The Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK) signature promotion, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), was held on 27 November in Milan to promote bilateral trade and investment with Italy. Returning to Italy for the first time since 2014, the event attracted over 1,000 participants, reaffirming the strong and growing relationship between Hong Kong and Italy.
The TBTHK symposium took place at Palazzo Mezzanotte, home of the Italian Stock Exchange, with some 760 attendees. Over 240 leaders from the Italian, European and Hong Kong business communities joined the Hong Kong Dinner. The event gathered over 90 delegates from Hong Kong, including government officials, business leaders, and entrepreneurs, for a day of dialogue, networking and partnership building with Italian companies keen to expand into Asia.
In his opening remarks, Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan noted that bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Italy reached EUR 7.2 billion in 2024, and some 200 Italian companies have regional headquarters or operations in Hong Kong. HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma emphasised that partnerships lead to innovation, and Hong Kong offers opportunities in fintech, greentech, AI and smart city development. Italian Deputy Minister Valentino Valentini highlighted that Hong Kong is an ideal platform for Italian companies to grow in the Chinese Mainland and Asia.
The plenary session, chaired by Hans Michael Jebsen, explored global economic trends and Hong Kong's evolving financial markets. Thematic sessions covered digital trade and finance, innovation and technology, global supply chains, and creative industries. The Digital Trade and Finance session, co-organised with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, showcased how distributed ledger-based trade solutions enhance efficiency. The Innovation and Technology session, supported by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, focused on smart city innovation and AI. The Global Supply Chain session, co-organised with Invest Hong Kong, examined how Hong Kong's capital markets drive supply chain transformation.
Creative and Design sessions brought together architects and designers from Hong Kong and Italy, including Steve Leung, Andrea Ponti, and Dr Rocco Yim. The sessions explored how Italian craftsmanship and Hong Kong's cultural vibrancy can unlock new markets across Asia.
Alongside the symposium, TBTHK facilitated over 260 on-site business matching meetings and featured the InnoVenture Salon and Business Support Zone with over 20 exhibitors from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Dinner, attended by over 240 business leaders and government officials, further promoted bilateral economic and cultural exchanges. For more information, visit the Think Business, Think Hong Kong website.
