The 21st Eco Expo Asia 2026, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, opened today at AsiaWorld-Expo, bringing together more than 340 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions under the theme 'Connecting the World for a Sustainable Future.' The four-day event, co-organised by the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), underscores Hong Kong's ambition to serve as a regional green trade platform and a smart green technology hub.
The significance of this year's Expo lies in its expanded international footprint and alignment with government policies. For the first time, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are participating, reflecting growing interest from Southeast Asia. A new ASEAN Pavilion brings together seven ASEAN countries with 12 green technology ventures presenting solutions in water treatment, circular economy, green finance, and green building. HKTDC Executive Director Sophia Chong noted that Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and the latest Policy Address both call for building a green and liveable city, injecting fresh momentum into the green sector. She emphasised that the Expo harnesses Hong Kong's strengths as an international business centre to promote cross-region collaboration and help enterprises enter new markets.
The policy backdrop is equally important. Tse Chin-wan, Secretary for Environment and Ecology, highlighted that the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan and the HKSAR's first Five-Year Plan proactively align with national development strategies, with green transformation as a key direction. Hong Kong will continue to leverage its roles as a 'super connector' and 'super value-adder' to foster regional and international green cooperation. In a notable first, the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment jointly organise the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference in Hong Kong on 26 October, running concurrently with the Expo to maximise synergy. This co-location signals a deeper integration of Hong Kong's green trade platform with national environmental diplomacy.
The Expo's role in supporting Chinese Mainland green enterprises going global is another key implication. As a member of the 'GoGlobal Task Force,' the HKTDC has set up a GoGlobal Connect Zone for the first time, helping mainland environmental enterprises reach international markets through Hong Kong's professional services. Today's 'Experience Sharing Forum on Promoting Environmental Business in Overseas Markets' features Hunan exhibitor Lihe Technology, which signed a memorandum of understanding with a Kazakh delegation at last year's Expo, demonstrating tangible outcomes. A follow-up 'GoGlobal Seminar' on 27 October will explore how Hong Kong can integrate green finance, cross-border infrastructure expertise, and certification standards to accelerate mainland expansion into ASEAN.
The Expo also showcases frontier technologies aligned with decarbonisation policies. EcoCeres Limited, the world's second-largest sustainable aviation fuel producer, debuts with SAF and hydrotreated vegetable oil from waste feedstocks, responding to the HKSAR Government's call to build an SAF value chain. The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Pavilion features the slimmest wall-mounted DC Fast EV charger, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong presents high-strength bacterial cellulose films upcycled from tea waste. These innovations illustrate how the Expo translates policy into commercial applications.
With over 80 government, industry and academic leaders speaking across more than 30 forums, the event facilitates dialogue on policy, technology and green business opportunities. The concurrent Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo and the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) further amplify the scale. For participants, details on travel to the fairground are available at https://www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en/travel-to-fairground-awe, while the full programme can be found at https://www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en. The HKTDC's broader mission is outlined at Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and its global network of offices supports international exhibitions, conferences, and business missions. In-depth analysis is available through research reports. Messe Frankfurt's sustainability commitment is detailed at www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability, and its corporate information at www.messefrankfurt.com. The original release is accessible via www.newmediawire.com.
