hktdc Archives - AsiaPEVC.com

Business of IP Asia Forum and Entrepreneur Day events conclude

– Driving IP financing and innovation connectivity to support enterprise expansion across the GBA and global markets

BIP Asia Forum welcomed over 3,300 participants, with the Forum’s first-ever “IP Go-Global Business Matching Session” supporting international expansion of Mainland enterprises.
Entrepreneur Day attracted over 12,000 visits, facilitating more than 350 business matching meetings to help start-ups and SMEs unlock new market opportunities

The 15th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and the 17th Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), hosted by the HKTDC, concluded on 5 December 2025.

Held concurrently on 4 to 5 December, these two flagship events connected leading IP experts and business leaders from around the world, including Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, ASEAN and global markets. Through a diverse range of activities, the events examined how IP can drive business expansion, unlock new financing opportunities, and support start-ups in identifying investors and accessing new markets. This year, BIP Asia Forum welcomed over 3,300 attendees, while E-Day recorded over 12,000 visits. More than 350 business matching sessions were successfully arranged, helping solidify Hong Kong’s position as a regional IP trading centre and an international innovation and technology hub.

BIP Asia Forum unlocks the value of IP
With a global intangible asset value estimated at USD 80 trillion, IP is increasingly recognised as a powerful engine for accessing capital and scaling business growth. BIP Asia Forum explored a range of topics, including IP Valuation and Financing, to examine how enterprises can leverage IP as collateral to secure funding. During the session, Lewis Lee, Founder & CEO of Moat Metrics said, “Never before have we been in a place where we are very close to being able to assess IP value in a systematic and high-fidelity manner. The advances in AI and data in the last 12 months have accelerated the development of this framework. I encourage the industry to continue pushing forward.”

The plenary session “Propelling Sustainability with IP” examined how enterprises can leverage IP to strengthen their competitive edge amid the global shifts toward green transition and sustainability. As Krishna Singhania, Senior Intellectual Property Counsel of Maersk said, “Discarding the legacy model of ‘IP is mine’ and instead embracing flexibility is how we make changes. Exploring different models including lead-partnership, field-of-use ownership, joint ownership and government-funded projects ensures and preserves the competitive edge of each partner’s core technology. Thus, we can meet our climate target of decarbonisation by 2040.”

To respond to growing demand from Mainland companies for overseas expansion, the Intellectual Property Department hosted a dedicated “IP Go-Global Business Matching Session” during the Forum. Local professional service providers, IP lawyers, and specialists offered one-on-one consultations covering IP registration strategies, application procedures, and patent claims drafting. Zoe Fang, CEO of participated mainland enterprise Sichuan HangWan Cultural Communication Co. Ltd said: “To align with our national ‘Go Global’ strategy, we will leverage Hong Kong’s international legal services to address practical cross-border IP issues by participating in the matching session. We plan to utilise Hong Kong’s professional services to outline our patent registration and market expansion strategies, and to develop actionable plans for entering international markets.”

Another participant from the Middle East, Founder and CEO of Voithy Tech Limited, Mohamed Orikat said: “Hong Kong serves as a crucial bridge to Chinese Mainland and APEC markets. At BIP Asia, we received professional advice on patent registration, litigation in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland, and company establishment in Hong Kong, which has provided us significant insights and assistance to our plan in expanding into the Asian market.”

E-Day ignites start-up innovation: connecting capital, markets and partnersE-Day returned under the theme “Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight” and offered a wide range of exhibitions, conferences, roundtable discussion and matchmaking opportunities tailored for start-ups and SMEs. This year, the event showcased over 360 start-ups, invention projects and support organisations across AI, health tech, cybersecurity, construction & logistics tech, spatial computing, and sustainability.

During the business matching session, Dr. Ammar Mohammed Al Ojaili, Vice President of R&D and Innovation at global integrated energy group OQ, founded in Oman, said: “Hong Kong and the South China region are important markets for us. Events like Entrepreneur Day bring together startups, universities, and industry players all in one place, making it easier for companies like ours to discover innovative technologies and explore collaboration opportunities.”

The session “T-Chat: From Labs to Battlefield: Navigating Deep Tech Commercialisation and Global Scale” invited leaders from global innovation community, university knowledge transfer centre, venture capital firm, start-up founder and research institution to explore how deep tech innovators can leverage capital, partnerships, and international networks to accelerate commercialisation. YeYe Xiao, Innovation Consulting Manager & Central Asia Lead at Hello Tomorrow, who works in deep tech, said: “Entrepreneur Day emphasises Hong Kong as an I&T hub. It’s a great opportunity to gather stakeholders from all over the world once a year. The quality of the startups here are high, and people are doing very deep technologies.”

Other speakers shared how Entrepreneur Day brings business opportunities and collaboration to the industry. Martin Chu, CEO & Co-founder of i2COOL Limited, speaker of GBA Tripartite Roundtable: “Empowering GBA Startups to Expand into ASEAN with Hong Kong as a Super-connector and Super Value-adder”, remarked: “The cross-border collaborations brought by Entrepreneur Day are very important for a startup. Because Hong Kong is a super connector for different industries and different markets, we get to know what they need, and then fine tune our technology. I think the situation is applicable to most of the new technologies invented in Chinese Mainland as well.”

In addition, the HKTDC signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Junior Chamber International Hong Kong (JCIHK) and France-based Hello Tomorrow to deepen collaboration on supporting local SMEs, young entrepreneurs, and start-ups in expanding into international markets, providing mentorship, pitching opportunities and access to investors around the globe

“Start-up Express International” connects global innovators with Hong Kong and GBA opportunities
“Start-up Express International” continued to attract global founders exploring Hong Kong as a base for expansion into Asia and the Greater Bay Area, covering innovative fields such as green tech, health tech, AI, edtech, and more.

During the “Meet the Global Start-ups” session, participants shared insights on technology development, IP strategies, market expansion, and cross-border collaboration. They also discussed strategies for setting up in Hong Kong and entering the Greater Bay Area market with local investors, enterprises, and supporting organisations. Speakers highlighted that Hong Kong is an innovation and technology hub in the region, where companies can leverage the city as a testing ground to validate business models and use it as a springboard to tap into the Greater China market and beyond.

Video replays of BIP Asia Forum events, including highlights of the exhibition and forums, will be available from 8 December 2025 to 7 January 2026. Replays of E-Day events will be uploaded after 5th of January 2026.

BIP Asia Forum website: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/en/

E-Day website: https://eday.hktdc.com/en

Start-up Express International website: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/start-up-express-international

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4oFrrO7

*Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to this project only, and has otherwise no involvement in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/event (or by members of the project team) do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Creative Industries Development Office, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat, or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

Media Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact:

Raconteur PR Agency:

Molisa Lau	Tel: (852) 6187 7786	Email: molisalau@raconteur.hk
Chilie Chang	Tel: (852) 6910 6607	Email: chiliechang@raconteur.hk

HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:

Navin Law	Tel: (852) 2584 4525	Email: navin.cm.law@hktdc.org
Serena Cheung	Tel: (852) 2584 4272	Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw	Tel: (852) 2584 4472	Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

About the HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

Business of IP Asia (BIP Asia) Forum and Entrepreneur Day open today

BIP Asia Forum and Entrepreneur Day bring over 180 speakers and more than 420 exhibitors
BIP Asia Forum spotlights IP financing and launches a new IP Go-Global Business Matching Session offering up-to-date information and professional support for Mainland enterprises
Entrepreneur Day showcases innovative solutions across AI, healthtech, cybersecurity, construction & logistics, spatial computing, and sustainability
“Start-up Express International” global start-ups share entrepreneurial journeys and opportunities

The 15th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government), together with the 17th Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), hosted by the HKTDC, opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The two flagship annual events bring together over 180 speakers and more than 420 start-ups, innovative projects and start-up support organisations, offering a strong line-up of programmes designed to advance the exchange and application of innovation and technology (I&T) and intellectual property (IP). The events further reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector and value-adder to strengthen regional and global collaboration.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Executive Director and David Wong, HKSAR Government Director of Intellectual Property, officiated the opening session this morning and delivered remarks.

Sophia Chong said: “Fostering collaboration and partnerships – that is something we at the HKTDC care about deeply, to help those seeking to grow and thrive. At the BIP Asia 2025, we endeavour to do just that.” She added: “Robust IP protection encourages investment in R&D and commercialisation of new ideas. Multi-stakeholder collaboration – across government, industry, academia and more – also helps translate IP into measurable economic impact. Hong Kong – as a regional centre for IP trading and an international hub for innovation and technology – is taking the lead in supporting the sustainability of this vital sector. Over the next two days, BIP Asia will explore a variety of areas, including financing, sustainability, creativity, licensing and more, highlighting the integral role of IP in driving business growth, and helping companies identify and capture valuable opportunities.”

Exploring IP financing and global trends
This year’s Forum, themed “Leverage IP to Finance Business Growth”, examines IP’s role as a core driver of sustainable expansion. The keynote session, “IP Valuation and Financing”, features Lewis C Lee, Founder and CEO of Moat Metrics, Inc.; Terence Koh, Managing Director and Head of Telecommunications, Media and Technology at United Overseas Bank Limited; and Sung-tae Ha, Director of IP, Valuation and Management Center of Korea Invention Promotion Association. Speakers shared insights into how enterprises can leverage IP assets as a source of capital.

The day’s plenary session, “Propelling Sustainability with IP”, brings together Dr Lorenz Kaiser, Senior Counsel, GE Aerospace; Krishna Singhania, Senior IP Counsel at Maersk; and Dr Pratheeba Vimalnath, Lecturer in Innovation, Intellectual Property and Sustainability, University of Exeter Business School, UK. The speakers will explore how companies can strategically deploy intellectual property to achieve sustainability goals and accelerate industrial standardisation.

Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, Li Shengjun, Deputy Head of the Patent Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration, and Wang Binying, Deputy Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization, delivered speeches in the afternoon.

