The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrated its 60th anniversary on July 26, 2026, by announcing two major initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and tapping into new markets. Chairman Professor Frederick Ma unveiled plans to optimize the corporate structure through an industry cluster approach and to reconfigure global network resources to capture opportunities in high-growth emerging markets, including Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The first initiative involves reorganizing HKTDC's functions into six sector clusters: Finance and Professional Services; Global Network and Supply Chain; Technology and Digital Innovation; Wellness and Creative Industries; Consumer Goods and Lifestyle; and Corporate Development. This cluster approach is designed to enhance operational efficiency, sector knowledge, and network synergies, enabling the council to provide more comprehensive and integrated solutions. Executive Director Sophia Chong emphasized that stakeholders across industries can access one-stop support through a single point of contact, whether they seek market intelligence, exhibition participation, investor matching, or production expansion.
The second initiative focuses on resource optimization to tap new markets. As global economic momentum shifts toward emerging markets, HKTDC is strengthening its presence in key locations. Resources will be enhanced at consultant offices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to support Central Asia; in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the Middle East; and a new office will be established in Cairo, Egypt, to bolster coverage in Africa. Additionally, capabilities will be strengthened in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile (overseeing Peru) to capture opportunities in the Global South. In ASEAN, promotional work will be intensified in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, while capabilities in Istanbul and Warsaw will also be enhanced.
Traditional markets remain important; HKTDC will continue to foster two-way trade with North America and expand the responsibilities of the London office to oversee Nordic markets. Professor Ma noted that the Chief Executive's successful mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June 2026 opened doors for Hong Kong enterprises, generating many potential opportunities.
Looking ahead, HKTDC aims to leverage Hong Kong's unique strengths as a superconnector and super value-adder, supporting Chinese Mainland enterprises to go global while encouraging international companies to use Hong Kong as a base for expansion. The initiatives align with Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and contribute to the country's development. For more details, the presentation can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/3ThqfX8 and photos at https://bit.ly/4wUoMEA.
