Chief Executive John Lee will lead a business delegation to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on Sunday, with a view to strengthening exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Central Asia in areas including finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology (I&T), and green development. The delegation also aims to create trade corridors and explore market opportunities.

Mr Lee will start his visit in Kazakhstan before proceeding to Uzbekistan on June 3. He will meet senior government officials of the two countries, lead delegates in connecting with local business representatives, promote Hong Kong’s advantages, expand business networks, and tour various enterprises and facilities.

Highlighting that Central Asia offers vast scope for collaboration, the Chief Executive said the delegation will further harness Hong Kong’s advantages under “one country, two systems” in connecting the Mainland and the world, support Mainland enterprises in going global, and capitalise on complementary strengths.

He added that the delegation will promote Hong Kong’s advantages, as well as investment opportunities in the city, thereby encouraging Central Asian enterprises to utilise Hong Kong as a platform for business expansion and leverage its role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.

The largest of its kind under the current-term Government, the delegation will comprise over 40 Hong Kong business and professional representatives, as well as about 30 representatives of Mainland enterprises. They span sectors such as industry, finance, legal services, construction and engineering, logistics, I&T, advanced manufacturing and the automotive industry.

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials joining the delegation include Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan; Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui; Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau; Director of the Chief Executive’s Office Carol Yip; and Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Lillian Cheong.

Mr Lee will return to Hong Kong on June 6. In his absence, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki will be Acting Chief Executive.