HONG KONG, Nov 12, 2025 – (ACN Newswire)– Hong Kong is viewed as a concern market and an important trading partner by a number of Italy’s significantly Asia-focused companies. This is amongst the essential findings of a brand-new report–Italian Companies’ Asian Expansion Priorities: Innovation, Healthcare and Retail Sectors— collectively carried out by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Milan-headquartered Italy China Council Foundation (ICCF).
The research study forms part of the upcoming edition of the HKTDC’s signature promo projectBelieve Business, Think Hong Kong(TBTHK), set to occur in Milan, Italy on 27 November. The occasion will unite over 700 magnate, authorities and financiers from both Hong Kong and Italy to find company and collaboration chances in Asia.
Mainly targeted at Italian business with company in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Asia, the research study was carried out in Q3 2025, covering 172 Italian C-suite and senior magnate.
Talking about the significance of the report,Irina FanDirector of HKTDC Research, stated: “According to the study findings, 77% of Italian services are truly passionate when it concerns broadening in Asia, with the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong being their concern markets.”
“It is especially pleasing to see Hong Kong poised to play such a crucial function in helping with the Asia growth of such companies. When inquired about how Hong Kong can assist in Italian company growth in Asia over the next 3 years, some 93% of participants think Hong Kong can successfully support their future Asia growth strategies. Its unique status as a tactical entrance to lots of Asian markets, along with its abilities as a logistics and supply chain management center, were likewise commonly acknowledged,” she included.
Helping with growth and leveraging trade contracts
When it concerned future chances, the study likewise highlighted the fairly minimal awareness and low utilisation of lots of local trade arrangements. In specific, 2 arrangements became having substantial capacity to change the business relationship in between Hong Kong and Italy.
TheRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) is the world’s biggest open market contract, including the ASEAN bloc, the Chinese Mainland, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. While 51% of participants are presently capitalising on its advantages, substantial untapped capacity stays. Need to Hong Kong’s application to sign up with the RCEP achieve success, 60% of Italian business expect that it would open brand-new financial chances and enhance their engagement with the city.
Another critical arrangement is theCloser Economic Partnership Arrangement(CEPA), which has actually supplied Hong Kong-based providers of items and services with fortunate access to the huge Chinese Mainland market considering that 2003. Regardless of CEPA having actually remained in location for several years, some 80% of the Italian organizations surveyed were uninformed of the contract or how to utilize its advantages. This exposes a significant chance, as just 12% are presently utilizing CEPA’s benefits through tactical collaborations in Hong Kong.
Putting the study and its findings into point of view,Sara BerlotoHead of Research for the ICCF, stated: “The study highlighted lots of Italian business can much better utilize a number of existing local trade contracts. This was most especially the case with the RCEP and CEPA. In general, there is a genuine requirement for thorough details, training, and institutional assistance efforts in order to make sure business– particularly SMEs– can increase their tactical utilisation of such arrangements.”
Obvious chances in the middle of currently strong ties
Taking a look at the more comprehensive photo, the scale of chance offered to Hong Kong SMEs stands out. Most especially, 77% of Italian business prepare to broaden within Asia over the next 3 years, with the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and India mentioned as their favored markets.
By sector, 95% of Italian development and innovation business prepare to broaden in Asia, followed by 88% of health care business and 86% of business in the retail/ wholesale sector. These findings line up well with Hong Kong’s brand-new market concentrate on development and innovation, the life sciences and healthtech, along with the raft of enthusiastic e-commerce initiatives the city has actually dedicated to.
Such advancements would even more improve the strong service relationship in between Italy and Hong Kong. In 2024, trade in between the 2 totaled up to US$ 8.3 billion (HK$ 64.5 billion), placing Italy as Hong Kong’s fourth-largest EU trading partner and export market and its third-largest EU import market.
Since completion of 2023, Hong Kong was the 3rd most substantial location for Italian financial investment in Asia. Hong Kong financiers likewise made significant financial investments in Italy, with the city being the third-largest Asian financier in the nation. Since 2024, there were some 200 Italian business active in Hong Kong.
Believe Business, Think Hong Kong
The complete study report will be gone for TBTHK in Milan on 27 November.
After effective Paris and Jakarta editions, TBTHK Milan will combine some 80 delegates from Hong Kong, consisting of federal government authorities, leading service and innovative market leaders, business service experts, financiers and start-up business owners, for a day of discussion, networking and partnership-building with Italian business keen to broaden into Asia.
The mega promo will include a seminar and an exhibit consisting of business Support Zone and InnoVenture Salon, where some 20 Hong Kong provider and start-ups will display their flagship items and options. Organization matching conferences will be organized to help with offers and partnerships in between Italian and Hong Kong business. The program likewise consists of the Hong Kong Dinner. At the seminar,Paul ChanFinancial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR,Prof Frederick MaHKTDC Chairman, in addition to agents from the Italian federal government, will provide remarks. Prominent speakers from different markets will share their insights at the Plenary Session. The program likewise consists of 5 thematic sessions, each devoted to a tactical location consisting of financing and trade, development and innovation, international supply chains, in addition to imagination and style. These sessions show shared concerns in between Hong Kong and Italy and provide thorough insights into useful partnership chances.
To see news release in Chinese, please go to http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc
Recommendations
– HKTDC Research site: https://research.hktdc.com/en/
Picture download: https://bit.ly/3LxXv8I
(From left) Director of HKTDC ResearchIrina FanPrincipal Economist (Global Research Team)Alice Tsangand Senior Economist (Global Research Team)Simeon Woopreviewed findings of a brand-new report– Italian Companies’ Asian Expansion Priorities: Innovation, Healthcare and Retail Sectors– at an interview today
Irina FanDirector of HKTDC Research
Alice TsangPrincipal Economist (Global Research Team), HKTDC
Simeon WooSenior Economist (Global Research Team), HKTDC
Following the effectiveBelieve Business, Think Hong Kongin Jakarta in January, this mega promo will occur in Milan, Italy, on 27 November
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About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body developed in 1966 to promote, help and establish Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 workplaces internationally, consisting of 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way worldwide financial investment and organization center. The HKTDC arranges global exhibits, conferences and organization objectives to develop company chances for business, especially little and medium-sized business (SMEs), in the mainland and global markets. The HKTDC likewise supplies current market insights and item info by means of research study reports and digital news channels. To find out more, please go to: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
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