Hong Kong’s 11th summit adds new Central Asia and Middle East sessions as well a fresh focus on small to medium sized enterprises
Belt and Road Summit 2026: Dates and new focus areas
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The 11th Belt and Road Summit runs 9 to 10 September in Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. This year’s edition adds three new dedicated topic areas, covering companies going global, Central Asia and the Middle East, and expects to draw over 300 investment projects worth more than US$3.7 billion, alongside over 800 one-on-one business matching sessions.
What’s new this year?
The summit’s theme is “Advancing High-Quality Development, Embarking on a New Journey.” New this year is a “Going Global” section aimed at helping mainland companies expand overseas, alongside dedicated Central Asia and Middle East sessions. Featured projects include Kazakhstan’s Alatau city and a data centre cluster, and Turkey’s Ankara to Istanbul high speed rail line.
[See more: SAR strengthens regional ties to support Macao’s economic diversification]
An ASEAN Market Promotion Day, a new flagship event tied to ASEAN representatives attending the summit, runs on the afternoon of 10 September.
Who’s attending?
The opening day features Chief Executive John Lee, Uruguay’s Vice President Carolina Cosse, Laos Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, and HKTDC chairman Frederick Ma.
Why is Hong Kong pushing an SME focus this year?
Belt and Road Commissioner Nicholas Ho said the summit aims to be more relevant to small and medium sized businesses rather than just governments and large corporations, helping them understand and access Belt and Road opportunities. He said this year’s focus on Central Asia builds on the initiative’s earlier expansion through ASEAN, the Middle East and North Africa, with West Asia, North Africa and South Asia next in line.
How does this fit Hong Kong’s wider role?
Financial Secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong’s direct investment into ASEAN reached US$16.5 billion last year, up nearly 1.4 times from five years ago, while the number of ASEAN and Middle East companies with a Hong Kong presence has grown to more than 930, up nearly 30 percent over the same period. He framed the summit as reinforcing the city’s role as a hub connecting mainland companies going global with international companies entering Asia.