Secretary Yau shared with the participants HKSAR’s efforts to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a regional IP trading centre. He said: “Our patent examiner team is expanding and we are taking forward the preparatory work for introduction of regulatory arrangement for local patent agent services; our Copyright Ordinance and registered designs regime will be modernised to ensure our legal framework is fit for the digital age; and finally, we are creating the deal flow by arranging business-matching programme connecting Mainland enterprises with Hong Kong’s world-class IP service providers to embody our “bringing in and going global” strategy.” He emphasised that the Hong Kong Technology and Innovation Support Centre helps innovators create quality assets; the patent valuation subsidy scheme helps establish patents’ technical and economic worth; the legal reforms provide the certainty. Business matching and regional partnerships generate the opportunities. And the “IP financing sandbox” turns it all into financeable, scalable reality.

Strengthening Go-Global strategies for Mainland enterprises
Co-organised with the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation, the afternoon session, titled “Cross-Border Empowerment: Forging a New IP-Driven Investment Ecosystem in the Greater Bay Area”, focuses on regional collaboration, cross-border IP protection and financing strategies to help enterprises scale from the GBA to global markets. Tomorrow morning’s session, “Brand Global Gateway – WIPO’s Services Empowering Global Brand Value”, co-organised with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the HKSAR Intellectual Property Department, will discuss how enterprises can use international IP services to enhance global brand competitiveness and accelerate overseas expansion.

For the first time, the Forum will introduce an “IP Go-Global Business Matching Session”, allowing local professional service providers and IP lawyers to offer one-on-one consultations to Mainland enterprises. These consultations cover trademark and patent registration, enforcement, litigation, international licensing and dispute resolution, helping businesses develop effective go-global strategies.

Tomorrow’s highlights include “Cross-border Transactions in Digital Culture and Protection of Intellectual Property”, where the Zhejiang Culture Assets and Equity Exchange will share how Mainland policies and regulations support protection for and commercialisation of digital cultural IP including online literature, online games and online dramas. Ant Group Jingtan and HashKey Group will share insights on real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation, blockchain-enabled rights certification, and on how these technologies enhance transparency, liquidity, and cross-border circulation of cultural IP to drive cultural diversity, inclusion, and go-global.

The onsite showcase area of Asia IP Exchange (AsiaIPEX) Creative Hub will be set up to display local creative IP. Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency*, AsiaIPEX Creative Hub is a free online IP platform and database that showcases local IP across publishing, film, characters and design to connect creators and IP users globally.

The Innovation & IP Market, themed “Smart Living”, features over 25 I&T projects from universities, R&D centres, start-ups and tech companies.

E-Day ignites innovation and connects start-ups with global opportunities
This year’s E-Day continues with the theme “Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight”, bringing together over 360 start-ups, inventor projects and support organisations from 11 countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, France and Thailand. Exhibits span six major tech categories: AI, healthtech, cybersecurity, construction & logistics, spatial computing, and sustainability. A wide range of exhibitions, business matching activities and seminars help founders connect with investors and partners.

E-Day spotlights three key exhibition zones: the “Start-up and Innovation Zone”, the “University Spin-off”, and “The Boosters”. Within the Start-up and Innovation Zone, Digital Policy Office once again features the “Innovation Hong Kong Pavilion”, showcasing 30 innovation and technology projects that highlight Hong Kong’s cutting-edge innovation and technological excellence. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau presents over 40 start-ups and Greater Bay Area partners, and hosts the “Symposium of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area” to introduce opportunities, support measures, and successful cases of starting businesses in the GBA. In addition, the 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong displays more than 130 inventions. Experts and inventors from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and Thailand showcases their breakthrough and diverse solutions across multiple fields.

“University Spin-off” brings together top research and innovation projects from nine local universities, showcasing the strong momentum in research commercialisation. “The Boosters” features a comprehensive range of service providers, including innovation and technology parks, professional accountants, and company registration and corporate service firms, which offer one-stop support for start-ups and demonstrating the collective commitment of the Government, academia and industry to nurturing a robust start-up ecosystem. Twenty winners and finalists from local and international editions of Start-up Express 2025 will also exhibit onsite, presenting their innovative products and solutions.

Opening day also features “T-Chat: From Labs to Battlefield: Navigating Deep Tech Commercialisation and Global Scale”. Speakers include Yeye Xiao, Innovation Consulting Manager & Central Asia Lead of Hello Tomorrow; Dr Paul Wang, Director of the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core at The University of Hong Kong; Edith Yeung, General Partner at Race Capital; Kenny Oktavius, Co-founder & CEO of PointFit Technology; and Dr Alan Cheung, Chief Director, Artificial Intelligence and Trust Technologies of the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited, will discuss how deep-tech founders can access capital, partnerships and global networks. Yeye Xiao said: “The biggest mistake Deep Tech founders make is falling in love only with their technologies and forgetting commercialisation from day one. Think ‘Design for X’ from the very beginning: design for manufacturing, supply chain, testing, and scaling. Also, leverage public ecosystems and free infrastructure instead of spending everything on private labs. Successful Deep Tech companies plan for industrial-scale production and customer integration while they are still in the lab.”

The GBA Tripartite Roundtable: “Empowering GBA Startups to Expand into ASEAN with Hong Kong as a Super-connector and Super Value-adder” explores opportunities for Greater Bay Area start-ups to tap into ASEAN and global markets. Speakers discuss how Hong Kong can leverage its dual role as a super-connector and super value-adder to accelerate cross-border innovation collaboration and market expansion. The roundtable features insights from Intan Zalani, the Consul (Trade) of Malaysia in Hong Kong; Ms Ponpicha Pethkaewkul, Senior Innovation Counsellor, National Innovation Agency, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (Thailand); Peter Mok, General Manager of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub; Stephen Chan, Partner of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP; and Prof Martin Chu, CEO & Co-founder, i2COOL Limited, who will offer perspectives from government, incubators, the legal profession and startup founders on how Hong Kong can support GBA start-ups in going global.

Intan Zalani said: “Beyond semiconductors and manufacturing, exciting opportunities await GBA startups in Malaysia’s fast-evolving digital payments landscape, where multiple e-wallets and QR-code payments have largely replaced cash, as well as in renewable energy, especially solar and biomass. The government offers attractive tax incentives for green technology investments. With Malaysia’s strategic position as ASEAN’s natural hub and Hong Kong’s role as super-connector, there is indeed a slice of the pie for everyone. We warmly invite Greater Bay Area entrepreneurs to partner with us, establish presence in Malaysia, and together capture the US$1 trillion ASEAN digital economy opportunity by 2030.”

Global Start-ups take the stage at “Start-up Express International”
This year’s “Start-up Express International” brings together ten quality start-ups across the globe, covering green tech, healthtech, AI, edtech and more—demonstrating Hong Kong’s attractiveness as an international launchpad. The international start-ups will share their entrepreneurial journeys and exchange insights with panel speakers from Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, and InvestHK, exploring opportunities in Hong Kong and the GBA. A seminar titled “Crafting the Next-Gen Wardrobe: Innovation for a Sustainable Future” brings together leading experts in sustainable fashion to explore how innovative technologies are driving the integration of TechStyle and sustainability. Speakers will share insights on nature-inspired sustainable materials and intelligent textile technologies, with the goal of creating a fashion sector that seamlessly blends aesthetics with environmental responsibility.

Running concurrently from 3 to 6 December, DesignInspire presents works from leading local and international designers. Together, the three events create strong synergy and reinforce Hong Kong’s positioning as Asia’s hub for innovation and IP.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/3K9ivCs

*Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

Websites:
Business of IP Asia Forum: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/en/
Entrepreneur Day: https://portal.hktdc.com/eday/en
Start-up Express International:
https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/start-up-express-international

Media Enquiries
For enquiries, please contact:
Raconteur PR Agency:

Molisa Lau	Tel: (852) 6187 7786	Email: molisalau@raconteur.hk
Chilie Chang	Tel: (852) 6910 6607	Email: chiliechang@raconteur.hk

HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:

Navin Law	Tel: (852) 2584 4525	Email: navin.cm.law@hktdc.org
Serena Cheung	Tel: (852) 2584 4272	Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw	Tel: (852) 2584 4472	Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

The 26th Hong Kong Forum marks successful completion

Over 320 global business leaders from the Hong Kong Business Association Worldwide explored Hong Kong’s business opportunities amid new international dynamics

The 26th Hong Kong Forum, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, wrapped up after the successful two-day event attracted more than 320 representatives from Hong Kong business associations worldwide and business leaders from 33 countries and regions.

This year’s Hong Kong Forum focused on how enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support from the Chinese Mainland and being closely connected to the world as an ideal springboard for expanding abroad. Also covered was how Hong Kong attracts talent and infuses innovative thinking across industries, driving transformation while creating more development opportunities. The programme featured keynote speeches, a series of networking activities, and local visits to give participants deeper insights into Hong Kong from multiple perspectives.

Helping mainland enterprises “go global” and tap into international markets
In her welcome remarks, Margaret Wong, Chairperson of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide, said: “This year’s Hong Kong Forum featured many exciting highlights, allowing associations to share experiences and insights across regions. This gave an opportunity to discuss collaborations between different business associations, Hong Kong business leaders, and cross-association collaborations. This year, we introduced new initiatives featuring local visit tracks and networking sessions specifically designed for young members.”

Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said in her opening remarks that, “Nowadays, more mainland businesses are ready and keen to expand internationally. As a core member of this Task Force (GoGlobal Task Force), with the support of our 13 mainland offices, we will help mainland enterprises connect with service providers in Hong Kong, including financial, legal, IP and accounting professionals, and match them with partners and buyers in target overseas markets.”

