The world faced unprecedented challenges during our previous planning cycle, and HKTDC had reacted quickly to ensure we could continue to deliver our mandate to support local businesses and reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a global business hub. This is the first Annual Plan of the new three-year planning cycle taking HKTDC from 2023/24 to 2025/26. Our objectives are set with Hong Kong’s unique role and competitive edge in mind and will help steer HKTDC’s work to reinforce the city’s position as a resilient and connected business hub and a two-way platform for doing business with the mainland and worldwide, and elevate our thought-leadership position in the global post-pandemic era.

HKTDC will continue to deliver value by creating opportunities for our city’s goods and services sectors, while connecting the world's small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through enhanced digital platforms and promoting innovation and sustainability across all sectors.

Our objectives for 2023/24 to 2025/26 are to:

i.	Reinforce Hong Kong’s unique role as a resilient and connected business hub in the global post-pandemic recovery;
ii.	Fortify the competitiveness of Hong Kong via innovation and embracing sustainable development; and
iii.	Build a next generation of connected and future-ready SMEs and start-ups.

Our priorities in 2023/24

The pandemic has vastly disrupted international connections in the past three years and it is time for Hong Kong to reassert its position as a premier commercial hub for global businesses. In doing so, we will be focused in our efforts targeting the priority markets of Mainland China, ASEAN and the wider RCEP economies. At the same time, we will engage mature markets to introduce new opportunities in Asia that can be best accessed through Hong Kong.

The National 14th Five Year Plan has opened up many opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. Helping our companies to better integrate into the national economic development in order to capitalise on both the massive domestic market and the global ventures of mainland enterprises will be a priority.

Hong Kong's role as the two-way bridge between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the ASEAN will be more relevant than ever as Hong Kong extends its sight to RCEP while new policy initiatives under GBA place Hong Kong firmly as the ideal entry point for international and RCEP economies eyeing the robust GBA market.

Sustainability, innovation and wellness will be our three main themes - they respond not only to global trends but also help refresh Hong Kong's brand internationally. Our aim is to position the city as a leader in the region in these critical areas, offering effective platforms for global leaders to discuss collaboration in the policy and business arenas.

Our anchor conferences and trade fairs will incorporate thematic tracks featuring opportunities arising from GBA, RCEP and the three central themes. We will in particular enhance the business matching component of all our trade events to showcase Hong Kong's strengths in deal-making. From growing the investor and partner network to recruiting quality projects, products and solutions worldwide, the aim is to perfect the ecosystem so as to maximise the chance of success for participants at HKTDC events, and in the process reaffirms the leading position of Hong Kong as a global business hub and Asia's trade fair capital.

We will also showcase the city's edge in innovation and technology and sustainability at our signature promotions in GBA, ASEAN and the mature market, positioning Hong Kong as both the solution provider and also the bridge to international opportunities.

While sustainability and innovation are central to the world's continued growth, more work needs to be done to reinforce the message that both concepts are equally relevant to all businesses large and small. We will work with partners and collaborators to equip SMEs with the necessary knowledge and know-how and identify affordable solutions to support their digital transformation and sustainability journey.

Creating opportunities for start-ups and a new generation of entrepreneurs will also be an important aspect of our work in 2023/24. Our focus will be on connecting local young talents with established players in their respective sectors to help inspire the next generation through their sharing of experience and insights, and providing capacity building programmes for partners such as universities looking to groom high potential start-ups. At the same time, we will enrich exchange between local and international young talents with the aim to entice overseas talents to explore Hong Kong as a possible landing place.