Mainland Chinese firms on Hong Kong-led Central Asia trip eye city listing: John Lee



Many mainland Chinese businesses that joined a Hong Kong-led delegation to Central Asia last month are preparing to list in the city to raise capital for global expansion, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has revealed.

The city leader stressed on Tuesday that Hong Kong would continue to leverage its role as a โ€œsuperconnectorโ€ and โ€œsuper value-adderโ€ to support businesses expanding overseas, amid accelerating global shifts and protectionism that were disrupting the international trade order.

โ€œI know that many mainland companies from the delegation are actively preparing for listing in Hong Kong,โ€ Lee said at the GBA Global Business Expansion Summit organised by broadcaster TVB and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong).

He was referring to the delegation he led to Central Asia in June to help enterprises explore new markets amid geopolitical uncertainties.

โ€œ[They] are making full use of Hong Kongโ€™s financial strengths to raise the capital needed for their global expansion.โ€

The delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan included more than 40 local representatives from sectors ranging from logistics and innovation and technology to banking and aviation. More than 30 mainland entrepreneurs also joined the group.

During the visit, Hong Kong signed 96 agreements worth US$1.65 billion with the two countries, both key partners of Beijingโ€™s Belt and Road Initiative.

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