(Hong Kong, 30 December 2003) Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited and the Panyu Foreign Economic & Trade Cooperation Bureau signed a cooperative agreement to promote the Jiangmao-link service in Pangyu. The cooperation will strengthen the trade relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland and facilitate the initiatives of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA).

Tradelink is a joint venture of the Hong Kong SAR government and the private sector whose shareholders are all key players in the local trading community. Backed by the strong support of the Hong Kong trading community and company shareholders, Tradelink has built up and maintained an impressive customer base of more than 53,000 companies.

The Panyu Foreign Economic & Trade Cooperation Bureau has been working closely with the China International Electronic Commerce Centre (CIECC) in developing electronic services for the China Processing Trade Scheme since 2000 and has since processed more than 25000 trade documents.

Jiangmao-Link, as a transaction platform, will facilitate traders and manufacturers in Panyu engaged in the China Processing Trade Scheme to send processing trade contracts directly to relevant government departments in China and the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department in a more efficient manner. It is believed the efficiency and productivity gained from the electronic service will facilitate more enterprises to invest and develop the China market under CEPA.