Hong Kong's Commerce and Economic Development Bureau: The "Go Global Connect" platform has handled about 300 inquiries from enterprises seeking to expand overseas through online and offline channels.

On November 4, in response to a lawmaker's question, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong Algernon Yau said that, to better support mainland enterprises in going global through Hong Kong to overseas markets including countries along the Belt and Road, the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau established in October last year a Mainland Enterprises Going Global Task Force (the Task Force) under the supervision of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, integrating Invest Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Hong Kong's offices in the mainland to provide "tailor-made" support services to mainland enterprises through a one-stop platform. In April this year, the Task Force launched the "Go Global Connect" cross-sector professional service platform, bringing together eight categories of Hong Kong professional service providers to offer professional advisory services to mainland enterprises going global. At present, the platform has gathered more than 220 Hong Kong professional service providers and has handled about 300 inquiry cases from enterprises going global through online and offline channels. The Task Force will continue to optimize the platform's functions. In addition, the Task Force organizes outbound delegations led by principal officials of the SAR Government so that enterprises can gain first-hand understanding of target markets, including countries along the Belt and Road, and explore cooperation opportunities locally. Central Asia is an important hub of the Belt and Road and a key platform connecting Europe and Asia, with huge development potential. Apart from Central Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is another important market along the Belt and Road. The Task Force will continue to organize outbound delegations in 2027 to visit high-potential economies, including countries along the Belt and Road. Yau mentioned that the Task Force will, in accordance with the requirements of the 2026 Policy Address, further strengthen relevant work, including: (i) deepening cooperation with Hong Kong and mainland industry associations to provide more targeted support services to mainland enterprises. The Task Force will, together with Hong Kong and mainland industry associations and chambers of commerce (including local federations of industry and commerce, local branches of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, etc.), hold industry-themed briefings and seminars in different provinces and cities so that mainland enterprises can deepen their understanding of Hong Kong's high-value-added services and advantages as a platform for going global, as well as the preparations required for going global, enabling enterprises to make earlier arrangements for going global in the mainland and then expand overseas business through Hong Kong; (ii) through the networks of various Hong Kong chambers of commerce, industry associations and professional organizations, reach out to more mainland enterprises interested in expanding into overseas markets and relevant Hong Kong professional service providers, so as to gain an in-depth understanding of market demand for professional services and help enterprises plan for going global, and train more talent related to professional services for going global; (iii) further optimize the work of the cross-sector professional service platform by adding "environmental, social and governance" services, making good use of Hong Kong's international professional capabilities to assist mainland enterprises in meeting the requirements of target markets (including countries along the Belt and Road); and (iv) optimize the platform's matching function to assist mainland enterprises in connecting with Hong Kong professional service providers and tracking case effectiveness, and enhance the platform's search and matching functions to display service providers of different scales, so as to more precisely match the needs of different enterprises going global. We will also continue to invite more professional service providers of different scales and expertise to join the platform, providing mainland enterprises with more diversified and more appropriate professional support services. Apart from the Task Force, the Belt and Road Office under the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau has also adopted a multi-pronged approach to advance various work and assist Hong Kong and mainland enterprises in exploring Belt and Road market opportunities. The Belt and Road Office also proactively contacts Belt and Road countries to gradually establish an infrastructure project database, the "Hong Kong-overseas project platform", gathering and disseminating project information to Hong Kong enterprises to help them seize opportunities to participate in Belt and Road projects. The Office will also encourage and appropriately assist overseas entities in conducting roadshows or matching activities in Hong Kong, bringing relevant projects "in". In addition, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council has set up a Belt and Road information website and listed successful Belt and Road-related cases. At present, the platform brings together more than 680 investment projects and more than 370 Hong Kong professional service providers offering corresponding services. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council also publishes research reports from time to time, covering the overseas business environment, local policies and regulations, industry opportunities, economic data and links to relevant practical resources for enterprises' reference, including Belt and Road markets. Yau mentioned that the number of mainland enterprises planning to go global is huge, and many of them hope to expand into overseas markets through Hong Kong. The Task Force will maintain contact with relevant mainland institutions, including the Ministry of Commerce, to strategically provide precise matching and support services to mainland enterprises according to their needs. Among them, the Task Force will focus on supporting mainland enterprises of key importance and with clear strategic value, through the "Go Global Connect" cross-sector professional service platform and the one-stop, "tailor-made" going-global support services provided by Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. As for other mainland enterprises, according to their individual service needs and going-global plans, the Task Force will continue to provide assistance through the cross-sector professional service platform and the professional fields of different Task Force members. In addition, the Task Force also supports support measures or promotional activities launched by the business sector and other civil organizations, so as to pool the strength of all sectors to build Hong Kong into an ideal platform for going global.