IMPEX was proud to attend the 2018 Chartered Institute of Arbitrators- Australia Business Lunch featuring Guest Speaker, Alan Oxley held at the RACV Club, Melbourne. The lunch was attended by distinguished guests including The Hon Martin Pakula, Attorney General of Victoria, members of the judiciary, institutes and commercial enterprises.
Alan Oxley was a career diplomat with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with postings at the United Nations in New York and Geneva. He served as Australia’s Ambassador to the GATT and Chairman of the GATT Contracting Parties, the predecessor to the World Trade Organization and he is one of the world’s leading experts on globalisation and international trade.

Ambassador Oxley spoke on the topic: Opportunities for International Arbitration in the Asia Pacific.

August 2018.

28 June 2018 – IMPEX was proud to participate in the Australian trade and investment delegation for the the third Belt and Road Summit, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), welcomed some 5,000 participants from 55 countries and regions at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. More than 80 government and business leaders from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and countries around the world shared their insights on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the new opportunities presented to different industries. In addition, governments and companies of several Belt and Road countries signed agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to implement cooperation plans. The HKTDC also arranged Project Pitching sessions and close to 500 One-to-one Business Matching Meetings for participants to foster concrete cooperation and realise the Summit’s theme of “Collaborate for Success”.

At the opening session, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, delivered the opening remarks. Xiao Yaqing, Chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China; Ning Jizhe, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, the People’s Republic of China; and Gao Yan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, the People’s Republic of China, delivered special addresses. Dr Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, gave the keynote speech and shared how the Belt and Road Initiative drove the steady growth of the global economy and how Thailand and other ASEAN countries could get involved.

In his welcome remarks, Vincent HS Lo, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “In just four and a half years, the Initiative has achieved significant progress. New projects such as railways and roads, ports and power plants have begun in numerous countries around the world. At the same time, new opportunities are opening up, as the Initiative goes beyond infrastructure to technology, manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, tourism and many others. For something as far-reaching in scope and global in scale as the Belt and Road, we must find the right partners to make the right choices. As the commercial hub for the Belt and Road, Hong Kong is the best place to turn Belt and Road concepts into viable commercial ventures.”

A milestone for Hong Kong-Georgia economic and trade cooperation Hong Kong and Georgia signed a free trade agreement (FTA) at the Summit. Georgia is located along the Silk Road Economic Belt of the Belt and Road and is a logistics and transhipment corridor to the Caucasus and Central Asia. The railway linking Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey began operation last year, further strengthening Georgia’s role as a transportation hub connecting Europe and Asia. More transportation and infrastructure projects will be started in Georgia in the future, creating a keen demand for investment and professional services.

 

The common law in operation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: the Hong Kong story

Since 1841, the common law system has been Hong Kong’s legal system.  Some regard it as quite remarkable that such a system, with its roots in mediaeval England, Edward the Confessor and Magna Carta, should apply in a small region in the Far East.  It is, however, even more astonishing to learn that this system, since 1997, still prevails in this most modern and financial of cities.  Many interesting questions arise.  Why was this system regarded as appropriate for Hong Kong when the rest of the country operates under a quite different system of law?  And what are the characteristics of the common law system in Hong Kong?  Is it largely the same system as exists in Australia, England and other established common law jurisdictions, or is Hong Kong different?  The speaker will, in the course of addressing these matters, focus on the fundamentals of the common law, for it is always the fundamentals that will define the true nature and efficacy of any legal system.

The Honourable Chief Justice Geoffrey MA Tao-li, GBM

Chief Justice Ma was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal on 1 September 2010.

Chief Justice Ma was born in Hong Kong in 1956. He studied law and graduated with an LLB from Birmingham University in 1977. After completing the Bar Finals in 1978, he was called to the English Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1978, the Hong Kong Bar in 1980, the Bar of the State of Victoria in Australia in 1983 and the Bar of Singapore in 1990. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1993. He became an Honorary Bencher of Gray’s Inn in 2004. In 2011, he was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the University of Birmingham. In 2012, he became an Honorary Fellow of Harris Manchester College, Oxford.  In 2016, he became an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple and was admitted to the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Chief Justice Ma was appointed a Recorder of the Court of First Instance from 2000 to 2001 before his appointment as a Judge of the Court of First Instance in 2001. He was appointed a Justice of Appeal in 2002, and became Chief Judge of the High Court in 2003. Before joining the Judiciary, Chief Justice Ma was in private practice in Hong Kong and in Singapore.

Chief Justice Ma is a Patron of the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law; he is also a Patron of the International Advocacy Training Council.

Chief Justice Ma was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in June 2012.

“The common law in operation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: the Hong Kong story” presented by the Honourable Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma, Chief Justice of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.

23 May 2018 Melbourne Law School.

 

Annual celebrations for the Hong Kong Government with the HKTDC for the Year of the Dog Chinese New Year celebrations at the RACV club Melbourne with Helen Sawczak National CEO Australian China Business Council & Ms. Bonnie Shek- Head of Australia & New Zealand – Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

IMPEX was proud to have participated in the Australian trade and investment delegation at the Asian Financial Forum held in Hong Kong on the 15/16 January 2018.

