The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) was established in 1966 as the statutory body responsible for promoting and expanding Hong Kong's external trade. It also promotes Hong Kong as an international hub for business, and is an important partner of the Government in upholding a positive image of Hong Kong world-wide. Part of the TDC's funding comes from the Government.

With a network of 47 offices in 30 countries and regions around the world, as well as a wide range of promotional events, information and business services, the TDC serves as the global marketing arm for Hong Kong manufacturers and service providers, especially the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises which are the TDC's main clientele. In 2000, it organised some 380 events in Hong Kong and overseas.

To promote Hong Kong's merchandise trade and service exports, the TDC organised 15 international trade fairs (some of which were the biggest in the region) and four public exhibitions in Hong Kong during the year. These events attracted 11 000 exhibitors and over 1.1 million visitors, including some 110 400 overseas visitors. To further encourage Hong Kong companies to step up their marketing efforts in seizing the opportunities associated with the rebounding markets in Asia and China's pending accession to the WTO, the TDC will reduce the participation fees for its local trade fairs starting from April 2001. This follows an across-the-board freeze on all TDC fees and charges for three successive years.

The TDC also organised participation by Hong Kong companies at major trade events around the world, including emerging markets such as the Middle East and Latin America. In particular, efforts were devoted to expanding and upgrading the Hong Kong pavilions at overseas trade fairs so as to help bolster the image and competitive positioning of the participating Hong Kong companies. Another focus was on emerging industries, such as vehicle parts and accessories, and health products derived from traditional Chinese medicine.

A highlight of the year was the Hong Kong Expo 2000 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, which attracted more than 125 000 visitors. It covered a wide range of Hong Kong brand name products, including garments and electrical appliances. Strong emphasis was also placed on positioning Hong Kong as a provider of services to businesses in the Mainland, especially those looking for international partners and markets.

The TDC continued to facilitate trade through market intelligence, trade matching and an expanding range of e-commerce applications. Its self-developed Internet portal, tdctrade.com, provides comprehensive trade information, e-commerce facilities and other value-added services, most of which are available free of charge. The portal has been significantly enhanced by the launch of five vertical portals tailor-made for different manufacturing sectors. The portals offer convenient access to a wealth of industry-specific business news and market intelligence.

Access by overseas users to the TDC's databank of 100 000 local companies was further liberalised during the year, enabling the users to get more information free of charge. By the end of the year, the TDC's global databank of business contacts had expanded to 600 000.

In addition, the TDC produced more than 100 research publications; maintained an on-line product catalogue and published 14 trade magazines and numerous supplements; handled more than 750 000 trade enquiries; and organised some 140 business training seminars and workshops for SMEs. It also published the SME Newsletter, which was distributed to more than 15 000 companies, and the SME News Flash to disseminate important trade news on-line. A Customer Service line and a Customer Service Centre have been introduced to provide personalised one-stop service.

During the year, the TDC continued its efforts in reinforcing Hong Kong's image as an international hub for business through high-level business seminars, roadshows, 'Hong Kong Dinners' in the world's business capitals, speaking engagements at international fora, global advertising campaigns in the world's top business publications, and its business newspaper Hong Kong Trader, which is distributed to senior corporate executives and decision-makers around the world. The TDC's sophisticated global networking also comprises bilateral business committees for the United States, the European Union and Japan, and 29 Hong Kong Business Associations around the world. In November, the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide was set up to serve as a platform for greater co-operation and business linkages among member associations and other business partners that have a connection to Hong Kong.