Last year, the total bilateral merchandise trade between Hong Kong and the Philippines reached 15.7 billion USD

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore held a dinner last Friday (February 27) in Manila, Philippines, to celebrate the Year of the Horse with various sectors in the Philippines and promote Hong Kong. The dinner was co-organized with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Invest Hong Kong, and supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific (00293.HK).

In her speech, Director of the Economic and Trade Office in Singapore, Xiong Peiling, pointed out that Hong Kong and the Philippines have a close and long-standing relationship in economic and trade as well as cultural exchanges. In 2025, Hong Kong will be the Philippines' fourth largest trading partner, with a total bilateral merchandise trade amounting to USD 15.7 billion; meanwhile, the number of visitors from the Philippines to Hong Kong reached a historic high of 1.35 million, making it the second largest source market for visitors outside mainland China.

Xiong Peiling also introduced key measures from the recent 2026-27 Budget Statement published by the Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, including actively aligning with the national "14th Five-Year Plan," accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis into an international innovation and technology hub, promoting the industrialization and application of artificial intelligence, nurturing new quality productivity, facilitating the development of emerging industries such as intellectual property trade and aerospace, attracting high-end talent and strategic enterprises, enhancing support for family offices and regional headquarters through tax incentives, and assisting mainland enterprises in going global.

In conclusion, Xiong Peiling stated that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its unique advantages under "one country, two systems," playing the role of a "super connector" and "super value creator" to link mainland China with the rest of the world. She added that Hong Kong will further strengthen its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (including the Philippines) by enhancing economic and trade cooperation, promoting enterprises going abroad, and promoting the "One-Stop Economic and Trade Platform" supported by the global economic and trade office network, Invest Hong Kong, and the Trade Development Council.

Following the Lunar New Year dinner held on February 25 in Singapore and last Friday in Manila, the Economic and Trade Office in Singapore will hold another Lunar New Year dinner on March 14 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to continue strengthening connections and exchanges with the local community