The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) plans to host a Middle East-Gulf states conference next year, bringing together businesses and stakeholders from the region and Southeast Asia to explore new opportunities, chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang said.
Ma said the SAR government is increasingly prioritizing Middle East markets, hoping to attract more investment from the region.
He believes such large-scale international events will boost the city’s hospitality sector and reinforce its reputation as a "culinary capital," suggesting closer collaboration with the Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Ma also revealed his upcoming trade promotion trips, starting with Beijing this month, followed by visits to the UK and France.
He emphasized that as a statutory body, the HKTDC remains politically neutral and serves as a vital bridge between Hong Kong and global markets.
"We have many friends internationally," he said, expressing confidence that the council’s upcoming "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" event in Milan this November will proceed smoothly despite geopolitical tensions.
Ma also pledged enhanced support for small and medium-sized enterprises, including strategies to navigate US-China trade conflicts.
"We will engage experts to help SMEs restructure supply chains," he said, referencing the "China Plus One" strategy to circumvent tariffs. "This approach will become even more crucial as trade tensions persist."
China Plus One, also known as C+1, is a business strategy that encourages companies to diversify their supply chain and manufacturing activities to other markets on top of China.
(Ayra Wang)
