The momentum from a recent Hong Kong business delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan continued this week as the Alatau City Authority, a state body of Kazakhstan, held an investment round table in Hong Kong on June 11. The event, part of an official visit by a Kazakh delegation to Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, aimed to build on the outcomes of the delegation's trip and sustain cooperation momentum.
Attended by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee and Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, the round table brought together government representatives, leading enterprises, financial institutions, and investors from Kazakhstan, the Chinese Mainland, and Hong Kong. Participants explored investment opportunities in Alatau City, a new greenfield project near Almaty, across sectors including fintech, low-altitude economy, smart city development, and infrastructure.
Chief Executive John Lee highlighted Hong Kong's role as a gateway, stating, "Under the unique 'one country, two systems' principle, we are the only world city to combine the China advantage and the global advantage." Silas Chu, Director of Exhibitions and Digital Business of HKTDC, emphasized the council's commitment to Central Asia, noting its Almaty consultant office opened in 2018 and its platforms like the Belt and Road Summit and InnoEX.
During the round table, Templewater Limited, a business delegate from the earlier mission, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DASCO Capital to explore a fund supporting Alatau City's development. The Central Asia visit from June 1 to 5 yielded 96 MoUs and agreements, including 66 by the business delegation covering trade, investment, finance, technology, and aviation. Government-level agreements totaled 15, with non-delegation members signing 15 in academia and culture.
These outcomes underscore Hong Kong's role as a platform for Mainland enterprises to go global and promote long-term collaboration with Central Asian markets. The HKTDC will continue to follow up on key projects through professional business matching and support services, assisting enterprises in exploring new international opportunities and fostering collaboration with Belt and Road markets.
