The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) hosted its flagship overseas promotion, Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK), in Kuala Lumpur on August 12, 2026, drawing some 1,600 business leaders from Hong Kong and Malaysia. The event aimed to connect Malaysian companies with capital, expertise, and opportunities for regional and global expansion, reflecting the deepening economic ties between the two regions.
The symposium featured over 200 government and business leaders, start-up entrepreneurs, and professional service providers from Hong Kong, marking a historic high. More than 300 tailored business matching meetings were arranged to help Malaysian firms find suitable Hong Kong partners to expand internationally. As businesses navigate shifting global trade dynamics, the event offered vast opportunities for Malaysian businesses to access capital, diversify networks, and enter the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the wider Chinese Mainland, and global markets through Hong Kong.
The opening ceremony was officiated by HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma, Hong Kong SAR Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development The Honourable Algernon Yau, and Malaysia's Minister of Transport YB Loke Siew Fook. Prof Ma emphasized the value of trusted connections and strong networks during times of geopolitical uncertainty and rapid technological change. He noted that TBTHK, first launched in 2011, has proven successful in expanding networks and forging new partnerships.
Mr Yau highlighted Hong Kong's role in helping Malaysian companies navigate the Chinese Mainland market, stating, "Hong Kong has the knowhow and expertise to help Malaysian companies to navigate the Chinese Mainland markets. We have been doing it for a long time, and we are good at it." He also mentioned the GoGlobal Task Force established last year to support mainland enterprises in going overseas, including to Malaysia.
YB Loke Siew Fook underscored the importance of connectivity, noting that Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong are under four hours apart by flight and share the same time zone. He pointed out that Hong Kong's logistics, trade finance, arbitration, and professional services complement Malaysia's exports of electronics, semiconductors, and other high-value goods. He encouraged more events of TBTHK's calibre in Malaysia to facilitate business discussions and future collaborations.
The programme included a flagship plenary session chaired by Lincoln Pan, CEO of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited, with speakers such as Bonnie Y Chan, CEO of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Tan Sri Dato’ David Chiu, Chairman of Far East Consortium International Limited; Daniel R Fung, Senior Counsel at Des Voeux Chambers; Datuk Wira Song Hoi See, Founder of Plaza Premium Group; and Thomas Tsao, Co-founder of Gobi Partners. They discussed Asia's evolving business landscape and strategies for capturing regional opportunities.
Four thematic sessions explored key collaboration areas: Capturing RMB Opportunities in Trade, Financing and Investment; GreenBiz Hong Kong: Driving the Green Transition; Strategic Resilience: Capitalising on Hong Kong as a Base for Regional Expansion; and Accelerating the Global Expansion of Life and Health Technology Through Ecosystem Collaborations. These sessions provided insights into leveraging Hong Kong's strengths in finance, green innovation, and technology.
Ten memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the event, underscoring growing collaboration between Hong Kong's services sector and Malaysia's business community. Additionally, some 30 Hong Kong service providers and start-ups showcased their products in the Business Support Zone and InnoVenture Salon. Over 300 one-on-one consultations and on-site business matching facilitated deals and cooperation.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board brought a taste of Hong Kong's culinary culture, offering samples from Chinesology, a Muslim-friendly fine-dining restaurant, and Bar Leone, the first Asian bar to top The World's 50 Best Bars list. A Hong Kong Luncheon hosted by Mr Yau and Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Finance YB Liew Chin Tong was attended by over 300 prominent guests from government and business sectors.
This promotion is part of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s Economic Trade and Express initiative, encouraging Hong Kong SMEs and startups to explore overseas business opportunities while attracting enterprises to invest in Hong Kong. The event highlighted Hong Kong's role as a two-way global investment and business hub, with over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, according to the HKTDC.