Outlining the HKTDC’s strategic direction for the coming year, Sophia Chong added, “Going forward at the HKTDC, we are to begin the first of another three-year plan to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as superconnector and super value-adder, linking the Chinese Mainland and the world. This will create opportunities for not only Hong Kong companies, but also Federation members across business, finance, I&T and creative sectors, to name but a few. We will strengthen our city’s foothold in emerging and mature markets. We will collaborate with our partners to do more outreach in your countries and regions.”

One of the highlights this year is a newly added session, “Dialogue with the HKTDC Chairman” hosted by Margaret Wong. During the dialogue, Professor Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, said: “Amidst the growing economic and commercial interactions between China and global markets, Hong Kong solidifies its role as a superconnector and super value-adder. Hong Kong offers unique advantages including a stable financial infrastructure, a robust legal system, a diverse talent pool and comprehensive professional services. Collectively, these make Hong Kong an ideal place for any company that wants to do business in the Chinese Mainland or ASEAN.”

Professor Frederick Ma mentioned that the HKTDC will enhance its flagship events, including the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) to be held from 26 to 27 January 2026, to enhance the business elements. “A Global Business Summit will be introduced to extend AFF beyond the financial sector with a view to engaging commercial leaders across industries, particularly in high-growth sectors, and create connections between business operations and financial solutions.”

Joseph Chan, the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, attended the luncheon on the second day of the forum and delivered a remark.

Hong Kong as a strategic springboard for global market expansion
Hong Kong serves as a two-way business platform, both as a super-connector and super value-adder between the Chinese Mainland and international markets, helping mainland enterprises “go global,” and “bringing in” global companies. At the “Hong Kong: The Launchpad for Navigating Global Markets” plenary, Peter Yan, Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises of the HKSAR Government, shared the stage with Tony Cheng, Managing Director & General Manager – Hong Kong/Macau of Merck Healthcare; Marco Galimberti, CEO – APAC of Venchi Asia Pacific; and Joanne Hon, Managing Director of Equinix Hong Kong.

The discussion covered analysing global business environments and trends exploring how international enterprises can leverage Hong Kong as a strategic springboard for global market expansion. They highlighted Hong Kong’s unique advantages, including its role as a gateway to the Chinese Mainland and Asia, access to a diverse consumer base, a highly internationalised business environment.

The thematic session “Creative Minds and Strategic Innovation in Fuelling Hong Kong’s Economic Future” featured Garrick Lau, Head of Sustainability and Shared Value of Nan Fung Group; Simon Loong, Founder and Group CEO of WeLab; Kevin Ng, CEO of InnoBlock Technology; and Audrey Shum, Managing Director of Christie’s Asia Pacific. The discussion explored how creativity and innovation can inject new momentum into Hong Kong’s economic and cultural development, and how imaginative thinking can help address contemporary challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

Young entrepreneurs inject fresh momentum into business
The “From Idea to Impact: Building a Thriving Business in Technology” plenary put the spotlight on a group of business leaders from innovative tech companies who shared insights on identifying market needs, developing sustainable business models, and tackling challenges faced during growth stages. Speakers included Natalie Chow, Co-founder and CEO of KIBO; Jason Li, Co-founder and CTO of Green Vigor; Eugene Siu, CEO and Co-founder of Petalife; and Suen Hau-shing, Co-founder of Onepile.

This year’s forum also introduced a new session, “Meet the Mentor”, inviting Andy Ann, the Chairman and CEO of NDN Group to engage with young entrepreneurs to share valuable advice and practical experience on entrepreneurship, and to encourage more of them to join the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide. The event was co-organised with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce’s Young Executives Club, and it also provided opportunities for young members to connect with local young talent and explore new business opportunities.

Global chamber leaders explore Hong Kong’s I&T and Cultural Design Projects
During the forum, arrangements were made by the HKTDC for representatives to visit Hong Kong’s innovation and technology infrastructure and cultural and design projects. Highlights included the Data Technology Hub and Advanced Manufacturing Centre at Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and the M+ Museum.

The Hong Kong Forum is the annual flagship event of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide. Founded in 2000, the Federation today has a network of 49 business associations with membership of approximately 11,000 business executives and professionals from 38 countries and regions.

Forum website: https://hkforum.hktdc.com/conference/hkforum/en

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3KcVdLY

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:

Johnny Tsui

Tel: (852) 2584 4395

Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About FHKBAW
The Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide is a unique network of 49 Hong Kong Business Associations in 38 countries and regions with about 11,000 individual associates. These Hong Kong Business Associations were started by overseas traders, buyers and professionals, who have strong business links to Hong Kong in their respective countries, for the purpose of networking and exchanging of business information and ideas. Each of these Associations has their own individual members who are top business people and SMEs in their home country. They are Hong Kong’s closest allies and partners in the world market. With the help of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), these Associations formed the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide in November 2000. The Federation aims to achieve synergy among the global network of Hong Kong Business Associations. It provides an effective base for member associations to network and exchange information, thereby, generating business opportunities.
Website: https://www.hkfederation.org.hk/about

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

DesignInspire opens today, showcasing over 260 local and global design brands

Free entry for industry professionals and the public from tomorrow

– Renowned design master Alan Chan and emerging artist Chilai Howard present BOTTEGA HONG KONG and TINY STUDIO respectively, spotlighting inspirational dialogue between Hong Kong and Italian creatives
– French design authority Maison&Objet returns with an upgraded presence under the new banner Maison&Objet Intérieurs Hong Kong 2025, featuring two signature pavilions: Design Factory and Design Showcase, and business lounge Le Club
– Designers and exhibitors from places including the Chinese Mainland, Belgium, Czechia, France, Italy, Macao and Taiwan, appear alongside local showcases by the Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong Design Institute and others, demonstrating the convergence of creativity and culture
– 13 InnoTalks sessions and 20 creative workshops will be held during the fair, covering sustainable design, retro aesthetics and craftsmanship, fostering professional exchange and building public engagement

Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and co-organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre (HKDC), DesignInspire 2025 opens today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and runs until 6 December. From tomorrow until Saturday, the exhibition will welcome industry professionals and the public with free admission. The event brings together over 260 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions, providing an opportunity for design enthusiasts, buyers and members of the public to explore how design connects culture, industry and everyday life through exhibitions, dialogues and workshops.

A global platform weaving creativity and commerce
The HKTDC’s commitment to promoting the development of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries continues, cementing the city’s role as an east-meets-west centre for international cultural exchange. Since 2017, DesignInspire has provided a platform for designers, brands and creative institutions to connect with potential buyers from around the world, unlocking design-led business opportunities. Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “This year’s DesignInspire unites global creative and business talents, presenting major international collaborations that underscore the event’s mission as a world-class design platform. Artistic exchange is not only where ideas and inspiration are born – it also provides the opportunity to build new partnerships. With its unique position as a global business hub, Hong Kong is ideally placed to foster international exchanges and collaboration.”

A key highlight of this year’s DesignInspire is the triumphant return of French lifestyle and design authority Maison&Objet* which presents the upgraded Maison&Objet Intérieurs Hong Kong 2025*, bringing together 16 internationally renowned designers and artisans and more than 200 brands. Centred on the concept of “Crossroads,” the curation presents a cross-cultural design language spanning dialogue, sustainable innovation and avant-garde craft. Design Factory, curated by four international curators, features over 200 pieces that envision future living through materials, crafts and narrative, including works by French trend hunter Elizabeth Leriche and the co-founders of COLLECTIBLE, Clélie Debehault and Liv Vaisberg. Meanwhile, Design Showcase connects seven design capitals – Dubai, Hong Kong, Milan, New Delhi, Paris, Seoul and Shanghai – each interpreting diverse lifestyles and spatial imaginations through a distinctive urban context. Italian brand Moroso presents special showcase, Resonant Landscapes, a public art installation curated by Creative Director Patrizia Moroso that fuses sculptural form and sensory experience to create a poetic encounter between art and design.

Philippe Delhomme, Executive Board Chairman of Maison&Objet, said: “Thanks CCIDA and DesignInspire for the continuous support. After our first showcase in Hong Kong last year, we received positive feedback and attention. This year’s upgraded Maison&Objet Intérieurs Hong Kong 2025 nearly doubles in scale. We will showcase the future of interior design and we look forward to gathering with global industry peers and potential buyers to explore deeper collaborations.”

In its mission to connect global creativity and foster cross-industry collaboration, DesignInspire 2025 features international pavilions from places including the Chinese Mainland, Belgium, Czechia, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, presenting a diversity of design viewpoints and cultural dialogues. The Czech Pavilion gathers Prague-based brands Artisème, Braasi Industry and Pigmentarium, showcasing Bohemian crystal and porcelain craftsmanship, handcrafted urban backpacks and artistic fragrances, and fusing centuries-old crafts with contemporary sensibilities through light, texture and scent. In addition, this year’s event features several first-time exhibitors, including the Hefei Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia and the Macao Product Design Association, to showcase creative works that highlight local characteristics.

Beyond international showcases, a renowned designer and an emerging artist anchor the show’s cross-cultural narrative. BOTTEGA HONG KONG, with Alan Chan as Creative Director, along with UNVEIL LIMITED and Su Chang Design Research Office, reimagines everyday aesthetics through an “open carton” inspired by Italy’s alimentari and Hong Kong’s “si dor” neighbourhood stores. The pavilion showcases Hong Kong and Italian talent, including anothermountainman; Didi Ng, the first Hong Kong finalist of the LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize; Italian fashion brand FERRAGAMO; Italian furniture design powerhouse Moroso; glass artist Lucia Massari, known for pieces created for Dolce & Gabbana Casa; Alessandro Stabile Design Studio, one of Italy’s top emerging designers; and David Leung, photographer and artist. Together they are throwing the spotlight on Hong Kong-Italy design sensibilities and cultural narratives.

