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 after attracting more than 6,200 political and business leaders from over 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 over 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 help Chinese Mainland enterprises expand overseas. The chapter included thematic sessions, the GoGlobal Connect Zone, roundtable discussions, and a business study mission, providing a one-stop platform for matchmaking. During the Summit, Shaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd. and Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited signed an MoU to collaborate on going global. Chen Li, President of Shaanxi TIRAIN, said, "Given the current global economic climate, going global is a natural choice for us. We have entered into an agreement with Deloitte precisely because we value their expertise in global tax, legal and labour consultancy."
Building on Chief Executive John Lee's visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June, the Summit introduced a dedicated Central Asia Chapter and Central Asia Zone. Government officials, business leaders, and investors from Central Asia exchanged views on development opportunities. Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, noted, "Kazakhstan has a strong aerospace foundation... We are developing a satellite system and digital platform for agriculture, land use, emergency response, and resource management."
The Middle East Chapter and Middle East Zone further strengthened the Summit's focus on the region, with the Business Plenary themed "Unlocking New Market Opportunities along and beyond the Belt and Road" examining Middle Eastern and African markets. Speakers from Qatar, Oman, South Africa, and Nigeria shared insights. Additionally, the Project Investment Session on the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America invited representatives from Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, and South Africa. At the Signature Projects Session, Enver Iskurt, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkiye, presented the Ankara-Istanbul super speed railway project, stating, "Hong Kong-based investors, financial institutions, and engineering firms can play an active role at every stage of our projects."
The Summit facilitated project matchmaking through over 300 investment projects valued at more than US$5.4 billion and 800 one-on-one meetings. Among the MoUs was one involving Jabal Asset Management LLC of Oman. Issa Al Battashi, Managing Director and Executive Board Member, commented, "We feel that the Summit as a whole is an opportunity to connect capital, institutions and retail investors across these markets." The Exhibition Zones featured more than 120 exhibitors, including new University, GreenTech, and GoGlobal Connect Zones.
As a new highlight of Belt and Road Week, ASEAN Market Day attracted 340 SMEs for consultation sessions with HKTDC's ASEAN offices and consulates. The HKTDC will launch more thematic promotion activities, including GoGBA Development Day, African Market Day, and Middle East Market Day. Although the Summit has concluded, the Belt and Road Deal-Making will continue 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 about the HKTDC, visit https://www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
