A business delegation led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) completed its Central Asia tour, securing 96 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements across multiple sectors. The delegation visited Kazakhstan from June 1-3 and Uzbekistan from June 4-5, meeting senior government officials and business leaders to explore opportunities in trade, investment, finance, technology, aviation, and other fields.
The agreements included 66 MoUs and agreements signed by delegation members, 15 cooperation agreements at the government level, and 15 MoUs signed by non-delegation members in areas such as academia and culture. Among the key pacts were collaborations between the HKTDC and the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Atameken", the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), and Satbayev University. The Airport Authority Hong Kong also signed an agreement with Almaty International Airport, while Cyberport partnered with Astana Hub to foster innovation.
In Uzbekistan, the delegation facilitated 23 MoUs and agreements, including partnerships between the HKTDC and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan (CCIU) and IT Park Uzbekistan. Other notable deals involved the Airport Authority Hong Kong with Fly Khiva Group, and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) with Tashkent City Municipality.
John Lee highlighted the visit's threefold purpose: exploring emerging markets, strengthening government-to-government relations, and establishing a hub-to-hub cooperation model. "The visit was highly successful and achieved eight major outcomes," Lee said, noting that both sides agreed to strengthen high-level communication and pursue multi-faceted collaboration. The Government of Uzbekistan has agreed to establish a Consulate General in Hong Kong.
The delegation comprised 75 business leaders from Hong Kong and 17 provinces and municipalities across the Chinese Mainland, representing sectors including financial services, logistics, innovation and technology, trade, and green industries. For the first time, journalism associations joined the delegation to expand media networks and tell Hong Kong's stories.
HKTDC Chairman Prof. Frederick Ma emphasized Hong Kong's role as a bridge under the Belt and Road Initiative. "The Central Asia visit has delivered fruitful outcomes and once again reaffirmed the trust placed by Central Asian countries in Hong Kong’s role as a bridge," Ma said. He noted that Hong Kong serves as a springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global and a gateway for overseas enterprises to enter the Mainland market.
The HKTDC will follow up on key projects by providing professional post-mission business matching and support services to expedite implementation. The delegation's outcomes are expected to deepen economic and trade ties among Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, further promoting long-term collaboration with Central Asian markets. Both sides look forward to welcoming more Central Asian enterprises to Hong Kong events such as the Belt and Road Summit and InnoEX.
