The Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK) promotion, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), returned to Milan on 27 November for the first time since 2014, drawing over 1,000 participants to strengthen bilateral trade and investment between Italy and Hong Kong. The symposium, held at Palazzo Mezzanotte, home of the Italian Stock Exchange, was attended by some 760 participants, reaffirming the robust relationship between the two economies.
More than 90 delegates from Hong Kong, including government officials, business and creative industry leaders, financial and professional services providers, investors, start-up entrepreneurs, and executives from Chinese Mainland companies based in Hong Kong, engaged in dialogue, networking, and partnership building with Italian companies keen to expand into Asia. The event highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a superconnector and super value-adder, enabling Hong Kong and mainland enterprises to go global and seize opportunities in Italy and across Europe.
At the symposium’s Opening Session, Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary Paul Chan and HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma delivered remarks, while Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, delivered a video speech. Chan noted that bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Italy reached EUR 7.2 billion in 2024, with some 200 Italian companies having regional headquarters, offices, or operations in Hong Kong. Prof Ma emphasized that HKTDC facilitates partnerships leading to innovation and growth, helping businesses realize expansion plans in China, Asia, and beyond.
The plenary session, chaired by Hans Michael Jebsen, Chairman of the Hong Kong-Europe Business Council and Jebsen Group, featured insights from Bernard Chan, Bonnie Chan, Claudio de Bedin, Fabio De Rosa, and Alex Zhavoronkov. They explored global economic trends, Hong Kong’s financial market evolution, and deep integration with the Chinese Mainland, providing international companies a competitive advantage in accessing Asia.
Five thematic sessions covered four strategic areas. The Digital Trade and Finance session, co-organized with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, explored technology reshaping cross-border trade and financial flows, showcasing distributed ledger-based trade solutions and commercial data exchange systems enhancing efficiency and transparency. The Innovation and Technology session, supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, focused on smart city innovation and AI-powered technologies, illustrating how Italian companies can engage with Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem.
The Global Supply Chain session, co-organized with Invest Hong Kong, examined how Hong Kong’s capital markets and corporate treasury frameworks drive transformation in global supply chains, highlighting Hong Kong’s role in supply chain digitalization, green logistics, and advanced manufacturing partnerships. Two Creative and Design sessions brought together architects and designers from Hong Kong and Italy, including Steve Leung, Andrea Ponti, and Dr Rocco Yim, exploring how Hong Kong and Italy can co-design new opportunities in architecture, lifestyle, luxury, and cultural innovation.
TBTHK facilitated over 260 on-site business matching meetings, one-on-one consultations, and networking opportunities. Participants browsed the InnoVenture Salon and Business Support Zone, featuring over 20 exhibitors from Hong Kong, including start-ups and representatives from government agencies, accounting firms, corporate services companies, logistics specialists, and legal firms. The Hong Kong Dinner, held at Palazzo Parigi, was attended by over 240 business leaders and officials, further promoting bilateral economic and cultural exchanges.
