Hong Kong appeals to the French SMES

For the past five years, the French flock to the former british colony of the empire of the Middle. Among them, many entrepreneurs. With China in focus.

But that is what makes running the French to hong Kong ? The number of citizens hexagonal in the former british colony has increased by 60 % in five years. Among them, a lot of entrepreneurs. Of course, they are found in areas that are historically dynamic : finance, insurance, luxury... And in traditional sectors among expats : the restoration ; the small business ; in the business of wine, which was more popular than ever. But now, also, in business less than expected.

as Was the case with Adrien Choux, who has launched his brand of watches stamped "made in China", and opened a boutique in the district of Wan Chai. Or Olivier Partrat, which develops from its offices in Hollywood Road to its business of bracelets anti-mosquito. That are they look for ? Without doubt, the simplicity of the administrative and financial to set up their own company. But not only that. Hong kong is also a strategic platform to Asia, and especially to mainland China. That gives her arguments in the face of its competitor Singapore. That said, the Middle kingdom is not just a magic wand. Finding a reliable partner is an obstacle course.

New vitality

The face of hong Kong a-t-he changed so much in recent years to attract as much crowds ? Yes and no. The territory became a special administrative region of the people's Republic of China in 1997, has about 7 million inhabitants, and always a gigantic port that doubled as a convention center and exhibition, which follow one another at a frenetic pace of international trade fairs. Hong kong, these are streets and shopping centres clad in illuminated signs. You give the dizzy.

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But, little by little, the island seems to assert a new modernity, under the leadership of a government is very proactive. Hong kong must be seen as a creative city ? It also establishes the programme "hong Kong, year of design" in 2012. Hong kong should sound "cleantechs" ? That's not a problem : a huge positive energy building, the Zero Carbon Building, lot of land on Kowloon, to serve as a showcase for green technologies.

the Hub at start-up

wouldn't be anything more that hong Kong is the play ground of start-ups. Although the corner notches (three accelerators could see the light of day by the end of the year), it is still far from the Silicon Valley.

of Course, technology centres with business incubators exist. This is the case of the Science & Technology Park, for the hard sciences, or even of the Cyberport, the digital technologies. Julien Peyrache has installed its start-up, Animakit Studios, in the hub of ICT. "We regret not to have invested the incubator to test the asian market at a lower cost," he says. Fourteen months of rent at a preferential rate, this is not negligible given the prohibitive cost of housing." Has this advantage adds up to € 35,000 of reimbursement of marketing expenses (trade shows...), costs of training or hiring. "We have been able to recruit a young animator 3D out of the school", adds Julien Peyrache. Other interest belonging to this structure, access to infrastructure and audiovisual techniques. Server high-speed internet, in-studio tv, "work stations", the editing room... "This is the ultimate, judge Julien Peyrache. The demos that we organize to make their small effect on the customer." Around the campus, tours, rental properties are still expensive. Then, the young entrepreneur has decided to stay in Wan Chai. Twenty minutes of him is enough to reach the Cyberport.

Despite these structures, cutting-edge, "the ecosystem" start-up is not yet very developed in hong Kong. "There are few investors, no mentors, you can quickly feel a bit alone, describes Paul Orlando, an American who has just launched the first support programme for start-ups over three months (AcceleratorHK)." Difficult, indeed, to change what is in scope for culture. "In my program, I have it professionals talented, tells Paul Orlando. When they meet a girl, they lie and say they are working in the back office in finance. Start-uper, this is not a status !"