The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) is forecasting the growth of Hong Kong’s GDP to be 2.9 percent this year, its former chairwoman said on Friday.

“We will try our best to go through the hard time,” said Betty Yuen So Siu-mai, who is also a director of CLP Group, at HKGCC’s annual general meeting. “The chamber will increase the overseas visits and strengthen the corporation with the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year.”

The chamber’s mission is to ensure that Hong Kong remains a leader among the world’s most dynamic and competitive business and financial hubs and has been serving Hong Kong for the past 161 years

The HKGCC also selected Agnes Chan Sui-kuen as its new chairman the same day, while Guy Bradley was selected as new deputy chairman. Chan is the senior adviser in the Chairman’s Office of Ernst & Young Greater China.

“In the future, the HKGCC will still play an important role to connect the Chinese mainland and overseas.” Chan said. “Our members are across 40 different countries, and above 100 are on the Fortune Global 500 list, so we have a lot of advantages to act the role.

“Research results show that Hong Kong companies are optimistic about the prospects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Nearly half of the companies surveyed with operations in the area said they would increase investment in the area in the next year, while the rate of planning to increase investment in other regions on the mainland was 32 percent.” Chan said.

The pandemic greatly affected people’s consumption patterns and inbound visitor’s preferences, HKGCC CEO Patrick Yeung Wai-tim said at the meeting.

“We worked hard to grow our international connections in the past year, and the chamber will help our members and the wider business community in successfully navigating the challenges that lie ahead in the future,” Yeung said.

The chamber’s mission is to ensure that Hong Kong remains a leader among the world’s most dynamic and competitive business and financial hubs and has been serving Hong Kong for the past 161 years.

thor_wu@chinadailyhk.com