The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) marked its 60th anniversary by announcing two major optimisations aimed at enhancing efficiency and tapping new markets. Chairman Professor Frederick Ma unveiled plans to reorganise the council’s corporate structure around six industry clusters and to reconfigure its global network resources to focus on high-growth emerging markets, including Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
“I am pleased to lead the HKTDC to embark on a new chapter as we celebrate our 60th anniversary,” Professor Ma said. “These two optimisations reflect our forward-looking and innovative approach in responding proactively to future challenges and opportunities.” The changes come as businesses face shifting geopolitics, supply chain reconfigurations, and the rise of new technologies.
The first optimisation involves reorganising the 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 said the cluster approach enhances operational efficiency and sector knowledge, enabling the council to provide more comprehensive and integrated solutions through a single point of contact.
The second optimisation focuses on resource reallocation to tap new markets. The HKTDC operates 51 offices worldwide, and the council will enhance its presence in high-growth markets. Specifically, it will strengthen its consultant office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to support Central Asia; enhance resources in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and set up a new consultant office in Cairo, Egypt, to bolster its presence in Africa. Additionally, capabilities will be strengthened in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, to capture opportunities in the Global South.
In ASEAN, the HKTDC will intensify promotional work in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, while also enhancing capabilities in Istanbul and Warsaw. For traditional markets, the council will maintain two-way trade and investment with North America, encouraging enterprises in the United States and Canada to participate in HKTDC activities. The London office’s responsibilities will expand to oversee promotion and business development in the Nordic markets.
Professor Ma noted that the Chief Executive’s successful mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June opened doors for Hong Kong enterprises, generating many potential opportunities. The optimisations aim to help Hong Kong companies capture opportunities in emerging markets and leverage Hong Kong’s unique role as a superconnector between Mainland China and the world.
Looking ahead, the HKTDC will continue to adapt to changes in the global economic and trading landscape, supporting Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global and encouraging international companies to use Hong Kong as a base for expansion. More information about the 60th anniversary activities can be found at https://60.hktdc.com/en.
