A business delegation led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has concluded a visit to Central Asia, signing 96 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The delegation, which included 75 business leaders from Hong Kong and mainland Chinese enterprises, aimed to deepen economic ties and explore emerging markets under the Belt and Road Initiative.
During the visit, 66 MoUs were signed by delegation members, covering sectors such as trade, investment, finance, technology, and aviation. An additional 15 government-level cooperation agreements and 15 MoUs by non-delegation members in academia and culture brought the total to 96. Notable signings included agreements between the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Kazakhstan’s Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, as well as with the Astana International Financial Centre and Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Key outcomes included agreements between the Airport Authority Hong Kong and Almaty International Airport, and between Cathay Pacific and Almaty International Airport and the Almaty City Government for tourism development. In Uzbekistan, the delegation met with senior officials from the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, and the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce. Uzbekistan agreed to establish a Consulate General in Hong Kong, further strengthening bilateral ties.
Chief Executive John Lee highlighted eight major outcomes from the visit, emphasizing the establishment of a hub-to-hub cooperation model between Hong Kong and Central Asia. “The purpose of this visit is threefold: to explore emerging markets, strengthen government-to-government relations, and establish a hub-to-hub cooperation model,” Lee said. Both sides agreed to increase high-level mutual visits and support promotional activities.
HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma noted that the visit reaffirmed trust in Hong Kong’s role as a bridge. “Hong Kong serves as a key springboard for mainland enterprises to go global and a gateway for overseas enterprises to enter the mainland market, facilitating two-way investment and trade,” Ma said. The HKTDC will provide post-mission business matching and support services to expedite project implementation.
The delegation included representatives from 17 provinces and municipalities across mainland China, spanning financial services, logistics, innovation and technology, trade, green industries, and media. For the first time, journalism associations joined, aligning with the Policy Address to expand Hong Kong media’s network. The visit underscores Hong Kong’s role as a platform for mainland enterprises under the Belt and Road Initiative, with plans to welcome Central Asian enterprises to events like the Belt and Road Summit and InnoEX.
