Hong Kong Leader to Visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee Ka-chiu will visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan early next month as part of efforts to expand Hong Kong’s economic presence in Central Asia.

According to the Hong Kong administration, the trip will include the largest business delegation ever assembled during his tenure and is aimed at identifying new investment and trade opportunities in the region.

John Lee said that after several years of active engagement in the Middle East and Southeast Asian markets, Hong Kong’s external focus is shifting toward Central Asia. He noted that the region shows steady economic diversification and growing potential in finance, trade, infrastructure, tourism, and green development, creating broad opportunities for cooperation.

The visit, taking place under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, will bring together more than 30 Hong Kong business representatives from logistics, innovation, and technology sectors. An additional group of around 30 entrepreneurs from ten provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions of mainland China will also join, representing energy, mining, advanced manufacturing, and automotive industries.

The delegation will include senior government officials from Hong Kong, as well as representatives from the Airport Authority, MTR Corporation, and academic institutions. Meetings are planned with the leadership of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to establish an intergovernmental cooperation mechanism, strengthen business ties, and identify new areas of partnership.

Preliminary reports indicate that key areas of potential cooperation include infrastructure, hospitality, and education. This includes possible development of academic exchange programs and scholarships between universities in Hong Kong and Central Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative framework.

John Lee highlighted that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are large and fast-growing regional markets. Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, recorded a GDP of US$302.7 billion last year and serves as an important logistics hub between Europe and China. Uzbekistan, with the region’s largest population and a strategic geographic location, has been actively expanding cooperation with Hong Kong and has previously signed 15 bilateral agreements in infrastructure, healthcare, and metallurgy.

The visit aims to explore new markets, build a stable trade foundation, deepen intergovernmental dialogue, and establish a “hub-to-hub” cooperation model between Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Under this concept, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are seen as gateways for investment into Central Asia, while Hong Kong acts as a bridge to East and Southeast Asian markets.

Experts and representatives of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council note that Central Asian countries are actively modernizing logistics infrastructure and expanding export capacity. Special attention is being paid to aviation and warehouse logistics, as well as the adoption of digital supply chain solutions.

According to the Council, Hong Kong logistics companies could play a significant role in integrating the region into global production and trade networks. There is also growing interest in financial technology in Kazakhstan, while Uzbekistan is seen as having potential in light manufacturing and export-oriented production.

If the visit yields positive results, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council may expand its presence in Kazakhstan into a full-fledged overseas office, marking another step toward institutionalizing economic cooperation between the parties.