The first business conference of its kind in Bury St Edmunds to forge closer trade links with Hong Kong has been well supported.

Members of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) were in the town yesterday for the ‘Think Asia; Think Hong Kong: Finding Your Partners in Hong Kong’ business seminar.

Spearheaded by the deputy mayor of St Edmundsbury, Patrick Chung, the event gave businesses across west Suffolk the chance to learn more about how to seize trade opportunities with Hong Kong.

Mr Chung, who is originally from Hong Kong, said: “It’s a good opportunity for businesses to get information to forge trade links. We have got about 70 people here.”

Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, John Griffiths, said: “It is excellent that the HKTDC, who first visited west Suffolk at our invitation last November, recognise the enormous trading potential not only across St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath but Suffolk and the Eastern region.”

HKTDC representative David Marsden said the conference had been “such a positive experience”.

He said Hong Kong or Chinese companies looked for easy access to London and Heathrow Airport and the rest of Europe, which the area offered.

“There’s a lot of money flowing out of China looking for investments in the west and the transport links and strategic location are very important,” he said.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council co-hosted the business seminar.