On June 11, the Alatau City Authority of Kazakhstan held an investment roundtable in Hong Kong, further building on the momentum of a recent business delegation led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The event, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev and Chief Executive Lee, brought together government officials, leading enterprises, and investors from Kazakhstan, the Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong to explore investment opportunities in Alatau City, a new greenfield project near Almaty. Sectors highlighted included fintech, the low-altitude economy, smart city development, and infrastructure.
Chief Executive Lee emphasized Hong Kong's commitment to collaboration, stating, "Kazakhstan's ambitious reforms and its open, welcoming attitude towards international partners were both welcome and impressive. And Hong Kong is eager to build on this momentum, to explore wide-ranging business and investment co-operation with Kazakhstan - Alatau City very much included." He noted Hong Kong's unique advantage under the "one country, two systems" principle as a gateway combining China and global benefits.
The roundtable followed a five-day Central Asia visit from June 1 to 5, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which resulted in 96 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements. Of these, 66 were signed by the business delegation covering trade, investment, finance, technology, and aviation; 15 were government-level agreements; and 15 were from non-delegation members in areas like academia and culture. These outcomes are expected to deepen economic ties between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a platform for Mainland enterprises expanding globally.
During the roundtable, Templewater Limited, a delegation member, signed an MoU with DASCO Capital to explore a fund supporting Kazakhstan's development and the Alatau City Project. Silas Chu, Director of Exhibitions and Digital Business of HKTDC, highlighted the council's commitment to Central Asia, noting its Almaty consultant office established in 2018. The HKTDC plans to leverage platforms like the Belt and Road Summit and InnoEX to attract international investors and technology partners.
The event underscores the growing economic partnership between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan, with Alatau City representing a key investment opportunity for businesses seeking to participate in Central Asia's development under the Belt and Road Initiative.
