Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will use more resources in 2009 to help local firms develop the Chinese mainland market, an official said in Hong Kong on Thursday.

The figure is 25 percent more than that of 2008, said Benjamin Chau, assistant executive director of the HKTDC, in a conference aiming at helping Hong Kong enterprises in Dongguan of Guangdong Province.

Given the continuing global financial crisis, Hong Kong enterprises in Guangdong are under great pressure and face challenges to survive, while the markets in the United States, Europe and Japan, which are Hong Kong's traditional export markets, are shrinking in 2009, Chau said.

Hong Kong's total exports will decline 6 percent in 2009, according to reports from the HKTDC.

"The first half of 2009 is the most tough time for our exporters", Chau said. "During the financial turmoil, the company needs to acquire orders. It is very important in 2009 for TDC to help local exporters find new market, especially mainland market. We will put more resource to help them selling goods in mainland," he said.

As one of the efforts to assist Hong Kong manufacturing companies to survive under the financial turmoil, HKTDC and the Dongguan government have signed an agreement to help Hong Kong enterprises in Dongguan develop new market.

Under the agreement, HKTDC will use its resources and platform to encourage local companies taking part in various kinds of trade shows, meeting new buyers and looking for more markets.

HKTDC has already established an assistant package of 120 million HK dollars (about 15.48 million US dollars) for local exhibitors' promotion activities.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2009)