Italian Businesses See Hong Kong as Strategic Gateway to Asian Markets

A comprehensive survey conducted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Italy China Council Foundation reveals that Italian businesses increasingly view Hong Kong as a critical gateway for Asian expansion. The research, which surveyed 172 Italian C-suite and senior business leaders in Q3 2025, found that 77% of Italian companies are enthusiastic about expanding in Asia, with the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong being their priority markets. Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, noted that 93% of respondents believe Hong Kong can effectively support their future Asia expansion plans, acknowledging its strategic position as a gateway to Asian markets and its capabilities as a logistics and supply chain management hub.

The survey identified significant opportunities in leveraging regional trade agreements, particularly the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. While 51% of respondents currently capitalize on RCEP benefits, 60% anticipate that Hong Kong's potential accession to the agreement would unlock new economic opportunities. More strikingly, 80% of Italian businesses were unaware of CEPA, which has provided Hong Kong-based suppliers with privileged access to the Chinese Mainland market since 2003. Only 12% currently utilize CEPA's advantages through strategic partnerships in Hong Kong, indicating substantial untapped potential. Sara Berloto, Head of Research for ICCF, emphasized the need for comprehensive information and institutional support to help companies, especially SMEs, better leverage these agreements.

Sector-specific analysis revealed particularly strong expansion intentions among Italian innovation and technology companies (95%), healthcare companies (88%), and retail/wholesale enterprises (86%). These findings align well with Hong Kong's strategic focus on innovation and technology, life sciences, healthtech, and e-commerce initiatives. The strong business relationship between Italy and Hong Kong is already well-established, with bilateral trade reaching US$8.3 billion in 2024, making Italy Hong Kong's fourth-largest EU trading partner. As of end-2023, Hong Kong was the third most significant destination for Italian investment in Asia, while Hong Kong investors ranked as the third-largest Asian investors in Italy, with approximately 200 Italian companies currently active in Hong Kong.

The full survey report will be launched at the Think Business, Think Hong Kong event in Milan on November 27, 2025, which will bring together over 700 business leaders, officials, and investors from both regions. The event will feature a symposium with remarks from Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma, along with Italian government representatives. The program includes thematic sessions covering finance and trade, innovation and technology, global supply chains, and creativity and design, reflecting shared priorities between Hong Kong and Italy. Additional information about the research can be found at https://research.hktdc.com/en/ while event details are available through the HKTDC's communication channels.