Curated by rising artist Chilai Howard, TINY STUDIO takes inspiration from Hong Kong’s street stall culture to shape 12 studio pavilions with unique designs, bringing fashion designer Angus Tsui, renowned illustrator Pen So, local fragrance brand BeCandle, acclaimed music producer Edward Chan, and Kelly Cheuk and Kwokin from the music video and visual production studio (Re). The set-up hosts creators from both Hong Kong and Italy working across the fields of digital art, sound, scent, sculpture and hands-on workshops, inviting visitors into immersive interactions that capture the creative energy between the two places.

This year, DesignInspire has partnered with Tatler to present “The A.I. Atelier”, an experience zone that blends design and technology. Supported by Gen.T and powered by Preface—a tech-enabling company founded by Tommy Lo, an outstanding young honouree from the Tatler Generation Tomorrow Community—this zone explores creativity through artificial intelligence (AI). It analyses visitors’ unique design spirit and styles, generating personalised visual creations on the spot. This gives audiences a first-hand experience of how AI is radically reshaping design language and forging a new era of intelligent synergy between design and technology.

Local exhibitors also unveil new designs, including GERI, an intelligent textile technology company, which collaborates with graphic design master Kan Tai-keung to leverage DesignInspire debuting a new series of smart handbags as a seamless fusion of innovation and craftsmanship.

Global creativity converges to expand collaborative horizons
To connect local and international cultural and creative design communities, foster collaboration, and pave the way for future industry development, DesignInspire is hosting an exclusive VIP preview today. The event brings together leading creative and cultural organisations from Hong Kong and overseas, major institutions across various sectors, international enterprises and design service users and buyers. The fair aims to catalyse new business partnerships through face-to-face networking.

This year’s participating companies span department stores, retail and residential development, hospitality and lifestyle brands, interior design practices and food and beverage groups, including Yves Saint Laurent Beauty from France, L’Oreal Luxe, Thai retail leaders The Mall Group and Central Retail, India’s Indian Institute of Interior Designers (IIID) and Bombay Shirt Company. Also in attendance are design and brand-strategy firms from Singapore and Europe such as Cameron Woo Design, First Sight International and Saguez & Partners. From the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, buyers include Eslite Spectrum Corporation, CHECK Hospitality Management, Haiguihai Group and Xiaochuniang Fast Food Co., Ltd., all of which are looking to leverage DesignInspire as a platform to explore cross-border collaboration opportunities that reflect the continued growth of cross-disciplinary design in the Asian market.

InnoTalks explores diverse themes leading a new wave of design ideas
To foster professional dialogue and knowledge sharing, the InnoTalks series returns with 13 sessions this year, convening creators and experts to discuss sensory experiences and business models. Highlights include “Time Warp – When Nostalgia Meets the Future”, where local studios Nopaperstudio and Hoopla unpack how retro elements and craft vocabularies evolve into contemporary visual languages, and why the trend for nostalgia resonates in a fast-paced digital era.

Another session, “Future development potential of Art Toy IP”, sees international designer Winson Ma analyse industry trends and explore how designer toys forge unique value chains across art, collecting and commerce, covering licensing, production and promotion models that turn creative characters into marketable cultural icons.

Other InnoTalks sessions span topics including multisensory design, sustainable interiors and more, running alongside the Maison&Objet Exhibitors’ Forum and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries D Mark Presentation. A series of creative workshops will be open to the public, where participants can experience hands-on art creation, from cyanotype printing, light sculpture and stone painting to miniature art, paper craft and candle-making. Many of the workshops draw inspiration from Hong Kong motifs, integrating local elements into creative experiences.

Harnessing the power of design and art to foster community inclusion
DesignInspire is also collaborating with St. James’ Creation under St. James’ Settlement to promote artistic development for people in rehabilitation, introducing “MusicCLAY – Noided Music Making Experience Workshop” – a hands-on experience combining clay art with electronic noise music. In addition, the Hong Kong YMCA’s the DOOOR arts space joins the exhibition to integrate art into the community.

Running concurrently with DesignInspire are three important HKTDC-led events – Business of IP Asia Forum, Entrepreneur Day and Start-up Express: International Edition 2025 – taking place from 4 to 5 December at the HKCEC, helping to create further synergies and business opportunities. One-on-one business matching will also be available to connect participants with design service firms and innovation companies worldwide.

* Sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4iv3RSs

DesignInspire details

Date:	4 to 6 December, 2025 (Thursday to Saturday)
Time:	4 and 5 December 9:30am-7:30pm 6 December 9:30am-7pm
Venue:	Hall 3DE, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Fee:	Free admission with registration
Event website:	https://designinspire.hktdc.com

Media enquiries
For enquiries, please contact:
Raconteur PR:

Betsy Tse	Tel: (852) 9742 7338	Email: betsytse@raconteur.hk
Clementine Cheung	Tel: (852) 9248 0876	Email: clementinecheung@raconteur.hk

HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Katy Wong	Tel: (852) 2584 4524	Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Stanley So	Tel: (852) 2584 4395	Email: stanley.hp.so@hktdc.org

HKTDC Newsroom: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong’s positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan.

CCIDA’s website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk.

About Business of Design Week
Business of Design Week (BODW), Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation and brands since 2002, is organised by Hong Kong Design Centre and gathers some of the world’s foremost design masters, brand leaders and entrepreneurs from Hong Kong as well as overseas, driving discourse on the value of design and innovation to inspire global audiences and explore new business opportunities.

Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

BIP Asia Forum and Entrepreneur Day set for December

– Driving IP financing and unlocking opportunities for start-ups

Co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the 15th Business of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), together with the 17th HKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), will be held from 4 to 5 December at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The two flagship annual events will bring together innovators, investors, professionals, and policymakers from around the world. Through a series of activities, the two events will foster cross-sector collaboration, and help strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre, and an international innovation and technology hub.

Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director said, “Hong Kong is the ideal platform for IP trading, backed by its sound legal system, deep capital markets, and robust IP protection regime. With the BIP Asia Forum, the HKTDC continues to drive IP commercialisation, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, and reinforce Hong Kong as a regional IP trading centre. Held concurrently, E-Day continues to adopt the theme ‘Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight’ which focuses on start-up growth and innovation and provides a networking and matching platform for entrepreneurs and investors. Together, the two events create strong synergy – from supporting start-ups to facilitating the commercialisation of IP – help translating innovation into real-world applications, thus further advance Hong Kong’s innovation and technology, and IP development.”

BIP Asia Forum spotlights IP financing
In recent years, IP has become a strategic asset leveraged by businesses to scale up and expand. Under the theme “Leverage IP to Finance Business Growth”, this year’s BIP Asia Forum brings together more than 100 speakers to explore IP’s potential for corporate development and financing.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Executive Director and David Wong, Director of Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government will officiate at the opening ceremony of the two-day forum. A keynote session on “IP Valuation and Financing” will examine how IP can be converted into a viable source of capital. Speakers include Ying-ying Cheng, Head (Banking Supervision), Banking Supervision Department of Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Winnie Tung, Chairperson, Commercial Banking Committee of the Hong Kong Association of Banks; Lewis C Lee, Founder and CEO of Moat Metrics, Inc.; Terence Koh, Managing Director and Head of Telecommunications, Media and Technology at United Overseas Bank Limited; and Sung-tae Ha, Director of IP, Valuation and Management Center of Korea Invention Promotion Association. They will share insights from multiple perspectives, including market developments, policy support, valuation practices, cross-sector collaboration, as well as strategies to integrate IP financing into the broader financial ecosystem, unlocking the growth potential of innovation-driven enterprises.

The theme of IP-driven investment shapes the first session of this year’s Global Tech Summit, titled “Unlocking Value: Intellectual Property and Investment Opportunities in AI Innovations” – investors will share key AI investment trends and explore the future landscape of IP within AI Innovation. Speakers include Lucas Shia, Associate Director (Investment) at Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited; Teddy Lui, Chief Commercial Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund; Warren Li, Head of VC and Startups, North Asia at Google Cloud; and representatives from Aberdeen Investments, Eastspring Investments, Invesco, and Fidelity International.

In the special address on the afternoon of 4 December, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, John Lee, and Li Shengjun, Deputy Head of the Patent Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration will deliver keynote remarks.

Diverse thematic sessions push forward creativity and innovation
The plenary session, titled “Propelling Sustainability with IP”, will focus on IP’s strategic role in accelerating sustainability and elevating industry standards. Speakers include Dr Lorenz Kaiser, Senior Legal Counsel at GE Aerospace; Krishna Singhania, Senior IP Counsel at Maersk; and Dr Pratheeba Vimalnath, Lecturer in Innovation, Intellectual Property and Sustainability, University of Exeter Business School, UK. The breakout session “Opportunities and Risks of Data Licensing” will touch on data copyrights, privacy compliance, cross-border data flows, and regulatory environment. Speakers include Professor Daryl Lim, H. Laddie Montague Jr. Chair in Law and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at Penn State Dickinson Law, and Shun Cheng, Director of AI & Cloud Technology Intellectual Property Rights Department at HUAWEI Technologies.

The “IP Economy” is another highlight, featuring Mark Kingston, CEO and Co-founder of Libertas Brands (holding exclusive global rights of “Fuggler”), and Perry Chung, Executive Director, Strategic Development and Commercial Operations of Ocean Park. They will share how to leverage online-to-offline IP closed loop to boost revenue, expand customer reach through IP collaboration, and integrate cultural elements to enhance IP sustainability.

Another breakout session “IP-driven Transformation of Hong Kong Brands” will examine how local brands leverage IP to transform their business models, enhance brand identity, market penetration, and diversify into new business streams. Speakers include Raymond Leung, CEO of Camel Vacuum Flasks; Steve Ng, Founder of TINY; and Crystal Wong, Deputy Head of Commercial and Brand of Hong Kong Tramways.

The ASEAN Session, co-organised by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government, will focus on patent commercialisation, discuss how to accelerate the translation of research outcomes, promote innovation collaboration and advance technology transfer between ASEAN economies and Hong Kong.

