A business delegation led by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has concluded its Central Asia tour, signing 66 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements during stops in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The visit, which ran from June 1 to 5, aimed to explore emerging markets, strengthen government ties, and establish a hub-to-hub cooperation model between Hong Kong and Central Asia.
The delegation, comprising 75 business leaders from Hong Kong and 17 Chinese mainland provinces, attended over 20 events and inspected projects in finance, innovation, technology, and infrastructure. The signed agreements cover trade, investment, finance, technology, and aviation, among other sectors. Additionally, 15 government-level cooperation agreements and 15 MoUs involving non-delegation members in academia and culture were signed, bringing the total to 96 agreements.
Key outcomes include agreements between the HKTDC and Kazakhstan's Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, as well as with the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). The Airport Authority Hong Kong signed with Almaty International Airport, and several financial institutions, including Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and Bank of China (Hong Kong), inked deals with Kazakh counterparts. In Uzbekistan, agreements were signed with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and IT Park Uzbekistan, among others.
Chief Executive John Lee highlighted the visit's success in achieving eight major outcomes, including high-level meetings with presidents and prime ministers of both countries. Uzbekistan agreed to establish a Consulate General in Hong Kong, and multiple investment projects were finalized. The hub-to-hub cooperation model is expected to drive broader collaboration and high-quality development.
HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma emphasized Hong Kong's role as a bridge under the Belt and Road Initiative, stating, "Hong Kong, with its international credibility, robust institutional framework, world-class professional services and the HKTDC's global network, serves not only as a key springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global, but also as a gateway for overseas enterprises to enter the Mainland market."
The HKTDC will follow up on key projects by providing post-mission business matching and support services to expedite implementation. The delegation included representatives from journalism associations for the first time, in line with the Policy Address to expand media networks. The visit underscores Hong Kong's strategic position in facilitating two-way investment and trade flows under the Belt and Road Initiative.
