HKTDC Marks 60th Anniversary with Major Optimizations to Enhance Efficiency and Tap New Markets

Faced with changing geopolitics, supply chain reconfigurations and the rise of new technology, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced two major initiatives on its 60th anniversary. Chairman Professor Frederick Ma revealed plans to optimize the corporate structure by reorganizing services into six industry clusters and to reallocate global network resources to tap high-growth emerging markets, including Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

The HKTDC’s new cluster approach groups functions into six sectors: Finance and Professional Services, Global Network and Supply Chain, Technology and Digital Innovation, Wellness and Creative Industries, Consumer Goods and Lifestyle, and Corporate Development. Executive Director Sophia Chong explained that this structure enhances operational efficiency and sector knowledge, enabling the team to provide comprehensive, integrated solutions through a single point of contact. Companies can access market intelligence, exhibitions, conferences, overseas missions, investor matching, production expansion, or new market entry with one-stop support.

On resource optimization, the HKTDC will strengthen its consultant office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to bolster support in Central Asia; enhance resources in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Middle East; and establish a new consultant office in Cairo, Egypt, to expand Africa presence. These moves align with opportunities from the economic corridor spanning Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In support of the Belt and Road Initiative, capabilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile (which also oversees Peru) will be strengthened to capture Global South opportunities. In ASEAN, promotional work in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines will be intensified, along with enhanced capabilities in Istanbul and Warsaw.

For traditional markets, the HKTDC will maintain two-way trade and investment with North America, encouraging U.S. and Canadian enterprises to participate in HKTDC activities. The London office’s responsibilities will expand to cover Nordic markets, while promoting economic cooperation and cultural exchange across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Professor Ma noted the success of the Chief Executive’s mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June, which opened doors for Hong Kong enterprises. The optimizations reflect a customer-centric, industry-focused approach to target high-growth emerging markets, leveraging Hong Kong’s unique role as a superconnector. The HKTDC will continue to support Chinese Mainland enterprises going global and encourage international companies to use Hong Kong as a base for expansion. Presentation and photo downloads are available at https://bit.ly/3ThqfX8 and https://bit.ly/4wUoMEA. More information on HKTDC’s 60th anniversary activities can be found at https://60.hktdc.com/en.