E-Day ignites innovation momentum
As the HKTDC’s flagship start-up event, E-Day continues under the theme “Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight”, with a strong commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and providing tailored support and development opportunities for start-ups. E-Day combines an exhibition with business matching and a series of seminars, and serves as a dynamic platform that brings together innovators, investors and ecosystem partners, helping start-ups expand networks, exchange knowledge, explore collaboration opportunities and accelerate business growth globally.

E-Day will spotlight six technology verticals – Artificial Intelligence, Health Tech, Cyber Security, Construction and Logistics, Spatial Computing and Sustainability. The event will feature more than 350 start-ups, innovation projects and start-up support organisations. The Digital Policy Office will set up the “Innovation Hong Kong Pavilion”, showcasing 30 award-winning projects from the Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA). The pavilion hosted by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau will feature over 40 start-ups supported by the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as members of the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area. In addition, the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association will once again co-organise the annual Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions with Geneva Palexpo, featuring more than 130 innovative projects from across Asia. Nine universities in Hong Kong will also exhibit their latest research outcomes and start-up ventures, fostering collaboration between academic and industry.

E-Day’s seminar programme will cover four main tracks: Inspirational Masterclass, Start-up 101, Uncovering Hidden Gems and Global Tech Summit, with discussions spanning hot topics such as artificial intelligence, green energy, deeptech, sustainable fashion and youth entrepreneurship. A highlight on the first day, “T-Chat: From Labs to Battlefield: Navigating Deep Tech Commercialisation and Global Scale”, will present Yeye Xiao, Innovation Consultant Manager & Central Asia Lead at Hello Tomorrow, the world’s largest deeptech start-up community based in France; Dr Paul Wang, Director of the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core at The University of Hong Kong; Edith Yeung, General Partner at Race Capital; and Kenny Oktavius, Co-founder and CEO of Point-Fit Technology. The speakers will discuss how scientific research can be effectively translated from the laboratory to the marketplace, driving commercialisation and accelerating global expansion.

To fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique role as a bridge between the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and overseas markets, a roundtable titled “Empowering GBA Startups to Expand into ASEAN with Hong Kong as a Super-connector and Super Value-adder” will focus on opportunities for GBA start-ups to expand into ASEAN and international markets. The speakers, including Intan Zalani, the Consul (Trade) of Malaysia in Hong Kong; Peter Mok, General Managers of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub; and Stephen Chan, Partner of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, will analyse how the city’s financial strength, legal expertise and strategic support can facilitate cross-border collaboration in innovation and technology.

The HKSAR Government and industry organisations are joining forces to support youth and SME development. A dedicated session, “Launch of HKICTA Winner Circle cum Winners Sharing Session”, hosted by the Digital Policy Office will focus on innovation leadership. Outstanding winners of the Hong Kong ICT Awards will discuss how technology can promote the development of smart city. A fireside chat titled “Crafting the Next-Gen Wardrobe: Innovation for a Sustainable Future”, will explore how new technologies are reshaping sustainable fashion, driving the integration of aesthetics and environmental responsibility and transforming the future of the fashion industry.

“Start-up Express International” will return this year and continue to attract promising overseas start-ups to establish a presence in Hong Kong and use the city as a springboard to access regional markets. The programme is supported by partners from Australia, Chinese Mainland, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and other economies, and 10 outstanding start-ups were selected earlier this year. The winning start-ups will join a sharing and networking session on 4 December, the first day of E-Day, to present their entrepreneurial journeys.

DesignInspire will be held concurrently with BIP Asia Forum and E-Day from 3 to 6 December at the HKCEC. The event will bring together numerous local and international design superstars and provide an exciting design experience for the industry and the public. The three events aim to create synergy and generate more business opportunities for the industry.

Websites:

Business of IP Asia Forum: https://bipasia.hktdc.com/en/

Entrepreneur Day: https://portal.hktdc.com/eday/en

Start-up Express International: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/start-up-express-international

For media interviews with conference speakers, please email the interviewee and questions to raconteurhk@gmail.hk by 26 November.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/49u4f1b

Media Enquiries
For enquiries, please contact:

Raconteur PR Agency:

Molisa Lau	Tel: (852) 6187 7786	Email: molisalau@raconteur.hk
Chilie Chang	Tel: (852) 6910 6607	Email: chiliechang@raconteur.hk

HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:

Navin Law	Tel: (852) 2584 4525	Email: navin.cm.law@hktdc.org
Serena Cheung	Tel: (852) 2584 4272	Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw	Tel: (852) 2584 4472	Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en

Think Business, Think Hong Kong returns to Milan to deepen Hong Kong-Italy business ties

– Supporting Hong Kong and mainland enterprises go global, attracting Asia-focused Italian companies to SAR

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will host the Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK) flagship promotion campaign at Palazzo Mezzanotte in Milan on 27 November. This marks the event’s first return to Italy after a previous edition in 2014. The event is expected to gather over 700 business leaders, officials and investors to explore business and partnership opportunities in Asia via Hong Kong.

The event takes place against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global business landscape and growth in markets such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as opportunities arising from Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis initiative, and will offer Italian businesses an opportunity to explore new markets, build partnerships and foster collaboration across Asia.

After successful recent editions in Paris and Jakarta, TBTHK Milan will gather some 80 delegates from Hong Kong, including government officials, business and creative industry leaders, financial and professional services providers, investors and start-up entrepreneurs, as well as executives from Chinese Mainland companies based in Hong Kong, for a day of dialogue, networking and partnership-building with Italian companies keen to expand into Asia. The event will highlight Hong Kong’s role as a superconnector and super value-adder, enabling both Hong Kong and mainland enterprises to go global and seize opportunities in Italy and across Europe.

At the Opening Session, Paul Chan, Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary, and Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, along with an Italian government representative will deliver remarks. At the Plenary Session, high-profile speakers from various industries, including Bernard Chan, Chairman of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; Bonnie Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Claudio de Bedin, Partner of Justin Chow & de Bedin Solicitors LLP; Fabio De Rosa, Head of Global Transaction Banking of Banco BPM; Hans Michael Jebsen, Chairman of The Hong Kong-Europe Business Council and Jebsen Group; and Alex Zhavoronkov, Founder and CEO of Insilico Medicine, will share their insights.

The programme will also include five thematic sessions, focusing on a strategic area that reflects shared priorities between Hong Kong and Italy and will offer in-depth insights into practical collaboration opportunities. Prominent business leaders, including representatives from Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Invest Hong Kong, Hong Kong Information Technology Joint Council, Hong Kong Design Centre, Hong Kong Designers Association, HSBC, Bank of China, as well as start-ups, will share their successes and insights. The thematic sessions will cover:

Digital Trade and Finance: Highlighting global economic and digital transformation trends, key challenges in cross-border trade, Hong Kong’s role as a leading financial and trade hub strengthening ties with Europe and Italy, its advanced digital trade initiatives and infrastructure, success stories using new technologies, and plans to build trade corridors linking Italy, Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
Innovation and Technology: Exploring Hong Kong’s role as a leading testbed and launchpad for AI, robotics, and smart city solutions, featuring breakthroughs in greentech, industrial digitalisation, and urban innovation backed by case studies in AI logistics, automation, and sustainable management to unlock partnership opportunities for Italian firms in Asia’s fast-growing smart city ecosystem.
Global Supply Chain: Highlighting the shared priorities between Hong Kong and Italy, this panel showcases Hong Kong’s drive for global supply chain innovation through strong European partnerships, leveraging its capital market and superconnector role to empower pioneering companies in transforming cutting-edge technologies into sustainable, greener, and more resilient growth.
Creative and Design: Master designers will introduce distinctive lifestyle design cases and partnerships that re-define cross-cultural elegance, while emerging talents unveil cutting-edge design solutions and share inspiring stories of successful brand collaborations in another panel.

In addition to a full-day symposium, the TBTHK programme will feature an exhibition comprising the Business Support Zone and InnoVenture Salon, where over 20 Hong Kong service providers and start-ups will showcase innovative services, solutions, and technologies, creating opportunities for collaboration with Italian participants. One-on-one business consultations and on-site business matching will be arranged to facilitate deals and collaborations between Italian and Hong Kong companies. The day will conclude with the Hong Kong Dinner, providing further opportunities for the business communities of Italy and Hong Kong to connect.

Survey reveals Italian businesses eye Hong Kong as key gateway to Asia
The HKTDC and the Milan-headquartered Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF) have jointly conducted a survey titled Italian Companies’ Asian Expansion Priorities: Innovation, Healthcare and Retail Sectors. Key findings indicate that Hong Kong is regarded as a priority market and an essential trading partner by many of Italy’s increasingly Asia-focused businesses.

Primarily targeted at Italian companies with business in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and wider Asia, the research survey was conducted in Q3 2025, covering 172 Italian C-suite and senior business leaders. According to the findings, 77% of surveyed Italian businesses are strongly committed to expanding in Asia, citing the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong as their priority markets.

When asked how Hong Kong can facilitate Italian business expansion in Asia over the next three years, some 93% of respondents believe Hong Kong can effectively support their plans. The city’s unrivalled status as a strategic gateway to many Asian markets, along with its strengths as a logistics and supply chain management hub, were also widely acknowledged.

Strong Italy-Hong Kong ties
Italy is an important trading and investment partner for Hong Kong. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to US$8.3 billion. This positions Italy as Hong Kong’s fourth-largest EU trading partner and export market, and its third-largest EU import market.

As of the end of 2023, Hong Kong was the third most popular destination for Italian investment in Asia. Hong Kong investors also recorded substantial investments in Italy, with the city being the third-largest Asian investor in the country. As of 2024, there were 200 Italian companies operating in Hong Kong.

The sectors recording the most trading activity include fashion and luxury goods, electronics and food and beverages, as well as high-value professional services industries – areas where Italian excellence is globally recognised.

