A business delegation led by Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) concluded a visit to Astana, Kazakhstan, on June 2, 2026, with the signing of 43 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and announcements. The agreements span trade, investment, financial services, technology, aviation, and green finance, aimed at deepening economic cooperation among Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Kazakhstan. The delegation, comprising 70 business leaders from Hong Kong and representatives from 17 Chinese provinces and municipalities, highlighted Hong Kong's unique role as a two-way services platform and its potential to help enterprises tap into Central Asian opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative.
During the visit, a business luncheon co-hosted by the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC attracted over 300 business leaders and senior officials. Chief Executive John Lee emphasized Kazakhstan's historical role as a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations and its modern status as a business and logistics hub linking China and Europe. He noted Kazakhstan's rapid economic diversification and its position as a regional powerhouse, stating that Hong Kong looks forward to working with Kazakhstan to create mutual opportunities. HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma highlighted Kazakhstan's status as the largest economy in Central Asia, accounting for 53% of the region's GDP in 2025, and its ambitious Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy to become one of the world's top 30 developed economies. He underscored the cooperation potential in logistics infrastructure, green finance, digital economy, and agricultural upgrading, with Hong Kong serving as a superconnector and super value-adder.
The delegation met with key Kazakh entities, including the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs 'Atameken', 'Baiterek' National Investment Holding, Halyk Bank, and Samruk-Kazyna, to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and industrial collaboration. Visits to Astana Hub and the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) provided insights into Kazakhstan's innovation, technology, and financial services sectors. Notably, the delegation included media representatives from organizations such as The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong News Executives' Association, aligning with the Policy Address to help local media develop overseas networks and tell Hong Kong's story.
Kazakhstan's GDP is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2026 to approximately US$360.5 billion, maintaining its position as Central Asia's largest economy. Uzbekistan's GDP is forecast to grow by 6.5% to US$181.5 billion, while the IMF projects Central Asia and the Caucasus to grow by 6.2% in 2025 and 4.8% in 2026, above the global average of 3.1%. The 43 MOUs signed during the visit include agreements between the HKTDC and Atameken, the HKTDC and AIFC, the Airport Authority and Almaty International Airport, and numerous others involving financial institutions, technology parks, and media. Non-delegation members also signed MOUs in academic and cultural fields, such as between City University of Hong Kong and Satbayev University, and between the Education University of Hong Kong and Nazarbayev University. These agreements underscore the deepening ties between Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and Kazakhstan, leveraging Hong Kong's strengths as a financial, logistics, and innovation hub to facilitate regional economic integration under the Belt and Road Initiative.
