HK, Central Asia deepen ties
A Hong Kong trade mission led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu secured 96 agreements worth $1.65 billion in investments across Central Asia, covering trade, technology, and education. The delegation, including business leaders and executives like Li Auto’s Li Guanhua, also strengthened government ties and discussed visa-free access and tax avoidance agreements with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) trade mission to Central Asia, led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, concluded Friday with 96 agreements totaling $1.65 billion in investments. The deals included 15 government-level memorandums of understanding in commerce, education, and development projects, alongside 81 private-sector agreements spanning trade, investment, energy, technology, and aviation. The 70-member delegation featured business leaders from Hong Kong and mainland China, including representatives from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and Li Auto. Lee described the visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as productive, noting strengthened government ties and plans to begin discussions on comprehensive double taxation avoidance. The mission also advanced project matching and research collaboration, positioning Hong Kong as a global platform for Central Asian connections. Lee met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to explore further cooperation, including visa-free access extensions. The delegation visited Astana, Kazakhstan, from May 31, touring Astana Hub, the Astana International Financial Centre, and Nazarbayev University. They later traveled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where they explored IT Park Uzbekistan and the Center for Islamic Civilization. Business events were held to discuss future plans, with Li Guanhua of Li Auto emphasizing Hong Kong’s role in boosting the company’s global brand presence. Jackson Choi of Sunwah Group expressed interest in partnering with mainland entrepreneurs to leverage Central Asia’s mineral resources and renewable energy potential. Tursunboy Makhkamov of Uzbekistan’s Ipak Yuli Bank highlighted Hong Kong’s potential as a financial hub for attracting overseas investment. Nurken Bolatov of Kazakhstan’s Artisan Education noted the company’s acceptance into the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation’s ideation program, which offers up to HK$100,000 in seed funding for market expansion.
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