The Think Business, Think Hong Kong signature promotion organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council brought together over 1,000 participants in Milan to strengthen economic ties between Italy and Hong Kong. The event, held at Palazzo Mezzanotte - home of the Italian Stock Exchange - featured a symposium attended by 760 participants and included more than 260 on-site business matching meetings, demonstrating the growing commercial relationship between the two regions.
Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary Paul Chan emphasized the shared values between Hong Kong and Italy, noting both regions' passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial spirit. The economic partnership between Hong Kong and Italy has shown remarkable growth, with bilateral merchandise trade reaching EUR 7.2 billion in 2024. Approximately 200 Italian companies currently maintain regional headquarters, offices, or operations in Hong Kong, spanning sectors from luxury brands to banking and logistics.
HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma highlighted Hong Kong's role in facilitating international partnerships, stating that partnerships lead to innovation, which in turn drives growth and expansion. He emphasized that Hong Kong offers Italian businesses opportunities in both traditional sectors and emerging fields such as fintech, greentech, AI, and smart city development. The event website at https://thinkbusineesthinkhk.com/2025-milan/symposium/en/index.html provides additional information about the symposium's programming and objectives.
Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, delivered a video speech acknowledging that Italian companies already established in Hong Kong play leading roles in fashion, luxury, design, food, manufacturing, and logistics sectors. He described Hong Kong as an ideal platform for Italian companies seeking growth in the Chinese Mainland and wider Asian region, noting that Italy is working to enhance its attractiveness to new investment.
The symposium featured five thematic sessions covering digital trade and finance, innovation and technology, global supply chains, and creative industries. The Digital Trade and Finance session, co-organized with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, explored how technology is reshaping cross-border trade and financial flows. Platforms utilizing distributed ledger-based trade solutions and commercial data exchange systems were highlighted as tools for enhancing efficiency, transparency, and access to financing.
The Innovation and Technology session, supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, focused on smart city innovation and AI-powered technologies, demonstrating how Italian companies can engage with Hong Kong's growing innovation ecosystem. The Global Supply Chain session examined how Hong Kong's capital markets and corporate treasury frameworks are driving transformation in global supply chains, positioning Hong Kong as a hub for supply chain digitalization and green logistics.
Two Creative and Design sessions brought together celebrated architects and designers from both regions, including Steve Leung of Steve Leung Design Group, Andrea Ponti of Ponti Design Studio Limited, and Dr Rocco Yim of Rocco Design Architects Associates Limited. These sessions explored how the fusion of Italian craftsmanship and Hong Kong's cultural vibrancy can unlock new markets across Asia in architecture, lifestyle, luxury, and cultural innovation.
The event concluded with a Hong Kong Dinner at Palazzo Parigi attended by over 240 business leaders, government officials, and representatives from both business communities, further reinforcing the long-term economic and cultural exchanges between Italy and Hong Kong. The extensive networking opportunities and business matching sessions underscored Hong Kong's position as a superconnector and super value-adder for companies seeking to expand their Asian market presence.
