Transact Link is launched today (March 26) by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) and LINE, the e-logistics division of Hutchison Port Holdings.

Developed by LINE and accessible through tdctrade.com and transactlink.net, Transact Link enables Hong Kong suppliers to promote their goods to overseas buyers, complete trading and logistics documentation and conduct real-time business in a secure online environment. Transact Link has been developed to enable Hong Kong businesses to reach existing and potential new customers around the world in the most efficient and cost-effective way

"Hong Kong is one of the most important trade, transportation and logistics hubs in the world and this provides the ideal environment for the launch of Transact Link," said Aaron Mak, Chief Executive Officer of LINE. "Transact Link will bring savings in time and labour costs by enabling seamless and paperless communication and transaction between trading partners."

Mrs. Anna Lai, TDC's Deputy Executive Director said: "TDC is dedicated to serving Hong Kong's 300,000 SMEs. We help them capture new opportunities and face challenges. Right now, these are unprecedented, especially with China's impending entry to the WTO and the growing trend in economic globalisation. These are factored into our cyber strategy to help Hong Kong companies compete through value adding, market knowledge and e-commerce. The partnership with LINE is a major catalyst for us to strengthen our e-support to SMEs. "

The Transact Link community enables shippers to connect with all service providers including freight forwarders, carriers, warehouse operators, truckers and financial institutions. There is an agreement in place to provide seamless integration for Transact Link users. We are in discussion with Tradelink (which provides electronic documentation for import and export declarations) to allow Transact Link users to connect to Tradelink's trade declaration service.

All electronic correspondence within Transact Link is in real time, providing the users with complete visibility and control over the flow of information. The system uses the latest security and encryption protocols to ensure that all transactions are conducted in a highly secure and confidential environment.

Transact Link currently offers the following web-enabled and integrated services:

• Promotional Services - send promotional materials to targeted companies

• Procurement Services - prepare, send and receive procurement documents electronically

• Logistics Document Services - exchange documentation with transportation operators electronically

• Government Declaration Services - prepare and submit trade declarations online

• Through partnerships, Transact Link offers other value-added services to help Hong Kong SME's to access the Internet and get competitive prices for insurance, fuel, office supplies and express services.

• Payment Settlement - for transport related charges (available soon)

For media enquiries, please contact the followings:

Russell Green
Senior Vice President - Corporate Communications
LINE
Tel: 3161 2222
e-mail: Russell.green@line.net

Or

Lawrence Yau
Manager, New Media & Corporate Communication
TDC
Tel: 2584 4510
e-mail: Lawrence.yau@tdc.org.hk

About LINE

Logistics Information Network Enterprise (LINE) provides comprehensive solutions for the transport and logistics industry to enable companies to move goods around the world in the simplest and most efficient way. LINE has five product categories, offering every participant in the supply chain access to new levels of efficiency and the opportunity to provide quantifiably better service to their customers. These categories are: StreamLINE, TradeLINE, InformationLINE, MarineLINE and SolutionLINE.

LINE is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), an independent port investor, developer and operator with operations in 19 ports in Asia, Europe and the Americas.