Press Releases

Free Business Advice for SMEs at SUCCESS

Business starters and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can make appointment with the Trade and Industry Department's Support and Consultation Centre for SMEs (SUCCESS) to meet experts for advice on a wide range of issues pertinent to starting and running businesses. The meetings may be on a one-on-one basis or conducted in groups.

 A spokesman from the Trade and Industry Department said today (9 December), "SMEs have genuine needs for advice on a wide range of issues, ranging from how to start a business, to Government's licensing requirements, accounting and legal matters, financing, doing business in the Mainland, market expansion, corporate governance, and environmental management. The business advisory service of SUCCESS will provide them with professional advice on these issues."

 The Trade and Industry Department has solicited the support and assistance of about 30 trade and industry associations, industry support organisations, professional bodies, and private firms to run this service. It is also soliciting the support of various Government departments, which are major SME service providers, to help run the service. These organisations and Government departments are the strategic partners of SUCCESS and will send representatives and experts to man the "Meet-the-Advisors" sessions.

 SMEs and business starters who wish to make use of the free business advisory service are required to fill in a simple request form setting out the types of advice they are seeking and return it to the SUCCESS by fax (2737 2377) or in person (M/F., Trade and Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Kowloon). Under normal circumstances, SUCCESS will notify an individual SME of the arrangements for them to meet the relevant experts within ten days upon receipt of request from the former. For enquiries, please call 2398 5133.

 Occupying a total floor area of 300 square meters, SUCCESS is Government's flagship SME support centre. It has come into operation since 26 November. Through partnership with various Government departments and major SME service providers, the Centre provides SMEs with a comprehensive range of information, advice, and facilities under one roof. Apart the business advisory service, other services include:

 * workshops and seminars

* information and advice on Government licensing requirements

* information on a comprehensive range of SME support programmes

* a reference library

* audio-visual reference materials

* free access to the Internet and electronic databases

* SME Mentorship Programme

* SME book fairs

End/Sunday, December 9, 2001

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