The Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) successfully held its 29th CACCI Conference in Hong Kong on October 29-30, 2015, with the participation of some 400 delegates composed largely of leading businessmen from 22 Asia-Pacific countries, led by CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili, Board Member of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Mr. Conrad Lee, Chairman of the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce (KCC), the local host organization.
Held at the Regal Airport Hotel, this year’s Conference marked the second time that CACCI held its annual gathering in Hong Kong. The first was held in December 1987, when KCC hosted the 36th CACCI Council Meeting. However, this was the first time CACCI members gathered in Hong Kong for a Conference.
Established in 1966, CACCI aims to provide a platform for promoting the vital role of the businessmen in the region, increasing regional business interaction, and enhancing regional economic growth. Towards this end, CACCI has been holding annual meetings and Conferences to enable its members to exchange views on current developments and issues of concern to the business sector. Hong Kong played a significant role in the founding of CACCI, as it served as the venue for the meeting of the CACCI Select Committee for the Establishment of CACCI that drafted the CACCI Constitution.
This year’s Conference focused on the theme “Asia Beyond Limits”. It aimed at providing another valuable platform for CACCI members and invited experts to share their views on measures that the business sector and governments in the region can undertake to take full advantage of the current opportunities offered not just by markets in the Asia-Pacific region but by countries in other parts of the world as well, thereby enabling them to grow beyond the domestic borders and into the global market.
In his Welcome Statement, CACCI President Mr. Jemal Inaishvili thanked the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce for hosting this year’s meeting, thereby giving CACCI members the opportunity to once again visit this vibrant metropolis. It was also an opportune time for all businessmen from CACCI member countries, to strengthen links with their Hong Kong colleagues and explore their future role in the country’s increasingly robust markets. He expressed confidence that holding the CACCI annual gathering in Hong Kong this year will further increase the knowledge of CACCI members about this global city – its economy, its trade and investment potentials, its business and financial sectors, and its people and manpower resources – and help them in their effort to seek and identify business opportunities it offers, as well as establish contact with important decision makers in business and government.
The Keynote Speaker at the Opening Ceremony was Mr. Godfrey Leung Kingkwo, Undersecretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong. In his speech, Undersecretary Leung underscored the importance of cooperation and complimentarity among businessmen in the region to enable them to achieve their objective of going beyond their limits, as called for by the Conference theme, adding that there are really no limits, only plateaus. He also cited the advantages of Hong Kong as a trade and investment partner, pointing out that is one of the world’s most business friendly and open cities. It has world-class professionals, strategic location and serves as a gateway to China, with 20% of China’s trade being handled by Hong Kong. It also has Free Trade Agreements with ASEAN countries, and its investment promotion agreements being expanded.
Undersecretary Leung was presented with a Plaque of Appreciation by CACCI President Mr. Inaishvili and KCC Chairman Mr. Lee at the end of his Keynote Speech.
