Jessica Robinson, co-Director, Enecore Business Functions in Hong Kong The Hong Kong office now plays a key regional role, overseeing the two offices in Beijing and Hanoi and dealing with clients from Europe to Australia, Robinson said. “The ease with which you can fly in and out of Hong Kong is another great reason to be here.” For Robinson, who came to Hong Kong after four years in Beijing, the move south has been a welcome relocation. “China continues to be a tricky environment for foreign companies, and so being in Hong Kong has been a real breath of fresh air.” Looking ahead, Robinson says she expects Hong Kong to be a good catalyst for their business. “We’re in a tough global economic situation at the moment, but if you have to be running a business then this is definitely the place to be. You need to be here on the ground in Asia and Hong Kong is a platform that allows us to reach out to our clients and projects across the Asia Pacific region.” www.enecore.com
1.618 Brings Italian Design Excellence to Hong Kong With its 100-strong team of professionals in six locations worldwide, the award-winning branding agency, 1.618, was keen to set up in Hong Kong to inspire brand-conscious clients to success during an exciting period for Asian development The intriguing part about 1.618 is its name. Pronounced “one six one eight”, the name refers both to a pathway to prosperity in Chinese, and the Golden Ratio, the answer to an equation originating from the Italian Renaissance and now often used in design and architecture. Before venturing into the Asian market, Gianluca Cinquepalmi, 1.618’s Managing Director, wanted to rebrand the jointventure agency to show its enthusiasm for Asia and its connections with Italy. “We want a number that is relevant to and represents both eastern and western cultures,” Gianluca explained. “My business partners and I love Hong Kong so much that we wanted to bring Italian design excellence to this market and the region.” Convenience is a major factor for people with regional operations. Here the fl ight time to any major city in the region is between one and four hours. This really helps us save cost and time 1.618 Gianluca Cinquepalmi, Managing Director, 1.618 � Originating in Italy, with 100+ professionals across 15 disciplines � More than 30 years of experience in branding, web design and advertising � One of the most awarded design companies in Italy � Opened its Hong Kong offi ce in July 2011 and currently employs six staff With an impressive list of international clients including Ferrari, Microsoft and Samsung, 1.618 started work with its first local client, the AC Milan Soccer School in Hong Kong, soon after setting up the agency in the city. Easy Access to Asia Gianluca said he was eager to learn from successful local brands, such as Maxim’s and Vitasoy, which had developed through the talent of local entrepreneurs. This talent was supported, he said, by the city’s business-friendly and high-income environment. “From an economic perspective, the economy in Hong Kong is better than other cities in the region. The growth in the number of wealthy people exceeds that of Mainland China, and it’s in a very compact city,” he said. Another advantage, Gianluca explained, was that Hong Kong provides easy access to other cities across Asia. “Convenience is a major factor for people with regional operations. Here in Hong Kong, the flight time to any major city in the region is between one and four hours. This really helps us save cost and time.” Go With the Flow With his passion for branding, Gianluca first created a successful agency in Milan, Italy before extending into Barcelona, Doha, London, Moscow and now, Hong Kong. He also lectured about branding and how the brand experience works. But his background was not always in branding, something that Gianluca sees as an asset to his business. With a degree in mechanical engineering, followed by an MBA, he started his career in product development and quality. “I’ve always been obsessed with two things. Firstly, I like to look at common objects and see them from different perspectives, and secondly, I like to really examine things and see how things work,” he said. It was this lifelong passion that led him to work with clients to see how they could improve their products and services by looking at things in a different way. “Our approach is to look for long-term benefits, not imminent sales results. We help brands to consolidate their position in the market, and understand the importance of keeping the existing customers, not just finding new ones,” Gianluca explained. With his young and growing team in Hong Kong, Gianluca is looking for “new blood” to join his team, especially in account servicing. In the meantime, he’s happy to enjoy all Hong Kong has to offer. “It’s an amazing city. It’s convenient, dynamic and lively. You can easily hop on a boat or a junk at the weekends or go hiking in the nearby countryside. The work life balance here is just the right mix for design companies like us,” he enthused. www.1618group.hk 15
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Page 11 and 12: Germany’s Leading Textile Testing
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Hong Kong Foreign Direct Investment Issue 1 ... - Invest Hong Kong

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