Alaska International Business Center Opening Hong Kong Trade Office
Greg Wolf, president and CEO of the Alaska International Business Center, pictured in June at a meeting in San Francisco with (left to right) Alaska World Affairs Council CEO and President Lisa Eyler; Jacko Tsang, director of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in San Francisco; and the office’s deputy director Iris Wong.
Photo Credit: Alaska International Business Center
The Alaska International Business Center (akIBC) is establishing an office in Hong Kong to provide a platform for member companies seeking to initiate or expand business in and with China and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
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“China is now—and has been for the past thirteen years—Alaska’s largest overseas export market, with shipments from Alaska to China exceeding $1 billion annually. China is typically the largest buyer in virtually all of the state’s major export categories. It makes sense for us to have a presence in this important market on behalf of our business community,” says Greg Wolf, akIBC’s president and CEO.
The announcement was made July 1, coinciding with the 27th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom.
Wolf says akIBC chose Hong Kong for an office presence because it has historically been friendly to business as a world-class hub for trade, investment, and logistics. “For years we have been recommending Alaska companies, especially the small- and medium-sized ones, utilize the business friendly, and familiar business environment that Hong Kong possesses to build their trade and commerce with China,” he says.
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Jacko Tsang, director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, welcomed the interest by akIBC. “The decision by akIBC to utilize Hong Kong as the platform for its member companies to expand into Greater China is a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s continued role as the gateway for businesses interested in exploring the enormous market and abundant opportunities in Greater China,” says Tsang. “Alaska has been Hong Kong’s close partner, especially in aviation logistics. We look forward to closer economic and business relationships between Hong Kong and Alaska.”
Greg Wolf, president and CEO of the Alaska International Business Center, pictured in June at a meeting in San Francisco with (left to right) Alaska World Affairs Council CEO and President Lisa Eyler; Jianmin Zhang, consul general in San Francisco for the People’s Republic of China; and Peimin Wu, the consulate’s economic and commerce counselor.
Photo Credit: Alaska International Business Center
Zhang Jianmin, the Chinese consul general in San Francisco, expressed his congratulations to Wolf and akIBC. “Through this hub of creativity, you and your team will take advantage of what Hong Kong has to offer, and make even more contributions to China-US economic and trade exchanges and cooperation,” he says. “I wish you every success, and look forward to continuing to work closely with you to bring about more win-win cooperation between our two countries.”
The akIBC office is being set up in a co-work facility in the Harbour City district of Kowloon.
