The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) tabled its Annual Report 2015/16 in the Legislative Council today. The report covers the second year of the HKTDC’s current three-year planning cycle, during which the Council continued to focus on three main objectives: helping Hong Kong companies, capitalising on the opportunities arising from the new global economic order, promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s global business platform and enhancing the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Looking back on his first year as HKTDC Chairman, Vincent HS Lo, reportedly said that the challenging external trading environment had adversely affected Hong Kong’s exports and consumer and investor confidence. He also highlighted the opportunities for Hong Kong arising from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the HKTDC’s efforts to establish Hong Kong as the ideal business hub for the initiative.

During the 2015/16 financial year, the HKTDC staged its mega promotion, Think Asia, Think Hong Kong, in Toronto, Canada and Chicago, the United States that attracted over 3,300 North American business leaders. The Council also organised its first combined products and services promotion In Style in Hong Kong, Jakarta, as well as major promotional activities in cities across the Chinese mainland.

Exploring new opportunities and connecting business in response to the growing momentum of the Belt and Road Initiative, the HKTDC introduced a number of elements to its events including seminars, networking activities and business matching.

Meanwhile, business delegations were organised throughout the year to destinations along the Belt and Road routes in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). During the year, the Council opened new Consultant Offices in Tel Aviv, Israel and Delhi, India, expanding its global network to 46 offices worldwide.