The 11th Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully, attracting over 6,200 political and business leaders from more than 70 countries and regions. The two-day event showcased over 300 investment projects, arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, and facilitated more than 60 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The Summit focused on business globalisation, new market opportunities, and cross-regional cooperation, deepening Hong Kong's economic and trade ties with emerging markets such as ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
A key highlight was the introduction of the GoGlobal Chapter, designed to support Chinese Mainland enterprises expanding overseas. The Chapter included thematic sessions, the GoGlobal Connect Zone, roundtable discussions, and the GoGlobal Business Study Mission, providing a one-stop platform for matchmaking. During the Summit, Shaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd. signed a MoU with Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited to collaborate on going global. Chen Li, President of Shaanxi TIRAIN, noted that the partnership would combine their technological strengths with Deloitte's global expertise to ensure compliance and enhance competitiveness.
The Summit also introduced a dedicated Central Asia Chapter and Central Asia Zone, building on Chief Executive John Lee's visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June. Key projects such as Kazakhstan's Alatau City and Data Center Valley attracted interest. Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, highlighted his country's aerospace foundation and plans for a satellite system and digital platform for agriculture, land use, emergency response, and resource management.
Strengthening Middle East elements, the Summit featured a Middle East Chapter, Middle East Zone, and thematic sessions. The Business Plenary, themed "Unlocking New Market Opportunities along and beyond the Belt and Road," focused on the Middle East and African markets, with speakers from Qatar, Oman, South Africa, and Nigeria sharing insights. Additionally, the Project Investment Session on the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America invited representatives from Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, and South Africa to discuss key industries and investment opportunities.
At the Signature Projects Session, Enver Iskurt, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkiye, presented the Ankara-Istanbul super speed railway project, inviting Hong Kong-based investors, financial institutions, and engineering firms to participate. The Summit also facilitated project matchmaking through the Project Investment Session, Belt and Road Deal-Making, and Exhibition Zones, which featured over 120 exhibitors, including new zones for University, GreenTech, and GoGlobal Connect.
The ASEAN Market Day, a new highlight of Belt and Road Week, attracted 340 SMEs and offered consultation sessions with HKTDC's ASEAN offices and consulates. The HKTDC plans to launch more thematic promotion activities, including GoGBA Development Day, African Market Day, and Middle East Market Day, to help Hong Kong enterprises, particularly SMEs, seize global opportunities.
Although the Summit has concluded, follow-up activities continue. The Belt and Road Deal-Making will be extended online from 14-15 September, and the Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable 2026 will bring together representatives to discuss market trends. For more information, visit the HKTDC's media room at https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en or the HKTDC website at https://www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
