Hong Kong, as Asia's world city, is proactively attracting international high-caliber talent to tie in with the development under the strategic positioning of the "eight centers", to inject impetus into its high-quality development, according to the city’s labor chief.

Chris Sun Yuk-han said this during a pitch event in Munich, Germany on Sunday, concluding his six-day visit to Europe.

Attending the pitch event co-organized by the Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) and a local youth entrepreneurship organization, the secretary for labour and welfare officiated at the prize presentation ceremony.

He praised the candidates for their business proposals ingeniously integrating with Hong Kong's strengths and targeting the Asian markets and highlighted that technology as well as talent are key engines driving the economy and society towards high-quality development.

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The pitch event targeted students from eligible universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme and young entrepreneurs, inviting talents in Germany with entrepreneurial ambitions and intentions to develop in Asia, according to the government.

Nearly 580 proposals for the pitch event were received across various fields, including artificial intelligence, deep tech, climate, and sustainability, as well as health and biotechnology.

Twelve winners were selected and will be arranged to tour Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in September to explore the region's I&T ecosystem, industry support, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

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During his stay in Germany, Sun also had lunch with the Junior Chamber International Germany and a group of foreign students in Germany, where he introduced the latest developments in Hong Kong and invited them to consider pursuing their development in the city.