Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to become a resource allocation center for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as the city's commercial and financial links with participating economies continue to expand.

Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, commissioner for Belt and Road of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, said at a recent news conference that Hong Kong aims to bring together capital, talent and professional services, and build itself into a one-stop platform.

"When enterprises from the Chinese mainland and around the world come to Hong Kong, they should be able to find the Belt and Road information, investment opportunities and tools they need," he added.

Ho was speaking ahead of the 11th Belt and Road Summit, which will be held from Wednesday to Thursday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Co-organized by the HKSAR government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the summit is expected to attract nearly 6,000 participants from more than 80 countries and regions.  

This year's summit will introduce several new thematic chapters, including sessions on mainland enterprises' global expansion, Central Asia and the Middle East. It will also feature investment matching activities covering more than 300 projects with a combined investment value of over $3.7 billion.

Official data shows that Hong Kong's merchandise trade with BRI countries and regions rose 17 percent year-on-year in 2025 to about HK$2.52 trillion ($320 billion). More than 100 companies from BRI economies are listed in Hong Kong.

"These figures show the huge potential for future cooperation between Hong Kong and Belt and Road markets," Ho said.

Hong Kong has doubled its efforts to strengthen its economic ties with BRI participants in recent years, including Central Asia. In June, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led a high-level business delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where the SAR signed 96 cooperation agreements and memorandums of understanding with the two countries.  

ALSO READ: Lee promotes HK’s 'superconnector' role to woo Uzbek enterprises

During Lee's visit, Hong Kong startup Soy-Sky Farm Tech and state-owned Kazakhstan company Food Contract Corp signed an MoU, under which the two sides will explore the development of a soybean industry chain in Kazakhstan with annual production capacity of up to 2 million metric tons. 

The project will help Kazakhstan send agricultural products to Southeast Asian markets through the Hong Kong SAR, according to Stephen Shum, chief operations officer of Soy-Sky Farm Tech. "This will promote the export of Hong Kong agricultural technology while reinforcing the city's position as a re-export trade center," he said.

Shum said the company has formed a working group with local partners to assess whether eastern and northern Kazakhstan are suitable for soybean cultivation and how different varieties can adapt to local conditions.

Johnson Chui, head of global issuer services at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX), said Central Asian companies can raise funds efficiently in Hong Kong by tapping the city's ample liquidity, internationally aligned regulatory framework and broad base of global investors.

He said HKEX will continue to attract more high-quality companies from Belt and Road markets to list and raise capital in Hong Kong.

HKEX has also signed two MoUs with Astana International Exchange, the international stock exchange operating within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) in Kazakhstan, and with the AIFC Authority. Shortly afterward, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the country's national railway operator, submitted a listing application to HKEX in late June.

ALSO READ: HKSAR, Kazakhstan ink 43 MoUs on $100m joint investment, direct flights

The Development Bank of Kazakhstan will list 3.7 billion yuan ($550 million) in offshore renminbi bonds on HKEX on Thursday. It is the bank's second dim sum bond issuance in Hong Kong after a deal last year, and the largest such issuance to date by a quasi-sovereign issuer from Central Asia. On Sept 3, a Kazakhstan-based oil and gas company issued 3.5 billion yuan in offshore renminbi bonds in Hong Kong.