Hong Kong-Italy Business Symposium Strengthens Economic Ties and Explores New Asian Opportunities

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 bilateral trade and investment between Italy and Hong Kong. The symposium at Palazzo Mezzanotte attracted 760 attendees, featuring high-level dialogues and more than 260 on-site business matching meetings that connected Hong Kong and Italian companies seeking expansion opportunities in Asia.

Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary Paul Chan emphasized the strong economic partnership between the two regions, noting that bilateral merchandise trade reached EUR 7.2 billion in 2024 with approximately 200 Italian companies maintaining operations in Hong Kong. HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma highlighted Hong Kong's role in facilitating partnerships that drive innovation and growth, particularly in fintech, greentech, AI, and smart city development. Deputy Minister Valentino Valentini of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy recognized Hong Kong as an ideal platform for Italian companies aiming to grow in the Chinese Mainland and wider Asian region.

The event featured five thematic sessions covering strategic areas of collaboration. 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 through distributed ledger-based trade solutions and commercial data exchange systems. The Innovation and Technology session, supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, focused on smart city innovation and AI-powered technologies in Asia.

The Global Supply Chain session examined how Hong Kong's capital markets and corporate treasury frameworks are driving transformation in global supply chains, highlighting the city's role in 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, exploring how the fusion of Italian craftsmanship and Hong Kong's cultural vibricity can unlock new markets across Asia.

Participants browsed the InnoVenture Salon and Business Support Zone featuring over 20 exhibitors from Hong Kong, including startups and representatives from government agencies, accounting firms, corporate services companies, and logistics specialists. The event concluded with a Hong Kong Dinner at Palazzo Parigi attended by over 240 business leaders and government officials, further promoting bilateral economic and cultural exchanges. Additional event information is available at Think Business, Think Hong Kong.