InvestHK Strengthens Ties with Africa, Positions Hong Kong as Gateway for International Business Growth and Cooperation

From Africa to Asia: InvestHK wraps up strategic visit to South Africa and Rwanda riding on Global South momentum

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

During her visit to Johannesburg (May 10 to13) (Johannesburg time), Ms Lee engaged with a diverse range of leading enterprises and industry bodies. Discussions focused on how Hong Kong's robust business environment can empower African enterprises to effectively manage and scale their expanding Asian operations.

Ms Lee also met with local chambers of commerce and government investment agencies to explore new avenues for collaboration. She highlighted that Africa is one of the InvestHK's key markets, as many African enterprises are now looking to diversify their funding sources and simplify cross-border transactions through Hong Kong's deep capital markets and unique connectivity with Chinese Mainland.

Ms Lee said, "Africa has emerged as a vital engine of growth within the Global South. Our journey of thousands of miles to Africa begins with a meaningful step. For African corporates looking for a trusted and strategic partner to expand into the Chinese Mainland and the Asia-Pacific region, the interest, relationships, and momentum are building up. Hong Kong has vast potential to play a unique role linking capital, talent, and innovation between Africa and our part of the world, while InvestHK will continue to be a driver of this interconnectivity, facilitating two-way investment through strategic market insights, extensive global access, targeted promotion, and policy facilitation. "

The Minister Counsellor in charge of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Ms Liu Yu, said, "The synergy between South Africa and Hong Kong in the economic and trade fields is both complementary and strategically significant. Under the framework of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong's status as a global offshore Renminbi hub and an international asset management centre provides a professional one-stop platform for enterprises to go global. We encourage South African and Chinese Mainland enterprises in South Africa to leverage Hong Kong's unique professional advantages to optimise their supply chain layouts and achieve high-quality, mutually beneficial development."

The President of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI), Mr Mtho Xulu, said, "We want to see the relationship beyond our borders, where we take companies from South Africa into Hong Kong, using the city as a platform to scale into the bigger markets. Whether it's for innovation, manufacturing, or industrialisation, we want to look at how we can collaborate further and bring the two places closer together. This ecosystem is exactly what our members need to unlock high-value opportunities on the Chinese Mainland and across Asia."

The visit culminated in Kigali, Rwanda, where Ms Lee represented InvestHK at the Africa CEO Forum, engaging in high-level discussions with C-suite executives from the continent's leading multinationals on May 14 and 15 (Kigali time).

Continuing the momentum of two-way economic ties, InvestHK will host an Africa Day Reception in Hong Kong on May 26, assembling local African business communities to explore new avenues for cross-border collaboration.

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Photo shows Ms Lee (fourth left) at a local marketing agency in Johannesburg, South Africa, on May 13 (Johannesburg time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Photo shows Ms Lee (centre) meeting with local media at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 15 (Kigali time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Photo shows Ms Lee (third right) at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on May 12 (Johannesburg time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong Ms Loretta Lee concluded a successful mission to South Africa and Rwanda today (May 18), reinforcing Hong Kong's position as the strategic launchpad for African and Global South enterprises seeking offshore business growth into the Chinese Mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Photo shows Ms Lee (fourth left) and the Minister Counsellor in charge of Economic and Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Ms Liu Yu (fourth right), with other guests at a luncheon event in Johannesburg, South Africa, on May 11 (Johannesburg time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video)

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, led a delegation of the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis to commence a visit to Germany yesterday (May 18, Aachen time). During the trip, site visits to local higher education and innovation and technology infrastructure will be arranged, providing a solid reference for the planning and development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT).

The delegation first visited RWTH Aachen University. Founded in 1870, RWTH Aachen University is the largest technology university in Germany, and a leading institution in engineering and applied sciences in Europe. The university is one of the nine members of the TU9, the alliance of leading universities of technology in Germany, and houses many national research centres, maintaining close ties with industry.

The delegation exchanged views with university representatives and stakeholders, and toured campus facilities, including WZL, one of the institutes of the university with the closest co-operation with industry and also one of Europe's largest production technology institutes; and a running demonstration factory that involves industry partners and also serves research and training purposes. They learned about the university's successful experience and practices in campus planning, industry-academia-research integration, innovation ecosystem development, technology transfers and interdisciplinary collaborations, thereby accumulating valuable practical references for the NMUT's campus ecosystem and industry-academia collaboration.

Mr Chan said that RWTH Aachen University is widely recognised for its achievement of translating fundamental research into real-world applications through an exceptionally strong industry-led model, and deep collaboration with corporations. He expressed hope to draw on the university's successful experience so that higher education and cutting-edge research can jointly drive technological breakthroughs and industrial advancement at the NMUT. He also expressed hope to learn from RWTH Aachen University's experience in nurturing long-term fundamental research while fostering close industry partnerships in order to further deepen the integration of industry, academia, and research at the NMUT.

Mr Chan and other members of the delegation will proceed to Stuttgart on May 19 (Aachen time) to continue their visit.

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS leads delegation of Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town to commence visit to Germany (with photos/video) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases