On the second stop of a three-nation ASEAN mission to boost bilateral ties, the Hong Kong delegation led by Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee will visit Cambodia’s capital of Phnom Penh.
During the visit, the delegates will meet local business leaders and key corporations to explore business opportunities, leveraging Hong Kong’s superconnector role linking China and the rest of the world.
A luncheon with leading members of the Cambodian business community and local chambers of commerce will also take place.
Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, said: “Our aim with this visit is to strengthen the bond between Cambodia and Hong Kong and, in doing so, expand the economic ties between Hong Kong and the ASEAN region. As this year marks the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, this mission carries extra significance. Since its establishment in 1966, the HKTDC has prioritised building connections between Hong Kong and the world through business and trade. That includes Cambodia, where we seek to strengthen trade and investment relationships with the goal of fostering mutual prosperity and economic development.”
Hong Kong, as an international finance, investment and cultural exchange hub bridging Mainland China and the rest of the world, aims to build upon the close relationship between the mainland and Cambodia by providing opportunities for Cambodian businesses to reach the mainland market.
Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the delegation includes some 30 leaders of top international, Mainland China and Hong Kong enterprises and conglomerates operating in finance and insurance, innovation and technology, professional services, infrastructure, energy and hospitality.
During the visit to Phnom Penh, Hong Kong aims to reinforce partnerships with Cambodia to support the growth of the private sector and digital economy and achieve resilient, sustainable development. In these areas, Hong Kong seeks to collaborate and add value to drive growth and unlock opportunities for inbound and outbound Cambodian investments.
Opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through mutually beneficial collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative are also being explored.
Cambodia was Hong Kong’s seventh largest import and export market in ASEAN last year, with trade valued at US$893.4 million.
ASEAN is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner in merchandise trade, with a total trade volume of US$145 billion in 2023.
The visit to Cambodia is part of a wider mission to ASEAN, during which the Hong Kong delegation also visit Laos and Vietnam to strengthen trade and economic cooperation and cultural exchange between ASEAN and Hong Kong.
This three-nation visit builds on the success of previous ASEAN missions to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia last year and Thailand in 2022.