On October 24, 2005, the Hon. Huang Huahua, Governor of Guangdong Province and the Hon. Donald Tsang, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, led a 500-person trade delegation to Vancouver, British Columbia and hosted the Hong Kong – Guangdong Business Forum in Canada 2005.

The Forum was the first official business event of its kind to be held in Canada, and the first official visit by Hong Kong’s new Chief Executive, Donald Tsang. The high-profile event attracted more than 1000 Canadian business delegates and helped forge new business relationships between Canada and some of the world’s fastest growing economies.

The event host - The Vancouver Board of Trade - turned to the Pace Group to coordinate all forum logistics and event preparations for the visiting heads of state, Premier Gordon Campbell and Federal Industry Minister David Emerson.

The Pace Group developed invitation lists, the forum program and coordinated media relations for a host of local, national and international media.

Objectives:
Position Hong Kong and Guangdong as opportunities for trade and commerce, attract at least 1,000 attendees, as well as leading political figures.

Outcomes:
The forum topped its targeted business attendance, and attracted the Premier, as well as Hon. David Emerson, reinforcing the significance of the Forum to the Province of BC and the Government of Canada.