A business delegation led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee, and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), began its visit to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on 1 June. During the visit, a total of 43 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and announcements were signed, covering areas including trade and commerce, investment, financial services, technology, aviation, and green finance. These agreements further strengthened trade, economic and industrial cooperation among Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and Kazakhstan, fully leveraging Hong Kong’s unique role as the country’s two-way services platform and supporting enterprises in tapping opportunities in Central Asia.The delegation will conclude its Kazakhstan visit tomorrow and depart for Uzbekistan to further explore business and trade cooperation among Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
To promote business collaboration, the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC jointly hosted a business luncheon today, attracting more than 300 business leaders and senior officials.
John Lee, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said at the luncheon: “Kazakhstan has, for centuries, connected Eastern and Western civilisations, serving as a bridge of commerce, culture and innovative ideas. That legacy continues today. From the port of Khorgos to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Kazakhstan is now a business and logistics hub linking China, our country, and Europe. Rich in oil and mineral resources, and rapidly developing and diversifying, Kazakhstan is a regional economic powerhouse. Hong Kong, a pivotal player in the Belt and Road Initiative, looks forward to working with Kazakhstan in creating mutual opportunities.”
Prof Frederick Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: “Kazakhstan is the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for 53% of the region’s GDP in 2025. Under its Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, the country is actively promoting economic diversification, with the goal of becoming one of the world’s top 30 most developed economies by 2050, demonstrating strong growth potential. This visit has enhanced local enterprises’ understanding of Hong Kong’s advantages as a superconnector and super value-adder. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we believe substantial cooperation opportunities will emerge across various sectors, including logistics infrastructure, green finance, digital economy, agricultural upgrading and food processing. The model of Mainland enterprises going global with Hong Kong while leveraging the HKTDC platform will create new opportunities for collaboration with Central Asia.”
Following previous visits to Qatar and Kuwait last year, this delegation once again brings together the strengths of Hong Kong and Mainland enterprises. The delegation comprises 70 business leaders from Hong Kong and enterprise representatives from 17 provinces and municipalities across the Chinese Mainland, covering a wide spectrum of sectors, including financial and professional services, logistics and transportation, innovation and technology, trade, green industries, energy and mining, biopharmaceuticals, the automotive industry as well as the media.
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