A business delegation led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has concluded its Central Asia tour, securing 66 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements during stops in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The visit, which took place from June 1 to 5, aimed to explore emerging markets and foster long-term economic ties under the Belt and Road Initiative.
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 HKTDC reported that the agreements cover trade, investment, finance, technology, and aviation, with an additional 15 government-level cooperation agreements and 15 MoUs signed by non-delegation members in academia and culture, bringing the total to 96.
During the Kazakhstan leg, 43 MoUs were signed, including partnerships between the HKTDC and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken," the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), and Satbayev University. Other notable agreements involved the Airport Authority Hong Kong and Almaty International Airport, as well as Cyberport and Astana Hub. In Uzbekistan, 23 MoUs were finalized, including between the HKTDC and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, and between Airport Authority Hong Kong and Fly Khiva Group.
Chief Executive John Lee emphasized the visit's threefold purpose: exploring emerging markets, strengthening government-to-government relations, and establishing a hub-to-hub cooperation model. "The visit was highly successful and achieved eight major outcomes," Lee said. These included high-level meetings with presidents and prime ministers, agreements on establishing a Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Hong Kong, and the signing of multiple investment projects.
HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma highlighted Hong Kong's role as a bridge under the Belt and Road Initiative. "In tapping emerging markets, such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Hong Kong 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," Ma said at a business dinner in Uzbekistan attended by around 230 business leaders and officials.
The delegation's outcomes are expected to deepen economic and trade ties between Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and Central Asian markets. The HKTDC will provide post-mission business matching and support services to expedite project implementation. Both sides agreed to increase high-level mutual visits and support each other's promotional activities.
The visit also included representatives from journalism associations for the first time, in line with Hong Kong's Policy Address initiative to expand the local media's network. The total number of agreements and MoUs signed underscores Hong Kong's position as a key platform for mainland enterprises to go global and promotes long-term collaboration with Central Asian countries.
For more information on the HKTDC's initiatives, visit www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
