Chongqing - Lillian Cheong Man Lei, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, will present Hong Kong's latest tech advancements at the Hong Kong and Chongqing Innovation Cooperation Conference on May 23-26 in Chongqing.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (left) learned about the application of the ultrasound therapeutic device while visiting the Jinfeng Laboratory in Chongqing on May 11, 2023. (Photo/HKSAR Government)

As a key event at the 6th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT),  the Hong Kong and Chongqing Innovation Cooperation Conference marks the first anniversary of the cooperation mechanism.

Co-organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Chongqing Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Association, the event focuses on innovation as a key driver in strategic cooperation between Chongqing and Hong Kong. Chai Ngai Chiu, Chairman of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, will provide a keynote speech.

This year's event will explore technological innovations in intelligent manufacturing, biomedicine, and AI and innovations in management, marketing, and business models. Prominent entrepreneurs and leaders from Chongqing and Hong Kong will speak and moderate, fostering a vibrant exchange of ideas.

Participants will include Zhou Lin, Chief Technology Officer of Seres Group, Yan Mei, CEO of GeneSense, Zeng Peng, General Manager of SenseTime Chongqing branch, and Xu Hui, Deputy Director of Jinfeng Laboratory. They will discuss the integration of technology and innovation between the two regions to foster synergistic development across domestic and international markets.

Executives from Deloitte, Bilibili, 800 TeleServices, and Chongqing Chaotianmen Catering Holding Group will discuss Hong Kong companies investing in Chongqing, how Chongqing's food brands use Hong Kong to expand internationally, and innovative strategies in the audio chain industry to engage young consumers.

Hong Kong is crucial to Chongqing's foreign investment strategy, with over 3,500 Hong Kong-funded enterprises worth $72.1 billion. Chongqing's investments in Hong Kong exceed $3 billion, 12% of its total outward FDI.

Chongqing boasts over 3,500 Hong Kong-funded enterprises. (Graphic/Zheng Ran)

From January to March this year, Chongqing has seen a 56% increase in new Hong Kong-funded enterprises and a 145.8% rise in the utilization of foreign capital. In 2023, trade between Chongqing and Hong Kong reached 55.48 billion yuan (about USD 7.67 billion), making Hong Kong the city's third-largest trading partner.