Hong Kong is an excellent example of an economy in constant adaption to the global realities around it. Through the centuries, it has played a critical role as a trading and financial centre of Asia. Several times, for example during its return to China, predictions of its decline have run rampant. Yet Hong Kong soldiers ...

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Mention China and everyone immediately thinks of the continuing extension of China’s economic growth to new areas of China. Few remember that China’s economic rejuvenation began in Guangdong Province and its capital of Guangzhou. As China began its initial reforms and the businesses of Hong Kong responded to growing global competitive pressures, manufacturers began leaving ...

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With the ink barely dry, it is evident that Chongqing is moving to implementation of the 12th Five Year Plan. Chongqing is the latest city designated by the Chinese government for development and more specifically for opening up Western China. They are moving fast. Back home in Ottawa, we struggle with issues of financing both ...

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Once more in China, and once more learning. I attended the Canada China Business Council’s (CCBC) 33rd AGM and banquet. Listening to the remarks was interesting. The Honourable John Manley, President and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), discussed a recently released report sponsored by the CCBC and CCCE entitled “Canada, China ...

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On Thursday 15 November, I had the privilege of assisting in recognizing Canada’s 10 Most Influential Hispanics. I was on the stage with the Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Canada’s Minister of State for the America’s and Mauricio Ospina, the founder and a director of the Canadian Hispanic Business Association. Such award ceremonies are often considered boring ...

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Our second set of visitors during Thanksgiving week came from the China Association of Environmental Protection Industries (CAEPI). The Association management has come to Canada with ten of its members. The difference with this group from our usual groups from China is that they are all companies and principally owned by individuals. Our introduction to ...

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It is often said that Ottawa’s technology sector is one of Canada’s greatest secrets. The week following Canadian Thanksgiving is an example of how we are changing that. Tuesday saw a visit from our digital media and film consultant in California, Gathers Strategies. Wednesday, we hosted our first private sector association visit from China, The ...

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Forbes Magazine makes it official on 4 October, Canada is the best place in the world to do business. The news flashes in to the Blackberries of the over 50 attendees at the annual gathering of the economic development agencies of eleven of Canada’s largest cities with Trade Commissioners representing Canadian posts throughout the world. ...

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Day 2 at the Z-Park Forum always features a Roundtable discussion amongst various innovation centres around the world. This year, nine Science Parks from around China are joined by counterparts in Tokyo, Taipei, Cambridge, Sophia Antipolis, Surrey and Ottawa. Several points are raised by the foreign guests about innovation. One recurring theme is that innovation ...

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Often overlooked in China’s new five year plan is a commitment to building the innovation capacity within the country. The theme for this year’s Annual Conference of the Zhongguancun (Z-Park) Forum is “Driven by Innovation”. The first speaker, Xu Guanhua the Chair of the Conference, clearly indicates that innovation is critical to China’s future, to ...

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