Hong Kong Business Delegation Signs 66 MoUs in Central Asia, Strengthening Belt and Road Ties

A business delegation led by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has concluded its Central Asia tour, having signed 66 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements during stops in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The agreements span trade, investment, finance, technology, and aviation, underscoring the deepening economic ties between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Central Asian markets.

During the visit, which took place from June 1 to 5, the delegation of 75 business leaders from Hong Kong and 17 mainland Chinese provinces attended over 20 events and inspected projects in finance, innovation, and infrastructure. The HKSAR Government and the HKTDC jointly hosted a business dinner in Uzbekistan, attracting around 230 business leaders and senior officials. HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma highlighted that the visit reaffirmed Central Asian countries' trust in Hong Kong as a bridge for two-way investment and trade flows under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Key agreements in Kazakhstan included partnerships between the HKTDC and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken," the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), and Satbayev University. Notable MoUs involved the Airport Authority Hong Kong with Almaty International Airport, and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited with AIFC and AIX. In Uzbekistan, the HKTDC signed agreements with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and IT Park Uzbekistan, while the Airport Authority Hong Kong partnered with Fly Khiva Group.

Beyond commercial deals, the visit facilitated 15 government-level cooperation agreements and 15 MoUs in academia and culture, including collaborations between City University of Hong Kong and Kazakh and Uzbek universities. The Government of Uzbekistan also agreed to establish a Consulate General in Hong Kong, further strengthening diplomatic ties.

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. He noted that the delegation achieved eight major outcomes, including high-level meetings with presidents and prime ministers of both countries. The HKTDC will provide post-mission business matching and support services to expedite project implementation.

The delegation included representatives from journalism associations for the first time, aligning with the Policy Address initiative to expand Hong Kong media's network. The visit underscores Hong Kong's role as a key platform for mainland enterprises going global and a gateway for overseas firms entering the mainland market, leveraging HKTDC's global network and flagship events like the Belt and Road Summit and InnoEX.