Businesses Seize Emerging Market Opportunities to Further Deepen Belt and Road Collaboration
HONG KONG – June 11, 2026 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) – A business delegation led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee, and organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan from 1 to 5 June, further strengthening economic and trade ties between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Central Asia. Following the successful conclusion of this visit, the Alatau City Authority, a state body of Kazakhstan, promptly held the Alatau City Investment Round Table in Hong Kong today (11 June). The event forms part of an official visit by a Kazakh delegation to Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. It reflects increasingly close ties between the two sides, while demonstrating proactive efforts to build on the outcomes of the recent visit and sustain the momentum of cooperation.
The roundtable was attended by the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, John Lee, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, and brought together representatives from government bodies, along with leading enterprises, financial institutions and investors from Kazakhstan, the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as members of the business delegation who had participated in the Central Asia visit. Participants explored the latest developments, investment opportunities and key initiatives of Alatau City, a new greenfield project located near Almaty, across different sectors, including fintech, the low-altitude economy, smart city development and infrastructure.
John Lee, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, said at the roundtable session: “Kazakhstan’s ambitious reforms and its open, welcoming attitude towards international partners were both welcome and impressive. And Hong Kong is eager to build on this momentum, to explore wide-ranging business and investment co-operation with Kazakhstan – Alatau City very much included. I can tell you Hong Kong shares your commitment to openness and connectivity. Under the unique ‘one country, two systems’ principle, we are the only world city to combine the China advantage and the global advantage.”
Silas Chu, Director of Exhibitions and Digital Business of HKTDC, said at the roundtable session: “The HKTDC’s role is to promote Hong Kong as an international business platform through our global network of 51 offices. We attach huge importance to the Central Asian market. The fact that we opened our Almaty consultant office back in 2018 speaks for itself. And through our business platforms, including those we co-organise with the Hong Kong SAR government, such as the Belt and Road Summit and InnoEX, we can certainly help promote our city’s vision and attract international investors and technology partners.”
