WESTERN EUROPE

SINGAPORE: Digital Trade Agreement Signed with the United Kingdom

10 March 2022

Singapore has signed a new digital trade deal with the UK. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry press release, the UK-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement (UKSDEA), signed on 25 February 2022, will boost end-to-end digital trade through common digital systems for e-invoicing and e-payments. More

Tech & Innovation

Medtech firms prescribe Hong Kong

09 March 2022

The rapid growth of healthcare spending, combined with accommodating financial markets, has made Hong Kong the perfect springboard into Asia for new biotech businesses. Acknowledging this, experts at the recent “Maximising Business Opportunities through Hong Kong on Healthcare Technology and Investment Collaboration” webinar, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), set out to explain how European healthcare start‑ups and other companies can leverage the city’s strategic position, especially its close ties with Mainland China, to benefit from the rapid growth of healthcare spending in the region. More

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Post-Covid Prospects: Switzerland

23 February 2022

Switzerland, with a high level of immunity among its population due to vaccinations and earlier infections, has lifted almost all pandemic-related restrictions. This interview looks at how the Swiss economy and its various forward-thinking business ecosystems are ready to work with their Hong Kong counterparts for a better, post-pandemic future. More

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Post-Brexit Renegotiation of Northern Ireland Protocol Continues in EU-UK Bid to Reach Agreement

15 February 2022

On 11 February 2022, the UK's foreign secretary Liz Truss and the European Commission’s Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič failed to reach agreement despite in-person negotiations over the existing Northern Ireland Protocol. The two sides have vowed to continue negotiations intensively, with a view to amending the existing deal. More

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Post-Covid Prospects: Sweden

01 December 2021

The Swedish economy has bounced back more rapidly than many others in Europe, with activity returning to pre-Covid-19 levels as early as Q2 2021. This interview discovers how the Nordic region’s largest economy and its businesses are promoting a more sustainable recovery worldwide in partnership with their Hong Kong counterparts. More

Creativity & Lifestyle

Driving diversity in modelling

29 November 2021

Noting that advertising campaigns often feature unrealistically shaped models, Hong Kong Model Camp seeks to encourage clients to accept themselves for who they are. The local start-up’s clients range from wannabe models to professionals keen to act more confidently in meetings. More

Market Opportunities

Connectivity rules for hub cities

23 November 2021

London and Hong Kong have long functioned as hubs for massive geopolitical regions – the North Atlantic comprising Europe and North America, and Asia-Pacific. More

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EU Proposes Vastly Reduced Checks on Goods from GB Entering Northern Ireland

19 October 2021

The entry checks on goods from Great Britain imposed by the Northern Ireland Protocol present a significant practical obstacle to intra-UK trade and have revived internal political tensions. Following the UK government’s calls for change, the European Commission proposed new arrangements on 13 October 2021, subject to further negotiation, under which the relevant checks would be reduced. More

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Post-Covid Prospects: France

06 October 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant economic swings within the second-largest Euro area economy. Thanks to a series of emergency aids and a historic €100 billion stimulus plan, however, the French economy is inching towards pre-pandemic levels, with GDP growth reaching 6.5% this year. This interview discovers how France and its businesses are preparing to thrive in partnership with their Hong Kong counterparts in the post-pandemic period. More

hktdc research

UK Extends Acceptance of EU’s CE Marking on Goods until End of 2022

04 October 2021

The UK Government has announced that it will give businesses more time to adapt to the introduction of the new UK Conformity Assessment marking (the “UKCA”) which replaces the EU’s mandatory CE marking following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Initially, the UK government had announced that products sold in Great Britain which previously had to bear the EU’s CE marking, would need to carry the new UKCA marking from 1 January 2022. More

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