The Asian metropolis offers a unique regional business ecosystem, combining competitive taxation, a robust legal framework based on the common law, strong IP protection and privileged access to the Chinese Mainland and emerging Asia-Pacific markets.

This combination makes Hong Kong an ideal platform for Italian companies eager to expand into Asia, diversify their operations, and strengthen their presence in one of the world’s most vibrant regions.

For more information, please visit the official TBTHK Milan website:
https://thinkbusinessthinkhk.com/2025-milan/symposium/en/index.html

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3XmdzNj

Media enquiries
HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:

Jane Cheung

Tel: +852 2584 4137

Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

Weber Shandwick

Nadia Lauria	Tel: +39 3356962981	Email: hkmedia@webershandwickitalia.it
Marco Pedrazzini	Tel: +39 3470369222	Email: hkmedia@webershandwickitalia.it
Ines Baraldi	Tel: +39 3428650498	Email: hkmedia@webershandwickitalia.it

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference draws to successful conclusion

– Event brings together over 2,300 global leaders, driving multi-party collaboration in the pursuit of industry growth

– The 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) came to a successful conclusion today. The two-day event featured insights from over 80 industry leaders in the shipping, aviation, logistics and supply chain sectors, attracting over 2,300 participants from over 40 countries and regions, with an encouraging response
– The conference facilitated meaningful collaboration, arranging close to 400 business matching meetings and successfully signing 11 MoUs across the aviation, logistics, shipping and technology sectors
– The Hong Kong’s NextGen Logistician Award Presentation Ceremony 2025 was held on the second day of the conference, recognising young talents in the logistics industry who have made significant achievements and shown remarkable potential in innovative, high-end, smart and sustainable logistics

The 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), ran successfully over two days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The event brought together over 80 industry leaders from the shipping, aviation, logistics and supply chain sectors to share valuable insights across more than 20 thematic sessions and workshops. The conference received an encouraging response, attracting over 2,300 participants from over 40 countries and regions.

This year’s ALMAC not only provided a platform for Hong Kong to explore the prospects and opportunities in these industries but also fostered meaningful collaboration among industry stakeholders. Close to 400 business matching meetings were arranged over the two days, and 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were successfully signed across the aviation, logistics, shipping and technology sectors. Notably, the HKTDC and Greater Bay Airlines Company Limited signed an MoU to deepen collaboration through diverse channels, working together to further Hong Kong’s position as a preferred world-class city destination for global trade and tourism.

Exploring industry trends and unlocking new opportunities
This year’s conference, themed “Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape”, brought together global industry leaders to discuss trends and opportunities in logistics, maritime and aviation. Key focus areas included supply chain diversification and opportunities in emerging markets, sustainability and green energy and innovation and technology.

In recent years, global enterprises have faced diverse challenges such as geopolitical tensions, shifting global tariffs and ongoing supply chain disruptions. During the session “Steering Business Growth in a New Era of Global Trade”, Brian Bourke, Global Chief Commercial Officer SEKO Logistics, shared: “Watch out for the new technologies. The future is already here. Partnerships are critical, if not more so today than ever before. In order to help any organisation navigate through disruption, the focus must be on a resilient supply chain and diversification. But I do have to say that it’s the partnerships you forge that are going to help when the unknowns happen.”

In the same session, Henri Le Gouis, Executive Vice President, Global Freight Forwarding of GEODIS, remarked: “When you talk about disruptions, you talk about escalation. We need to be escalating to the right people in the different organisations we work with to find the right solutions. And rapidly, we need people who are able to decide, make the right decisions, and find the right solutions even if the events are unexpected. It’s important to select the partner you work with that will find solutions when times are getting difficult.”

As the world advances toward net-zero emissions, green transformation has become critical to achieving sustainable development in logistics and associated industries. On the second day of ALMAC, the “Green Energy Forum: Fuels, Freight, and the Road to Net Zero” featured suppliers and logistics companies, sharing how innovative technologies can help in the implementation of sustainable strategies, align with global policies, reduce carbon footprints and accelerate progress toward net-zero goals. James Laybourn, Regional Segment Director, APAC of DNV Energy Systems, shared: “We talk about many options in terms of fuel, including additional fuel, diesel, and fuel for ships. We need to see where the priorities are and how exactly to tackle this energy transition.”

The Hong Kong SAR Government is actively promoting the development of the low-altitude economy. Leveraging ALMAC as a platform, a dedicated session titled “The Engine of Low-altitude Economy: How Cargo Drones Are Revolutionising the Future of Air Logistics” was hosted on the opening day. Among the speakers, Bobby Healy, CEO and Founder of Manna Drone Delivery, stated: “The challenge has always been to find a friendly drone-regulated country. The next challenge is going to be accessing the actual airspace because, in Europe, we have standards and regulations for the low average. Individual countries have not implemented them yet.”

Kenny Lau, Chief Technology Officer of S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited, shared: “First, we should create an efficient and high-value investment space to maximise the benefits in the world, and we also have to integrate with the logistics network. Second, we should share resources. The sky is very busy in the GBA area, especially in Hong Kong. Thirdly, we should build a standard framework. Hong Kong is a very good platform for competition.”

Another key session at the conference was “Digital Workshop – Implementing AI in your Supply Chain”, delivered by Steve Ng, Head of Supply Service – Hong Kong, Taiwan of Reckitt, showcasing multiple use cases and supply chain automation planning processes. The “Youth Empowerment Workshop” discussed trends in logistics and supply chain management along with career prospects and continuous value enhancement strategies that can attract new talent to the industry.

The ALMAC exhibition this year showcased over 90 exhibitors with dedicated zones for aviation, the low-altitude economy, supply chain management and logistics services, maritime and port services and logtech. Appearing for the first time, the Low-altitude Economy zone highlighted globally leading low-altitude logistics technology solutions, further promoting strategic partnerships and business development in this fast-rising sector.

As advocated in the Action Plan for Modern Logistics Development by the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Hong Kong’s NextGen Logistician Award Presentation Ceremony 2025 was held on ALMAC’s second day. These prestigious awards honour the exceptional achievements of young talents in innovative, high-end, smart and sustainable logistics. Under Secretary for Transport of the HKSAR Government Liu Chun-san served as the presenter at the awards ceremony. Sky Sin of Hongkong International Terminals, Jeffrey Leung of Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited and Esmond Cheung of Aerovision Technology Limited received the Young Professional Award, and Adrian Chan of Hong Kong YunExpress Logistics Limited and Karen Lai of Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited received the Young Executive Award.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4nZXXtC

Media enquiries
Yuan Tung Financial Relations

Louise Song	Tel: (852) 3428 5690	Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung	Tel: (852) 3428 2361	Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Johnny Tsui	Tel: (852) 2584 4395	Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw	Tel: (852) 2584 4472	Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference opens today

– Focusing on supply chain diversification, emerging market opportunities, low-altitude economy and sustainability

– The 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) opened today under the theme “Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape”
– The event brings together over 80 heavyweight speakers to explore industry trends and opportunities, driving high-quality development in logistics and supply chain management
– New thematic sessions spotlight the Middle East and Central Asia markets, with speakers sharing the latest developments and future opportunities, analysing key strategies and investment directions
– John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and Almaz Turgunbaev, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic, attended the Special Address session on the first day of the conference. Their participation aims to deepen international exchange and cooperation, helping to further enhance Hong Kong’s position as an international shipping and aviation hub and its roles as a “superconnector” and “super value-adder”.

The 15th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today (17 November) and runs for two days at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Under the theme “Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape”, the conference aligns with recommendations in the 15th Five-Year Plan to enhance Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping centre, and policies laid out in the Policy Address to strengthen the development of the shipping, aviation and logistics sectors in the city. As the industry’s annual flagship event, the two-day conference gathers over 80 distinguished speakers, including government officials and industry leaders, to discuss trends and opportunities and promote high-quality development in logistics and supply chain management.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, attended the first day of the conference to deliver a Special Address. In addition, this year’s ALMAC invited Central Asian official Almaz Turgunbaev, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of the Kyrgyz Republic, to also deliver a Special Address.

John Lee said: “The conference theme this year, ‘Collaboration and Growth in the New Trade Landscape’, is a timely response to rising geopolitical tensions and the volatile global trade policies, which present considerable challenges for our maritime, aviation and logistics industries, from route planning and shipping fleet deployment to inventory and warehouse management. Nevertheless, as the Chinese saying goes, ‘where there are challenges, there are opportunities’. Geopolitical risks can be overcome by market diversification. Increased costs related to supply chain concerns can be offset, at least partially, by technology-enabled efficiencies.”

Mr Lee also shared: “I am particularly pleased to announce that Hong Kong has established Partner Port relationships with Guangxi port and Dalian port in the Chinese Mainland, and Port San Antonio in Chile. These ports are of strategic importance, and true to our character and policy priorities. As an international maritime centre, we connect the Chinese Mainland with the world and seek partners who support an open, international trade order.”

In her welcome remarks, Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Now is the perfect time to embrace new possibilities, as trade networks and supply chains around the world undergo a sweeping transformation. The ever-changing trade polices of major economies continue to keep business agile. At the same time, the world is being rapidly reshaped by technological advances – particularly the digitalisation of trade – and a growing industry-wide commitment to sustainability. Hong Kong, as a major hub for aviation, shipping, logistics and supply chain management, is at the forefront of these changes. The HKTDC remains committed to leveraging the city’s unique strengths to help businesses establish resilient and sustainable supply chains, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a superconnector and super value-adder.”

Strengthening Hong Kong’s logistics hub role and promoting regional cooperation
Recommendations in the 15th Five-Year Plan to support the consolidation and enhancement of Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping centre carry profound strategic significance. The HKTDC will continue to deepen Hong Kong’s role as an international exchange platform, facilitating connections and substantive cooperation between local and overseas industries, assisting enterprises in “going global”, helping to expand their businesses in global markets, and enhancing their competitiveness. A key focus is promoting trade linkages and actively encouraging enterprises to leverage the HKTDC’s trade platforms and events to achieve greater cooperation across industries. This year’s ALMAC continues to feature business–matching sessions, connecting shippers with service providers to foster regional partnerships and drive industry growth.

