Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Council: The “Overseas Travel Global Connect” platform has handled about 300 enquiries about companies going overseas through online and offline channels

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on November 4, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, Yau Yinghua, said in response to lawmakers that in order to better support mainland enterprises going overseas via Hong Kong to overseas markets, including countries along the “Belt and Road”, the Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Affairs Bureau established a special course for mainland enterprises to go overseas (special overseas class) under the supervision of the Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economics in October last year, integrating the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Department, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong office in the Mainland to provide “tailor-made” support services for mainland enterprises through a one-stop platform. In April of this year, the Overseas Excursion Program launched the “Overseas Global Connect” cross-sector professional service platform, bringing together eight types of Hong Kong professional service providers to provide professional consulting services for mainland overseas enterprises. Currently, the platform has brought together more than 220 professional service providers in Hong Kong, and has handled about 300 enquiries about enterprises going overseas through online and offline channels. Excursion classes will continue to optimize the platform's features.

In addition, the Overseas Excursion Program organizes foreign study tours led by key officials of the SAR government to let enterprises learn firsthand about target markets, including countries along the “Belt and Road”, and explore cooperation opportunities locally. Central Asia is an important hub for the “Belt and Road” and a key platform connecting Europe and Asia, with great potential for development. In addition to Central Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is another important market along the “Belt and Road”. The special overseas trip class will continue to organize foreign study tours in 2027 to visit high-potential economies, including countries along the “Belt and Road”.

Qiu Yinghua mentioned that the special overseas travel class will further strengthen related work in accordance with the requirements of the 2026 “Policy Address”, including:

(i) Deepen cooperation with Hong Kong and Mainland trade associations to provide more targeted support services for Mainland enterprises. Together with industry associations and chambers of commerce in Hong Kong and the Mainland (including local trade federations, local branches of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, etc.), the Overseas Excursion Course held industry-themed briefings and lectures in different provinces and cities to allow mainland enterprises to better understand Hong Kong's high value-added services and advantages as a platform for going overseas, so that enterprises can deploy overseas earlier in the mainland and expand overseas business through Hong Kong;

(ii) Reach out to more mainland enterprises and relevant Hong Kong professional service providers interested in expanding overseas markets through networks such as various chambers of commerce, industry associations and professional organizations in Hong Kong to thoroughly understand the market's professional service needs, help enterprises deploy overseas, and train more talents related to overseas professional services;

(iii) Work to further enhance cross-sector professional service platforms, add “environmental, social and governance” services, and make good use of Hong Kong's international expertise to help mainland enterprises meet the requirements of target markets (including countries along the “Belt and Road”); and

(iv) Optimize the matchmaking function of the platform, assist mainland enterprises to connect and track case results with Hong Kong professional service providers, and enhance the platform's search and matchmaking functions to show service providers of different sizes to more accurately meet the needs of different overseas enterprises. We will also continue to invite more professional service providers of different sizes and expertise to join the platform to provide more diverse and relevant professional support services for mainland enterprises.

In addition to special overseas travel classes, the “Belt and Road” Office under the Hong Kong Commerce and Economics Council is also promoting various tasks under a multi-pronged approach to help Hong Kong and mainland enterprises explore “Belt and Road” market opportunities. The “Belt and Road” Office is also actively contacting the “Belt and Road” countries to gradually establish the “Hong Kong - Overseas Project Platform”, a library of infrastructure projects, to gather and distribute project information to Hong Kong enterprises to help them seek opportunities to participate in the “Belt and Road” projects. The office will also encourage and appropriately assist foreign entities to conduct road shows or matchmaking activities in Hong Kong to “bring in” related projects.

In addition, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council has set up a “Belt and Road” information website and lists successful cases related to the “Belt and Road”. Currently, the platform brings together more than 680 investment projects and more than 370 Hong Kong professional service providers providing corresponding services. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council also publishes research reports from time to time, covering the overseas business environment, including the “Belt and Road” market, local policies and regulations, industry opportunities, economic data, and links to relevant practical resources for enterprise participation.

Qiu Yinghua mentioned that there are a huge number of mainland enterprises planning to go overseas, and many of them hope to expand overseas markets through Hong Kong. The Overseas Excursion Course will maintain contacts with relevant mainland agencies, including the Ministry of Commerce, to strategically provide accurate matchmaking and support services for mainland enterprises according to their needs. Among them, the special overseas course will focus on mainland enterprises with clear strategic value and support through the “Overseas Global Connect” cross-sector professional service platform, and the Hong Kong Investment Promotion Department and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council will provide one-stop, “tailor-made” overseas support services.

As for other mainland enterprises, according to their individual service needs and overseas plans, the Overseas Excursion Course will continue to provide assistance through cross-sector professional service platforms and the fields of expertise of the members of the Special Overseas Excursion Course. In addition, the Overseas Excursion Course also supports support measures or promotion activities introduced by the business community and other civil society organizations to gather the power of various sectors to make Hong Kong an ideal platform for going overseas.