The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) unveiled two major initiatives on its 60th anniversary, aiming to enhance efficiency and tap into high-growth emerging markets. Chairman Professor Frederick Ma announced a corporate restructuring that reorganizes the council's services into six industry clusters, alongside a reconfiguration of global network resources to strengthen support in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
The first initiative, 'Optimising Corporate Structure,' groups HKTDC's functions into six sector clusters: Finance and Professional Services; Global Network and Supply Chain; Technology and Digital Innovation; Wellness and Creative Industries; Consumer Goods and Lifestyle; and Corporate Development. Executive Director Sophia Chong explained that the cluster approach enhances operational efficiency and sector knowledge, enabling comprehensive solutions through a single point of contact. This customer-centric, industry-focused strategy aims to help Hong Kong companies navigate complex global trade dynamics.
The second initiative, 'Optimising Resources,' reallocates HKTDC's global network to capture opportunities in high-growth markets. Professor Ma highlighted the success of a recent mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, leading to enhanced resources at the consultant office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to strengthen support in Central Asia. In the Middle East, the council will bolster its office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A new consultant office will be established in Cairo, Egypt, to leverage opportunities in the economic corridor spanning Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Additionally, capabilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile (overseeing Peru) will be strengthened to capture opportunities in the Global South. In ASEAN, promotional work will be intensified in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, while capabilities in Istanbul and Warsaw will be enhanced. Traditional markets remain important, with the HKTDC maintaining two-way trade and investment with North America and expanding the London office's responsibilities to include Nordic markets.
These optimizations align with Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and support China's Belt and Road Initiative. The HKTDC will continue to leverage Hong Kong's role as a superconnector, assisting mainland enterprises in going global and encouraging international companies to use Hong Kong as a base. More information is available at HKTDC’s 60th Anniversary Celebration Activities and the HKTDC Media Room.