ALMAC this year features exhibition zones dedicated to aviation, the low-altitude economy, technology, supply chain management and logistics services as well as maritime and port services. Over 90 exhibitors are showcasing the latest leading logistics and supply chain solutions. Notably, the Low-altitude Economy zone makes its debut at ALMAC, with enterprises from the Regulatory Sandbox pilot projects – including SF Express (Hong Kong) and Esri China (Hong Kong) Limited –demonstrating cutting-edge technologies and applications in drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and urban air mobility (UAM), promoting awareness of the latest innovations and applications in this fast-rising sector.

Three key trends in focus; unlocking opportunities in the Middle East and Central Asia
This year’s ALMAC focuses on three key trends: supply chain diversification, sustainability and green energy and innovation and technology, highlighting Hong Kong’s critical role in global connectivity.

On the first day, the key session “Insights into a New Era of Global Trade: Driving Business Growth” will feature international industry leaders from SEKO Logistics, GEODIS, and Mattel who will explore the challenges and opportunities arising from changes in trade policies and economic fragmentation. Newly launched thematic sessions will focus on the potential of the Middle Eastern and Central Asian markets. In the Middle East Session, representatives from Etihad Airways, DP World Logistics and the Qatar Free Zones Authority will share insights on logistics innovation and investment strategies. The Central Asia Session will engage representatives from QazTrade Center for Trade Policy Development, JSC, under the Ministry of Trade and Integration of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Shyngar Trans Logistics Company, the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development and PTC. The discussion will address regional supply chain development and the advantages of multimodal transport.

Low-altitude economy and smart ports: reshaping the air and maritime transport landscape
In the first-day session “The Engine of Low-altitude Economy: How Cargo Drones Are Revolutionising the Future of Air Logistics”, Manal Habib, CEO and Founder, MightyFly; Bobby Healy, CEO and Founder, Manna; Kenny Lau, Chief Technology Officer, SF Express (Hong Kong) Limited; Ryan Walsh, Founder and CEO, Valqari; and Andrea Wu, CEO, Urban-Air Port Ltd, shared the latest breakthroughs in drone freight design, automation and AI-driven logistics systems. Meanwhile, the Low-altitude Economy zone at the conference is showcasing drones and related applications, allowing participants to experience first hand the future of air transport and explore the potential of low-altitude economy innovations in the logistics sector.

In addition, the Port Community System X LSCM Maritime Summit 2025 will focus on the future development of smart ports and smart trade. The summit will explore how applying the Port Community System (PCS) can significantly enhance operational efficiency and supply chain visibility through cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain and the Internet of Things. It will also showcase Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international shipping centre and a hub for smart trade.

Conference and workshops support enterprises’ green transformation
A first-day workshop, “Sustainable Finance: Navigating a Sustainable Future across Logistics, Shipping, and Aviation Industries”, focused on how ESG (environmental, social and governance) is reshaping operational models and development directions in the logistics, maritime and aviation sectors. Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, gave the Opening Address at the workshop, followed by industry experts including KT Ting, Chief Operating Officer, Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency; Calvin Chung, Director, Chimbusco Pan Nation; Wai Yeung Tam, Senior Finance Manager, SF REIT Asset Management Limited; and Eric Liu, Chief Executive, Cathay United Bank Hong Kong Branch. They discussed challenges and opportunities in the industry’s green transformation and addressed the important role of sustainable finance to support enterprises in the transition.

As the world strives towards net-zero emissions, Hong Kong is committed to developing as a green maritime centre. The recent Policy Address proposes establishing Hong Kong as a green marine fuel bunkering centre, focusing on green methanol, green ammonia and hydrogen. A session titled “Green Energy Forum: Fuels, Freight, and the Road to Net Zero” will be held tomorrow (18 November) to share pathways, challenges and opportunities for a more sustainable and low-carbon future. Speakers include Essam Al Sheibany, Vice President Sustainability, Asyad Group; Tryggvi Thor Herbertsson, Head of Hydrogen Strategy and Partnership, Qair Group; James Laybourn, Regional Segment Director, APAC, DNV Energy Systems; and Wu Yi, Deputy General Manager, Kunlun Energy Co., Ltd.

ALMAC offers a rich and diverse programme for participants, with tomorrow’s highlighted sessions, including the Hong Kong Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, the Supply Chain Management and Logistics Panel, “Logtech Forum: Stay Ahead in the Next Wave of Supply Chain Innovation”, and the Youth Empowerment Workshop. Representatives from companies such as HP, Reckitt, DHL Express, LALAMOVE and Procter & Gamble will share valuable insights and practical skills, helping participants stay ahead of the latest industry developments.

Media enquiries
Yuan Tung Financial Relations:

Louise Song	Tel: (852) 3428 5690	Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung	Tel: (852) 3428 2361	Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Johnny Tsui	Tel: (852) 2584 4395	Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw	Tel: (852) 2584 4472	Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

Italian businesses eye Hong Kong as key gateway to Asia

– Survey reveals strong interest in Hong Kong partnerships and untapped trade potential

Hong Kong is seen as a priority market and an essential trading partner by many of Italy’s increasingly Asia-focused businesses. This is among the key findings of a new report – Italian Companies’ Asian Expansion Priorities: Innovation, Healthcare and Retail Sectors – jointly conducted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Milan-headquartered Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF).

The research forms part of the forthcoming edition of the HKTDC’s signature promotion campaign Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK), set to take place in Milan, Italy on 27 November. The event will bring together over 700 business leaders, officials and investors from both Hong Kong and Italy to discover business and partnership opportunities in Asia.

Primarily targeted at Italian companies with business in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Asia, the research survey was conducted in Q3 2025, covering 172 Italian C-suite and senior business leaders.

Commenting on the significance of the report, Irina Fan, Director of HKTDC Research, said: “According to the survey findings, 77% of Italian businesses are genuinely enthusiastic when it comes to expanding in Asia, with the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong being their priority markets.”

“It is particularly gratifying to see Hong Kong poised to play such a vital role in facilitating the Asia expansion of such businesses. When asked about how Hong Kong can facilitate Italian business expansion in Asia over the next three years, some 93% of respondents believe Hong Kong can effectively support their future Asia expansion plans. Its unrivalled status as a strategic gateway to many Asian markets, as well as its capabilities as a logistics and supply chain management hub, were also widely acknowledged,” she added.

Facilitating expansion and leveraging trade agreements

When it came to future opportunities, the survey also highlighted the relatively limited awareness and low utilisation of many regional trade agreements. In particular, two agreements emerged as having significant potential to transform the commercial relationship between Hong Kong and Italy.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is the world’s largest free trade agreement, encompassing the ASEAN bloc, the Chinese Mainland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. While 51% of respondents are currently capitalising on its benefits, huge untapped potential remains. Should Hong Kong’s application to join the RCEP be successful, 60% of Italian enterprises anticipate that it would unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen their engagement with the city.

Another pivotal agreement is the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which has provided Hong Kong-based suppliers of goods and services with privileged access to the vast Chinese Mainland market since 2003. Despite CEPA having been in place for many years, some 80% of the Italian businesses surveyed were unaware of the agreement or how to leverage its benefits. This reveals a major opportunity, as only 12% are currently making use of CEPA’s advantages through strategic partnerships in Hong Kong.

Putting the survey and its findings into perspective, Sara Berloto, Head of Research for the ICCF, said: “The survey highlighted many Italian companies can better leverage several existing regional trade agreements. This was most notably the case with the RCEP and CEPA. Overall, there is a real need for comprehensive information, training, and institutional support initiatives in order to ensure companies — especially SMEs — can heighten their strategic utilisation of such agreements.”

Apparent opportunities amid already strong ties
Looking at the broader picture, the scale of opportunity available to Hong Kong SMEs is striking. Most notably, 77% of Italian companies plan to expand within Asia over the next three years, with the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and India cited as their preferred markets.

By sector, 95% of Italian innovation and technology companies plan to expand in Asia, followed by 88% of healthcare companies and 86% of enterprises in the retail /wholesale sector. These findings align well with Hong Kong’s new industry focus on innovation and technology, the life sciences and healthtech, as well as the raft of ambitious e-commerce initiatives the city has committed to.

Such developments would further enhance the strong business relationship between Italy and Hong Kong. In 2024, trade between the two amounted to US$8.3 billion (HK$64.5 billion), positioning Italy as Hong Kong’s fourth-largest EU trading partner and export market and its third-largest EU import market.

As of the end of 2023, Hong Kong was the third most significant destination for Italian investment in Asia. Hong Kong investors also made substantial investments in Italy, with the city being the third-largest Asian investor in the country. As of 2024, there were some 200 Italian companies active in Hong Kong.

Think Business, Think Hong Kong
The full survey report will be launched at TBTHK in Milan on 27 November.

After successful Paris and Jakarta editions, TBTHK Milan will bring together some 80 delegates from Hong Kong, including government officials, top business and creative industry leaders, corporate service professionals, investors and start-up entrepreneurs, for a day of dialogue, networking and partnership-building with Italian companies keen to expand into Asia.

The mega promotion will feature a symposium and an exhibition comprising the Business Support Zone and InnoVenture Salon, where some 20 Hong Kong service providers and start-ups will showcase their flagship products and solutions. Business matching meetings will be arranged to facilitate deals and collaborations between Italian and Hong Kong companies. The programme also includes the Hong Kong Dinner. At the symposium, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR, Prof Frederick Ma, HKTDC Chairman, along with representatives from the Italian government, will deliver remarks. High-profile speakers from various industries will share their insights at the Plenary Session. The agenda also includes five thematic sessions, each dedicated to a strategic area including finance and trade, innovation and technology, global supply chains, as well as creativity and design. These sessions reflect shared priorities between Hong Kong and Italy and offer in-depth insights into practical collaboration opportunities.

