The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrated its 60th anniversary by announcing two major optimisations aimed at enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and tapping new markets. The initiatives, unveiled by HKTDC Chairman Professor Frederick Ma, reflect the organisation's response to changing geopolitics, supply chain reconfigurations, and the rise of new technology.
The first optimisation involves reorganising the HKTDC's corporate structure based on an industry cluster approach. The new structure comprises 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 reorganisation is designed to enhance operational efficiency and sector knowledge, fostering synergy among teams to provide more comprehensive and integrated solutions. Executive Director Sophia Chong explained that the cluster approach enables stakeholders across industries to access one-stop support through a single point of contact.
The second optimisation focuses on reconfiguring global network resources to help Hong Kong companies capture opportunities in high-growth emerging markets. The HKTDC currently operates 51 offices worldwide, and as global economic momentum shifts towards emerging markets, the council is actively enhancing its presence in key regions. Professor Ma highlighted the success of a recent mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which generated potential opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises. Consequently, the HKTDC will enhance resources at its consultant office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to strengthen support in Central Asia. In the Middle East, resources will be bolstered at the consultant office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To leverage opportunities from the economic corridor spanning Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, a new consultant office will be established in Cairo, Egypt. Additionally, capabilities will be strengthened in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, to capture opportunities in the Global South.
In ASEAN, the HKTDC will strengthen promotional work in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, while enhancing capabilities in Istanbul and Warsaw. For traditional markets, the council will maintain two-way trade and investment with North America, encouraging enterprises in the United States and Canada to participate in HKTDC activities. The London office's responsibilities will expand to oversee promotion and business development in the Nordic markets.
Professor Ma emphasised that these optimisations align with Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and contribute to the country's development. Looking ahead, the HKTDC will continue to leverage Hong Kong's unique strengths as a superconnector and super value-adder, supporting Chinese Mainland enterprises to go global and encouraging international companies to use Hong Kong as a base for expansion. More details on the initiatives are available in the presentation download at https://bit.ly/3ThqfX8 and photo download at https://bit.ly/4wUoMEA.
