{
  "id": 12101013,
  "title": "Ma says TDC to step up pivot to Central Asia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/ma-says-tdc-to-step-up-pivot-to-central-asia",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-05T07:19:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK News",
    "slug": "rthk-news",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1872741-20261005.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Frederick Ma, chairman of the Trade Development Council (TDC), announced on Monday that the organization would consider expanding its presence in Central Asia. The TDC currently operates an office in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, and plans to increase staffing in the region to manage growing business activities and inquiries. Moving forward, the council will evaluate the possibility of upgrading the existing office or establishing additional branches in other Central Asian nations.\n\nEight Belt and Road countries submitted listing applications to the SAR (Stock Exchange of Hong Kong), according to Ma. He expressed optimism that more companies from emerging markets would leverage Hong Kong's financial expertise to expand their business operations. Ma also emphasized the importance of improved Sino-US relations in benefiting the city. He highlighted that Hong Kong's exports have seen a substantial increase, with a 40 percent rise in the first eight months of the year. In light of this success, the council recently revised its export forecast, projecting a growth of 42 to 47 percent.\n\nMa believes that a strong relationship between the US and China will not only be beneficial but also non-detrimental to Hong Kong's business prospects. He pointed out the city's continued success in the AI and semiconductor sectors, attributing its strength to effective business practices.",
  "summary": "Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma on Monday said the body would consider scaling up its presence in Central Asia. He said the TDC had already set up an office in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, and was planning to increase manpower there to handle increasingly active business dealings and information enquiries. For the next step, it would study upgrading the office or setting up…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News - Finance",
        "title": "Ma says TDC to step up pivot to Central Asia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/ma-says-tdc-to-step-up-pivot-to-central-asia-12101033",
        "published": "2026-10-05T07:19:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}