Hong Kong’s professional services help firms expand into belt and road markets

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Belt and Road Cross-professional Forum showcases Hong Kong’s strategic advantages

Belt and Road Cross-professional Forum showcases Hong Kong’s strategic advantages

Hong Kong has long been recognised as a global leader in finance, legal, logistics and other professional services sectors. Favourable conditions, such as its strategic geographical location and trade-friendly policies, have attracted many international companies to establish regional offices in the city to facilitate trade in mainland China and other global markets.

These advantages also help Hong Kong foster collaboration between mainland China and countries that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative – a development strategy created by China to encourage multilateral collaboration in fields such as trade, infrastructure, innovation, digitalisation, green development and healthcare.

Additionally, they position the city as a gateway for Chinese enterprises seeking to expand internationally, and for companies in belt and road countries that are looking to enter the mainland Chinese market.

Hong Kong is now home to the regional headquarters of about 10,000 mainland Chinese and international enterprises. Between 2013 and 2022, the city’s direct investment into belt and road countries tripled to US$120 billion, while its trade in merchandise with these nations rose by about 60 per cent during the same period.

The Belt and Road Cross-professional Forum was held in Hong Kong in February to promote multilateral cooperation and highlight the city’s unique role as a strategic connector for the initiative. More than 250 guests from Hong Kong, mainland China and belt and road countries attended the event.

The forum was organised by the Belt and Road Office, which promotes the city’s full participation in the initiative. The office is part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s Commerce and Economic Development Bureau.