The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has announced two major organizational initiatives as it marks its 60th anniversary, with changes designed to improve efficiency and capture opportunities in emerging markets. HKTDC Chairman Professor Frederick Ma announced the initiatives on July 26, 2026, pointing to shifting geopolitics, supply chain reconfigurations, and technological advancements as key factors behind the move.

The first initiative, called Optimising Corporate Structure, will reorganize HKTDC services into six industry clusters: Finance and Professional Services; Global Network and Supply Chain; Technology and Digital Innovation; Wellness and Creative Industries; Consumer Goods and Lifestyle; and Corporate Development.

Executive Director Sophia Chong said the cluster-based structure is intended to strengthen operational efficiency and sector expertise, allowing teams to deliver more integrated support to businesses and other stakeholders. For companies using the HKTDC’s exhibitions, conferences, overseas missions, market intelligence, investor matching, and expansion support, the restructuring is intended to make those services easier to access across related sectors.

“Whether companies are keen to gather market intelligence, participate in local or international exhibitions, conferences and overseas missions, match with investors, expand their production line or tap new markets, stakeholders across industries can access our one-stop support through a single point of contact,” Chong said.

The second initiative, Optimising Resources, centers on reshaping the HKTDC’s global network of 51 offices to focus more closely on high-growth emerging markets. The council plans to strengthen its consultant offices in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and to set up a new office in Cairo, Egypt, supporting an economic corridor across Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

In the Americas, the HKTDC will enhance capabilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, with the Santiago office also overseeing Peru, as part of efforts to capture opportunities in the Global South. In ASEAN, the council will increase promotional work in Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It will also strengthen its presence in Istanbul and Warsaw.

For traditional markets, the HKTDC said it will continue supporting two-way trade with North America. The responsibilities of its London office will also be expanded to cover Nordic markets, indicating that the network changes are not limited to emerging markets but also include adjustments in established trade relationships.

Professor Ma said the changes are aligned with Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and support the country’s development by making use of Hong Kong’s role as a superconnector.

“We are grateful for the Chief Executive for leading the successful mission to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June which helped to open doors for Hong Kong enterprises and generated many potential opportunities on which we will follow up,” Ma said.

The HKTDC said it aims to help enterprises from the Chinese Mainland expand internationally while encouraging overseas companies to use Hong Kong as a base for growth. The effectiveness of the revamp will be reflected in how the new clusters and overseas office responsibilities are translated into practical support for companies seeking market access, partnerships, and trade promotion.

The announcements come as the HKTDC celebrates six decades of promoting Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The council operates more than 50 offices worldwide, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, and organizes international exhibitions, conferences, and business missions.

More information about the initiatives is available on the HKTDC’s 60th Anniversary website and Media Room.