Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 23, 2025

Hong Kong's TBTHK Milan Event Bridges Italian Businesses to Asian Markets

TLDR

  • HKTDC's Milan event offers Italian companies a strategic advantage to access Asia's growth markets through Hong Kong's superconnector role and business matching services.
  • The TBTHK campaign operates through thematic sessions on digital trade, innovation, supply chains, and creative design, plus exhibitions and one-on-one business consultations.
  • This event fosters international collaboration that strengthens economic ties and creates sustainable partnerships between Italy and Asia for mutual prosperity.
  • Discover how Hong Kong connects Italian luxury and innovation with Asia's booming markets through cutting-edge AI, design, and supply chain solutions.

Impact - Why it Matters

This event represents a significant opportunity for European businesses seeking to expand into Asia's rapidly growing markets. With 77% of Italian companies committed to Asian expansion and Hong Kong serving as a strategic gateway, the collaboration could unlock substantial economic opportunities for both regions. For Italian businesses, this provides direct access to emerging markets like the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and ASEAN nations, while Hong Kong strengthens its position as Asia's premier business hub. The timing is crucial as global supply chains evolve and digital transformation accelerates, making such cross-border partnerships essential for maintaining competitive advantage. The event's focus on innovation, digital trade, and creative industries aligns with global economic trends, potentially creating new investment flows and business models that could reshape Europe-Asia commercial relationships for years to come.

Summary

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is bringing its flagship "Think Business, Think Hong Kong" (TBTHK) promotion campaign to Milan on November 27, 2025, marking the event's first return to Italy since 2014. This major business gathering at Palazzo Mezzanotte will convene over 700 business leaders, officials, and investors to explore Asian market opportunities through Hong Kong's gateway. The event features an impressive delegation of approximately 80 representatives from Hong Kong, including government officials, business leaders, financial services providers, and startup entrepreneurs, alongside executives from Chinese mainland companies based in Hong Kong. Key speakers include Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan, HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma, and prominent industry figures such as Bernard Chan of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Bonnie Chan of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and Alex Zhavoronkov of Insilico Medicine.

The comprehensive program highlights Hong Kong's role as both a superconnector and super value-adder, enabling enterprises to go global and capitalize on opportunities across Asia. Five thematic sessions will delve into critical areas of collaboration: Digital Trade and Finance will showcase Hong Kong's advanced digital infrastructure and plans to build trade corridors linking Italy, Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland; Innovation and Technology will explore Hong Kong's position as a testbed for AI, robotics, and smart city solutions; Global Supply Chain will highlight Hong Kong's drive for supply chain innovation; and Creative and Design will feature master designers and emerging talents sharing successful brand collaborations. The event also includes an exhibition with Business Support Zone and InnoVenture Salon, where over 20 Hong Kong service providers and start-ups will showcase innovative services and technologies, complemented by one-on-one business consultations and matching services.

Supporting the event's significance, a joint survey by HKTDC and the Italy China Council Foundation reveals compelling data about Italian business priorities. The research, conducted in Q3 2025 with 172 Italian C-suite executives, shows that 77% of surveyed Italian businesses are strongly committed to expanding in Asia, with the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong as their priority markets. Remarkably, 93% of respondents believe Hong Kong can effectively support their Asian expansion plans over the next three years. The strong Italy-Hong Kong economic relationship provides substantial foundation for this collaboration, with bilateral trade reaching US$8.3 billion in 2024, making Italy Hong Kong's fourth-largest EU trading partner. As of 2023, Hong Kong was the third most popular destination for Italian investment in Asia, while 200 Italian companies currently operate in Hong Kong across sectors including fashion, luxury goods, electronics, and professional services.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Hong Kong's TBTHK Milan Event Bridges Italian Businesses to Asian Markets

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