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, marking its first return to Italy since 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, Innovation and Technology, Global Supply Chain, and Creative and Design.
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.
A survey conducted by HKTDC and the Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF) titled Italian Companies’ Asian Expansion Priorities: Innovation, Healthcare and Retail Sectors reveals that Hong Kong is regarded as a priority market and an essential trading partner by many of Italy’s increasingly Asia-focused businesses. 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.
Italy is an important trading and investment partner for Hong Kong. In 2024, bilateral trade amounted to US$8.3 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 popular destination for Italian investment in Asia. 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. 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.
For more information, please visit the official TBTHK Milan website: https://thinkbusinessthinkhk.com/2025-milan/symposium/en/index.html. Register for the event on 27 November: https://milan.hktdc.com/index.php.