The Asian Financial Forum (AFF) brings together some of the most influential members of the global financial and business community to discuss developments and trends in the dynamic markets of Asia. The AFF attracts through invitation-only,  over 100 internationally respected leaders in government, financial and business sectors to gather for groundbreaking discussions about opportunities and challenges facing Asia.The tenth AFF attracted more than 2,900 participants from 50 countries and regions, about 85% of them were CEOs and senior decision makers. More than 440 journalists and media representatives attended the forum.

The AFF 2018 was kicked off with opening remarks from The Hon Carrie Lam, GBM, GBS- The Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

For an overview to the session summaries (click here).

Inspiring to hear from our own Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, Australia- The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP

To hear the Minister Kelly O’Dwyer’s address (click here for speech).

IMPEX was also pleased to have again represented several Australian and International clients in the Deal Flow Matching sessions (click here for details).

AFF Deal Flow is a unique deal-sourcing and matchmaking session connecting sources of funds with sources of deals.

This platform enables participants to meet with potential business partners from around the world, based on their shared areas of interest. This is a vital platform providing investment opportunities for Chinese investors who are seeking overseas opportunities and Chinese project owners who are seeking overseas investors. More than 1,800 companies took part in the past editions, including investment project owners, private equity firms, corporate investors, high net-worth individuals and senior professionals from intermediaries and professional services providers.

IMPEX was delighted to attend with 150 other guests, an exclusive Enterprise Victoria dinner with guest speakers Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison (now Prime Minister) and Victorian Opposition Leader Mathew Guy.

Enterprise Victoria is the Liberal Party’s leading business networking forum.

Enterprise Victoria provides the opportunity for senior Liberals to consult regularly with business leaders, as well as practical support for the election of Liberal governments at Federal and State levels.

October 2017.

IMPEX arranged a tour of Swinburn University’s Centre of Advanced Manufacturing Technology by the Victorian Chief Scientist Dr. Amanda Caples and the Minister of State Gavin Jennings. The tour was in aid of understanding one of IMPEX’s exciting client initiatives in the nanotechnology field. The company EDEN BDM LTD is leading the world in renewable energy solutions as a premium nanomaterials and energy technology innovator and manufacturer.

Over $60M has been spent on research, development and prototyping to create a low-cost energy storage solution that will disrupt the existing solar and energy storage products market.

Its revolutionary integrated thin film solar generation, with graphene-based supercapacitor energy storage, is a world first.

Next generation EDEN thin film technology enables an economical mass transition to completely off grid energy systems and electric vehicle mobility for both developed and developing countries. The resulting renewable energy solutions provide alternatives to current conventional photovoltaic solar panels and lithium ion battery storage.

The implications of EDEN’s technology is far reaching – from affordable, completely ‘off the grid’ home energy solutions; through to widespread development and adoption of low-cost electric mobility and transport. Both are imminent within the next 3 – 5 years.

IMPEX Managing Director Joseph Buccheri joined the board of EDEN BDM LTD. for the 2018/19 year to assist with the company’s rapid growth trajectory to commercialisation.

October 2017

IMPEX was pleased to facilitate meetings with Tasmanian Government officials to open dialogue with how the State can access the opportunities for trade and investment with Hong Kong & China. Our meetings canvassed a wide array of topics including the negotiations underway for a HK Australia Free Trade Agreement and how Tasmanian government and business might capitalise on these initiatives through channels including the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.

The Hon. Michael Ferguson MP is the Minister for Health, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Minister for Science and Technology, Leader of the House.

Michael served in the Federal Howard Government as the Member for Bass between 2004-2007, achieving a number of things for the community including funding for local services, record low unemployment in Bass and infrastructure projects including the $60 million East Tamar Highway upgrade.

Elected to State Parliament as the Liberal Member for Bass in 2010, Michael achieved the highest support in Bass in that election. Despite this, Michael has never taken votes for granted and continues to work every day for an even stronger Northern Tasmania.

October 2017.

IMPEX was proud to attend as a guest to the official signing ceremony for joint bi-lateral trade and investment between Jilin City China and the Victorian Government at Parliament House in Melbourne.

Jilin City, located in Jilin province, is a strategic location in shaping many industries in Northeast China, such as automotive manufacturing Ultimately, Jilin City aims to become a new auto industry hub, producing more than 1 million vehicles a year with Australia looking to support through advanced manufacturing technologies and value added material exports.

September 2017.

About Belt and Road Summit

Date	11 September 2017 (Monday)
Venue	Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Organiser	The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Theme	From Vision to Action
Introduction	The Belt and Road Summit is an invitation only event that brings together senior government officials, representatives of international institutions, business leaders and industry experts from countries along and beyond the Belt and Road to exchange views on multilateral co-operation and explore new business opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative. This year’s Summit will feature about 40 speakers and the attendance is expected to exceed the inaugural edition (2,400 participants).
Language	English (supported by simultaneous interpretation in Putonghua)

IMPEX was proud to be invited on the official Australian delegation: