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Uniquely HK
Brand Story
Hong Kong Trade Development Council: Hong Kong's Business Engine
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council - the city's economic champion for nearly half a century now - has been pivotal in building one of the world's leading trading hubs.
Name a city synonymous with free trade and Hong Kong is sure to come up on top of anybody’s list. Trading is in Hong Kong’s DNA, and over the years the city has built one of the greatest markets in the world. It has these roots to thank for its growth as a vital international finance centre with the 10th highest GDP per capita in the world. And at the helm of all this has been the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which has been pushing business in the city since its establishment in 1966.
For many years HKTDC was the face of Hong Kong, representing the city abroad: from pavilions at mainland expos and exhibitions at European shows to missions to Africa and seminars in Thailand. Today it is known the world over with offices far and wide – its network covers 40 offices globally, including 13 on the mainland.
The strength of HKTDC’s brand is derived from two services: its facilitation and promotion of trade the world over, as well as the ownership and management of the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The latter is one of the biggest and most successful in Asia if not the world, hosting more than 1,180 events and 5.2 million visitors a year. Some of its biggest events include the Asian Financial Forum every January, the Jewellery Show (held concurrently with the Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show) in March, the Book Fair in July, and the World SME Expo in December.
In order to sustain its success, however, the HKTDC has to attune itself to the changes in the global arena. One of the challenges it faces has to do with the further opening of the mainland Chinese market. Previously, Hong Kong had enjoyed its position as the gateway to communist China; however, with the freeing up of the mainland economy, Hong Kong’s advantage will diminish. Also, some of Hong Kong’s closest Asian neighbours are a goldmine of potential, whose economies are predicted to boom in the coming decades and should not be overlooked.
As Hong Kong repositions itself in the new world economic order, the council looks determined to keep it as Asia’s global business hub. And as the rest of the city hustles with the same drive and ambition, HKTDC’s role remains vital as ever.
