HKGCC Launches Three Initiatives Aligning with Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address: Empowering Members and the Business Community to Capitalise on Emerging Opportunities

Championing 6 Northern Metropolis Focuses, 4 AI Innovation Phases, and 2 Core Engines for Going Global

For Immediate Release

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) announced three strategic initiatives today that align with the newly unveiled First Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address. These initiatives are strategically designed to empower members and the wider business community to fully capitalise on the city's next phase of growth.

“We are highly encouraged by The Five-Year Plan's introduction, which, alongside the Policy Address, fundamentally strengthens Hong Kong’s competitiveness and sharpens our unique advantages. By shifting from a past strategy of ‘alignment’ to a definitive ‘proactive planning’ mode, this medium-to-long-term blueprint provides the business community with a much clearer, well-defined, and visionary path forward”, said HKGCC Chairman Jacob Kam. “As the foremost voice of business, the Chamber’s priority is ensuring the business community is fully empowered to capitalise on the immense opportunities these visionary blueprints present. By enabling our members to unlock the vast potential of the Northern Metropolis, catalyse end-to-end AI adoption, and leverage our elite global networks for overseas expansion, the Chamber is providing the strategic engine for businesses to capture new growth and elevate their international competitiveness.”

HKGCC is operationalising this strategic alignment through focused initiatives across three core areas:

1. Northern Metropolis: Championing Six Strategic Focuses

The strategic development of the Northern Metropolis and cross-boundary infrastructure will power Greater Bay Area (GBA) integration and unlock new drivers of economic growth for Hong Kong. This initiative positions the Chamber as the premier platform for stakeholder dialogue while empowering members across six vital areas of the Northern Metropolis:

Infrastructure: Aligning businesses with developments via Government engagements and visits to key Northern Metropolis zones.

Financing: Facilitating Government and industry stakeholder dialogue to explore diversified funding models.

I&T: Driving cross-border tech integration through specialised briefings and GBA study missions to the Hetao Co-operation Zone.

Talent: Nurturing future human capital through dedicated seminars and visits to the Northern Metropolis University Town.

Sustainability: Promoting eco-friendly development via smart-green panels and site visits.

Liveability: Fostering a thriving business ecosystem through targeted business matching and entrepreneurship seminars.

2. AI & Innovation: Four-Phase Implementation Approach

To bridge key implementation gaps and complement Hong Kong’s AI ecosystem, HKGCC is adopting a four-phase strategy:

Evidence: Establishing an SME AI Implementation Benchmark based on real-world buyer data detailing adoption costs, barriers, and business value. The SME AI Implementation Benchmark will be based not on general adoption statistics, but on real-world, buyer-side evidence: what companies implemented, how much it cost, how long it took, the barriers they faced, and the ultimate business value they achieved.

Connect: Creating an AI Adoption Exchange that links SMEs with successful adopters and experts to share practical experiences. The AI Adoption Exchange will link SMEs with local and international peers, successful adopters, experts and solution providers to share practical experience and proven approaches.

Enable: Forming partner-led AI Adoption Cohorts to provide specialised technical and implementation support. The AI Adoption Cohorts are structured around common business needs. Specialist organisations will provide technical and implementation support, while HKGCC convenes participating members and tracks measurable outcomes.

Advocate: Translating findings into evidence-based policy recommendations to help the Government address systemic barriers. This initiative will turn these findings into evidence-based policy recommendations, helping Government and the wider ecosystem address systemic barriers and better support SME AI adoption.

3. Go Global: Two Core Engines for Overseas Expansion

Strengthening Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, this initiative helps Mainland enterprises expand overseas through two core pillars:

Expertise: Deploying professional members for international law, tax, and financing services. Launching with a Malaysia pilot, the expert hub will expand across ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Network: Fulfilling our role as a premier “super-connector” and “super value-adder”, we bridge suppliers directly with high-growth markets to open new expansion opportunities. Leveraging our vast global chamber network and strategic MoU partnerships, we streamline market entry into dynamic overseas destinations. The Chamber accelerates growth opportunities through high-impact business missions—including an upcoming delegation to Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia this September, with future visits planned for Central Asia and the Middle East—complemented by immersive regional programmes and exclusive business-matching.

About Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC)

For 165 years, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce has been the voice of business, growing together with Hong Kong and the business community. Our mission is to promote, represent and safeguard the interests of the business community in Hong Kong, and at the same time provide support, networks, training and business services to help the business community grow. For more details, please visit www.chamber.org.hk.

Media inquiries: Please contact Mr Jonathan Man at 2823-1229 / [email protected]