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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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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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