HKTDC Restructures Operations and Global Network on 60th Anniversary
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council announces major corporate reorganisation into six sector clusters and expansion into emerging markets across Central Asia, Middle East and Africa as part of anniversary transformation.
HKTDC Restructures Operations and Global Network on 60th Anniversary
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council has unveiled sweeping organisational changes as it marks six decades since its establishment in October 1966 as a statutory body to promote Hong Kong's global trade interests. Chairman Professor Frederick Ma announced two strategic initiatives designed to position the organisation for future growth in an evolving global economy.
The restructuring centres on reorganising HKTDC's services around six industry clusters: Finance and Professional Services; Global Network and Supply Chain; Technology and Digital Innovation; Wellness and Creative Industries; Consumer Goods and Lifestyle; and Corporate Development. This cluster approach replaces the previous functional structure and aims to provide businesses with integrated, comprehensive support through single points of contact.
Leadership Driving Transformation
Professor Ma, who assumed the chairmanship on June 1, 2025, for a two-year term, brings extensive government experience to the role. He previously served as Hong Kong SAR Government Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development between 2002 and 2008. Working alongside Executive Director Sophia Chong, who joined the organisation in October 2025, the leadership team is implementing the most significant operational changes in years.
Professor Ma emphasised the strategic rationale behind the transformation:
These two optimisations reflect our forward-looking and innovative approach in responding proactively to future challenges and opportunities. By optimising our corporate structure and resource allocation around the world, we adopt a customer-centric, industry-focused approach to target high-growth emerging markets.
Global Network Expansion
The second major initiative involves reconfiguring HKTDC's 51-office global network to capture opportunities in high-growth emerging markets. The organisation will strengthen its presence in Central Asia through enhanced resources at its Almaty, Kazakhstan consultant office, following Chief Executive John Lee's June 2026 mission to the region. That delegation of over 70 business and institutional leaders from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland resulted in 96 cooperation agreements valued at more than US$1.65 billion.
Kazakhstan represents Hong Kong's largest trading partner in Central Asia, with the country's GDP exceeding US$300 billion in 2025 and projected to grow 4.6% in 2026. Hong Kong ranks fourth among Asian net investors in Kazakhstan as of January 2026. The International Monetary Fund forecasts regional economic growth across Central Asia and the Caucasus at 4.8% in 2026, significantly outpacing the projected global average of 3.1%.
In the Middle East, HKTDC will bolster resources at its Riyadh, Saudi Arabia consultant office. The organisation will also establish a new consultant office in Cairo, Egypt, to leverage opportunities across the economic corridor spanning Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Strategic Positioning in Growth Markets
HKTDC's expansion extends to Latin America, where it will strengthen capabilities in São Paulo, Brazil and Santiago, Chile. The Santiago office will also oversee the Peruvian market, capturing opportunities arising from the extended economic corridor in the Global South in support of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Within ASEAN, the organisation will enhance promotional work and support capabilities in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, while strengthening operations in Istanbul and Warsaw. In traditional markets, HKTDC will maintain two-way trade and investment relationships with the United States and Canada, while the London office will expand responsibilities to include promotion and business development across Nordic markets.
Executive Director Sophia Chong highlighted the benefits of the cluster approach:
Whether companies are keen to gather market intelligence, participate in local or international exhibitions, conferences and overseas missions, match with investors, expand their production line or tap new markets, stakeholders across industries can access our one-stop support through a single point of contact.
The transformation aligns with Hong Kong's first five-year plan, currently being formulated to align with China's 15th Five-Year Plan covering 2026 to 2030. The consultation document was launched in June 2026, with the plan expected for publication by the third quarter of 2026.
The HKTDC, governed by a 19-member Council of business leaders and senior government officials, operates with approximately 10-15% of its annual budget allocated by the Hong Kong government, generating the remaining 85-90% through market-oriented commercial operations. The organisation annually hosts over 37 trade shows and conferences in Hong Kong, welcoming more than 39,600 exhibitors from over 83 countries and regions, and close to 772,000 buyers from around 209 countries and regions.