Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government department responsible for foreign direct investment, will promote Hong Kong in Eastern Europe and the Middle East as the premier gateway for businesses to expand into the Chinese mainland and the Asia-Pacific region.

Alpha Lau Hai-suen, director-general of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, will embark on a series of visits on Sunday to Türkiye, Hungary, and Egypt, some of the key economies along the Belt and Road to strengthen economic ties.

"Hong Kong's unique advantages as a global financial hub and Asia's business launch pad make it the perfect partner for enterprises from Türkiye, Hungary, and Egypt in expanding into the mainland, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) markets, and further in Asia and beyond,” said Lau.

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Hong Kong offers unmatched access to the mainland and the Asia-Pacific region through initiatives such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its free trade agreement with ASEAN, she said.

She pointed out in this connection that the city's business-friendly environment, free capital movement, and a robust innovation and technology ecosystem hosting nearly 10,000 companies from overseas and the mainland, and close to 4,700 start-ups, empower businesses to innovate and grow.

Arriving in Istanbul on Sunday, Lau will engage with various Turkish companies which are interested in using Hong Kong as a springboard to grow across the Asia-Pacific region. She will speak at different events, including an Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Business Seminar and a Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye Business Seminar.

She will also meet the Turkish media to highlight Hong Kong's business-friendly environment, highlighting its low and simple tax regime, free capital flow, and a common law system under the "one country, two systems" principle.

In 2024, Türkiye was Hong Kong's 30th largest trading partner, with bilateral merchandise trade between the two places amounting to HK$16.6 billion. The Hong Kong–Türkiye comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement signed in 2024 enhances tax certainty, facilitating cross-border transactions.

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On Tuesday, the InvestHK official will arrive in Budapest to meet major Hungarian companies keen on using Hong Kong as a regional hub for Asia-Pacific expansion.

She will also attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference in Hungary and will meet the media to update them on Hong Kong's latest business environment and opportunities.

Last year, Hungary was Hong Kong's 33rd largest trading partner, and around 9.4 percent (HK$9.4 billion) of the total merchandise trade between Hungary and the mainland routed through Hong Kong.

Hong Kong serves as a gateway for Hungarian businesses targeting Asian markets, leveraging its role as "super connector" under the Belt and Road Initiative, while Hungary benefits from Hong Kong's open investment environment.

On May 17, Lau will visit Cairo to connect with global Egyptian businesses eager to establish operations in Hong Kong to seize Asia-Pacific opportunities.

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She will also attend the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference in Cairo.

In 2023, InvestHK signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones of the Arab Republic of Egypt, pledging mutual cooperation on investment promotion exchanges and support. In 2024, bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and Egypt amounted to HK$2.1 billion, up 5.4 percent over 2023.