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Press Release
SME
Development Fund invites applications
Tuesday, November
30, 2004
The Trade and
Industry Department (TID) will start to invite applications for the fourth round
of the SME Development Fund (SDF) tomorrow (December 1). The deadline for
applications is January 28, 2005.
"We
welcome non-profit-distributing support organisations, trade and industrial
organisations, professional bodies and research institutes to come up with
funding proposals to help enhance the competitiveness of SMEs in general or in
specific sectors," a spokesman for the TID said.
"The
proposals can be projects which help SMEs identify the way forward and leverage
on new business opportunities; projects which help raise SMEs' awareness on
specific know-how, technologies, best practices and skills; projects which help
SMEs build capabilities on IT, human resources, financial management, marketing
and brand-building; and indeed any initiatives which are of practical benefit to
SMEs," he said.
The maximum
amount of funding for an approved SDF project is $2 million, or 90% of the total
project expenditure, whichever is less. The applicant will have to contribute
the remaining amount, which may be in cash, in kind or in the form of
third-party sponsorship.
Each
applicant may put in up to four applications in the current round.
Applications
received will be considered by the SDF Vetting Committee, which is chaired by
the Director-General of Trade and Industry and comprises industrialists,
businessmen, SME entrepreneurs, professionals, academics, and members of the SME
Committee.
Application
forms and the guide for applicants are available at the SDF Secretariat, 4/F
Trade and Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong
Kong. They may also be downloaded from the homepage of the SME Funding Schemes (www.smefund.tid.gov.hk).
A list of the previously approved SDF projects can also be accessed from the
website.
For
enquiries, please contact the SDF Secretariat by phone on 2398 5128 or via
e-mail: sdf_enquiry@tid.gov.hk.
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