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

References
– HKTDC Research website: https://research.hktdc.com/en/

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3LxXv8I

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Jane Cheung

Tel: (852) 2584 4137

Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.

17th Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair wraps up on a high note with over 8,200 buyers

– Wine & Spirits Zone in the spotlight with global demand for diverse wines and spirits

The three-day 17th Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair ended yesterday, attracting over 8,200 trade buyers from 57 countries and regions
The new “World of Spirits” zone showcased spirits from 14 countries and regions, featuring six of the “Top 10 Chinese Baijiu Brands”
Homegrown brands injected authentic Hong Kong character and gained recognition from overseas buyers.

The 17th Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Wine & Spirits Fair), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), successfully wrapped up yesterday. Beginning on 6 November, the three-day event attracted over 8,200 trade buyers from 57 countries and regions. On the final day, the “Wine Fiesta” zone welcomed over 11,000 adult members of the public who sampled and purchased wines and participated in master classes, tasting sessions, and seminars.

Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC, remarked: “This year’s Wine and Spirits fair brought together over 620 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions. In addition to Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, we welcomed exhibitors from the rest of Asia, Europe, and the Americas, who showcased wines and spirits from more than 40 origins. Seminars, networking events, competitions and tasting sessions were held to further industry development and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a regional wine and spirits trading hub.

The spirits market is becoming increasingly diversified. Following the HKSAR Chief Executive’s announcement in last year’s Policy Address to reduce the duty on high-end liquor, this year’s Wine & Spirits Fair introduced a new World of Spirits zone. Exhibitors in this zone accounted for more than a third of the total, and featured whiskies, Chinese baijiu, brandy, tequila, gin, vodka, rum and more from 14 countries and regions, allowing buyers to gain deeper insights into the cultures and trends of various spirits.”

This year’s exhibition was brimming with activities, while the tasting areas bustled with enthusiastic buyers and visitors. Numerous renowned importers, wholesalers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms actively attended the event for sourcing, including: XIAMEN C&D International Wines & Spirits Group Co., Ltd, Lianhua Supermarket Holdings Co., Ltd., Jiuxian, 1919.cn and Jiujiajiu from Chinese Mainland; Specks Food & Liquor Group PTY LTD from Australia; Mikkeller APS from Denmark; Munjral Brothers (Distribution) Pvt Ltd from India; Mercian Corporation and The Thousand Kyoto from Japan; Hotel Kazakhstan Almaty from Kazakhstan; Shinsegae L&B and Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas from South Korea; Luen Heng F&B Sdn Bhd from Malaysia; Víno.sk s.r.o. from Slovakia; Grupo Alpom Importaciones SL from Spain; Phu & Em Group from Vietnam and more.

Chinese baijiu targets new generation of consumers; emerging markets show potential
Chinese baijiu was a highlight in the “World of Spirits” zone. The scale of the pavilion has reached a record high. It also brings six of the “Top 10 Chinese Baijiu Brands”.

One of the exhibitors, Luzhou Laojiao from Sichuan, made a grand debut on the first day of the Wine & Spirits Fair by launching a brand-new product, “Guojiao 1573 · Beautiful Hong Kong”. The bottle design thoughtfully incorporates iconic Hong Kong landmarks, highlighting the city’s cultural identity. In recent years, Luzhou Laojiao has actively pursued strategies to attract younger demographics by lowering the alcohol content and introducing lighter series, successfully attracting next-generation consumers and emerging market buyers.

Ryan Leung, Regional Brand Promotion Manager said, “During this fair, we held individual meetings with buyers from South Africa, Malaysia, India, Japan, and other regions to exchange views on the market potential and consumption trends of Chinese baijiu. Several orders were secured during the event, including hotel distributors and supermarket chains. The result reflects the brand’s efforts in internationalisation and innovative positioning, marking a successful step forward in expanding into international market.”

Another exhibitor, Chen Neng En from Zhejiang Yuanguo Winery Industry Co., Ltd, said, “Participating in this fair in Hong Kong has given us a deep sense of the market’s diversity and vibrancy, helping younger consumers discover baijiu. We connected with some 50 buyers from across the globeincluding India, Indonesia, Canada, and various countries and regions in Southeast Asia. These included import liquor agents, high-end restaurateurs, and boutique liquor retailers.’’

In addition, buyers believe that China’s liquor industry is showing unprecedented potential for internationalisation. Kenneth Soh, Managing Director of Malaysian beverage distributor Luning F&B, said, “We have already imported some Chinese baijiu, but have yet to introduce wines from Chinese Mainland. I am planning to source both red and white wines from Ningxia, while also expanding our Chinese baijiu product line. Our annual procurement is expected to reach between USD million to USD5 million.”

Global wines cater to diverse tastes
Beyond Chinese baijiu, the Wine and Spirits Fair showcased wines and spirits from around the globe, including Japanese sake, Irish whiskeys, Russian vodka and Austrian wines, and more fully demonstrating how the Wine & Spirits Fair helps brands both “bring in” and “go global”. David Morris, Chief Executive Officer of the Australia China Business Council Tasmania, said that they successfully connected with buyers and distributors from across Asia and promoted Australian whisky.

Einav Nixon, Commercial Consul and Head of the Israel Economic and Commercial Mission in Hong Kong and Macau, expressed her appreciation for the tasting session. She also noted, “Although Israeli wines are still considered niche in Hong Kong, buyers and media have shown keen interest in our wines and spirits, reflecting significant market potential.” Nixon added that they plan to expand their presence at the Wine & Spirits Fair next year.

Local brands exhibiting at the fair actively expanded their market presence, successfully attracting attention from overseas buyers. Queenie Lau, Business Development Director of Forever Profits International Trading Limited, shared that the company’s new product, “MLW Whiskey Highball,” has expanded into both local and overseas markets just three months after its launch. The brand focuses on low-alcohol beverages, with only 6% ABV, catering to diverse market preferences. The product is now available at major Japanese department stores, and the brand is currently in discussions with hotels and venues in Macau. “During the wine and spirits fair, the brand attracted significant attention from Chinese Mainland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and more. Multiple distributors proactively sought us out enquired, reflecting the appeal of Hong Kong-manufactured products in Asian markets. We also received orders from several bars, and received an overwhelming response from buyers at the fair!”

Eunbin Park, a buyer from the Korean liquor distribution company, Shinsegae L&B said, “We had a budget of USD20,000 mainly allocated for Portuguese wines from the fairair but I also visited the Australian pavilion as well, and the quality of their wines was a pleasant surprise. I am considering placing an additional order of USD10,000 for two of their wines.” Furthermore, the Wine and Spirits Fair facilitated multiple collaborations. Derek, Chairman of Hong Kong Dragonfly International Group Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zhang Qin, the brand representative of Xinjiang’s Sunyard Vinery, for a collaboration valued at at RMB300,000. The agreement covers a range of products, including low-alcohol sparkling wine, premium white wine and rosé, demonstrating buyers’ interest in diverse wine categories.

Exciting Events Explored Market Trends – Tasting Sessions Receive Enthusiastic Response
45 events were held during the Wine and Spirits Fair, offering insights into the latest industry trends. Three Masters of Wine, Debra Meiburg, Jennifer Docherty, and Xing Wei, hosted key sessions. Debra Meiburg discussed how AI is transforming the wine industry in Wine Industry Conference: AI in Wine Business; Jennifer Docherty led a seminar titled Off the Beaten Path, Gems from Unsung Regions, introducing wines from Tasmania, Hungary, South Africa, and China and featuring a tasting session. While Xing Wei hosted Savour the Wines of Chinese Terroir, offering a deep dive into unique wines from Chinese Mainland.

The Wine & Spirits Fair once again featured a blind tasting event, hosted by Master of Wine, Xing Wei, sommeliers Carlito Chiu and Calvin Choi. They selected a total of 17 of their favourite wines and spirits, covering red wine, white wine, Chinese baijiu, sake/rice wine, whisky, and other spirits. These specially selected wines and spirits had special labels affixed at the fair for easy identification. Among the selections, Hong Kong’s first local whisky brand, ‘Kowloon Distillery’’ was included in the whiskeys and spirits list. Max Rybinski, Founder of Kowloon Distillery, said, “This recognition has greatly increased our visibility. Many buyers use this list to source products which enhances the credibility of our offerings and underscores the value of our high-quality ingredients.”

Multiple tasting sessions were held to provide industry professionals an in-depth understanding of the unique characteristics of wines and spirits from different origins. These included events such as the Cathay Global Wine and Spirits Awards Asia Winner Tasting, Exploring Yamagata Sake Terroir and Sichuan Brews, Qiong Charm – Savoring Together in Fragrant Harbor – Qionglai Production Area Tasting Event. The sessions attracted numerous buyers and wine and spirits enthusiasts who arrived early to actively participate, creating an atmosphere of knowledge sharing and interactive engagement.

The public day featured a Mixology Party with professional bartenders from Hong Kong, Indonesia and Koreaperforming live. Among them were mixologists from bars listed in the “Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2025” list, drawing enthusiastic participation from wine lovers.

Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid mode, buyers could use the Scan2Match function of the HKTDC Marketplace App to scan exhibitors’ unique QR codes during the physical exhibition. They could also bookmark favourite exhibitors, browse product information and continue discussions with exhibitors online after the show. Exhibitors and buyers can also engage in online business negotiations and matching through the Click2Match smart business matching platform until 15 November 2025.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/4hONsYX

HKTDC Media Room: mediaroom.hktdc.com

Website
Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkwinefair/en

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:

Katy Wong

Tel: (852) 2584 4524

Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the Chinese Mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on @hktdc and LinkedIn