Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the signature promotion event in Bangkok, Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK), on 13-14 July received an enthusiastic response from Thai government officials and business leaders.The two-day event attracted more than 2,000 buyers from 8 ASEAN countries, including their local chambers and associations, underscoring their interest in leveraging Hong Kong as a gateway to expand their business worldwide. This signature promotion event showcased Hong Kong's strengths and highlighted the city's latest developments and quality products and services, while demonstrating its role as a leading international business hub.
The exclusive Hong Kong Night Cocktail Reception held on the first day of the event brought together Thai, ASEAN and Hong Kong business leaders to network and explore business opportunities. Dr Peter K N Lam, HKTDC Chairman, opened the event, with Mr Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Dr Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, delivering speeches.
Dr Lam said: "We bring to Bangkok this time a focus on lifestyle. We also have experts sharing insights on e-commerce, sustainability and ESG and the future of retail at a series of Trade Talks, all topics of interest to Thai businesses and in line with Thailand's BCG growth strategy. Hong Kong's position as the gateway between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and ASEAN, both fast-growing areas, provide many opportunities for Thai businesses and reinforce Hong Kong-Thailand economic ties."
Mr. Yau said that the ties between Hong Kong and Thailand have flourished over the years, fostering a robust partnership that has propelled mutual growth. Mr Yau highlighted Hong Kong's strengths in business under the one country, two systems principle: "By capitalising on our unique strengths, Hong Kong connects global investors with promising projects along the Belt and Road, while at the same time fostering collaboration and innovation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area."
Dr Sittipunt said: "Bangkok and Hong Kong are undoubtedly two thriving cities in Asia, each with its unique strengths and advantages. I would like to emphasise that our true potential lies in working together. By pooling our strengths, expertise, and resources, be it from the government, public or private sectors, we can create more opportunities and foster a business ecosystem that attracts investments, drives innovation and supports emerging industries in our region."
Thai companies sourced new and innovative quality lifestyle products and services from 120 Hong Kong exhibitors at the TBTHK Trade Expo. The Expo featured products and services from a wide range of sectors in fashion & lifestyle, health & wellness, home & living, toys & gadgets and smart city solutions, over 80% of which were new to the Thai market.
It was the first time for Hong Kong exhibitor EDIT & EDITECTURE to join TBTHK, which marked their debut in the Thai market. Ms Jacqueline Chak, Co-founder and Director of the company, which focuses on sustainable interior and architecture projects, said they joined the event to explore networking opportunities and find potential partners. "The result of the event has honestly exceeded our expectations. We see a lot of interest in what we do, even those outside of the design industry, like makeup and construction.
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