Trade portal to expand content

In an advisory on genetically-modified food, the Trade Development Council (TDC) reminds manufacturers and exporters of the new labelling requirements of European Union markets.

This notification is meant mainly for small and medium-size enterprises, and has been posted on the trade portal tdctrade.com. Trade news crucial for SMEs is among the many services that the portal is offering on-line.

TDC chairman, Victor Fung, described the portal as a 'service that helps other people make money'. Of course, TDC will also make money. Some services, such as the on-line product catalogue, charge manufactures and suppliers.

In many ways, it is like an electronic trade fair, a global platform for sourcing and even marketing products and services.

A little more than a month on line, the trade gateway is being further developed considering the encouraging response so far, according to Anna Lai, deputy executive director of the TDC.

Additional services and features are being introduced and more strategic partners are being sought for this English and Chinese clicks and mortar initiative. Improvements will be undertaken in the next three to six months for the free service which is an extension of the TDC's trade promotion services. While promoting the gateway overseas, the TDC plans to develop vertical portals with specific content. Vertical portals, or vortals, provide access to information on particular industries.