3 important charts that explain Hong Kong's 'prudent' economic outlook

SMEs to play crucial role next year.

Senior finance executives from mid-sized enterprises in Hong Kong have expressed a prudent outlook for 2014 on the local economy, along with expectations for business growth - despite conservative company expansion plans for the next twelve months. Concerns about talent retention, the external economic environment and increased operating costs were mentioned as weighing heavily on the minds of CFOs for the coming year, according to the American Express Hong Kong Business Momentum Survey 2013.

The survey, released today, was conducted by independent global information and measurement company Nielsen, and gauged the views of senior finance executives on the economic and business environment, and to understand their business and spending plans, investment, cost control, and key challenges in relation to driving business growth.

“SMEs are an important part of the Hong Kong economy and contribute significantly to the growth of this market. It is vital to understand their views and insights on the operational environment that will reflect the support that they might need to achieve business goals,” said Ms. Jacinta Sheahan, Vice President & General Manager, Global Corporate Payments, Hong Kong & Taiwan, American Express.