Empowering SMEs Borderless Expansion through Cross-border E-commerce and AI

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2026 - Co-organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), with support of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB), and in partnership with the Trade and Industry Department (TID), the inaugural "E-commerce Innovation Expo 2026" (Expo) officially opened yesterday at the HKPC Building. The two-day Expo brings together tech innovation, brand and IP licensing, global platform support, and market expansion strategies, assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in mastering the keys to expanding overseas through e-commerce. The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr Algernon YAU Ying-wah, JP, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development; Mr Aaron LIU Kong Cheung, JP, Director-General of Trade and Industry; Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP Deputy Chairman of HKPC; and Mr Mohamed Din BUTT, MH, Executive Director of HKPC. As its first edition, the Expo has registered with nearly 7,000 pax, reflecting the industry's keen demand for e-commerce technology information and services. With Hang Seng Bank as the Diamond Partner and strong support from over 250 supporting organisations, the Expo brings together over 90 exhibitors across five thematic exhibition zones, including Cross-border E-commerce Experience, New Retail Tech Application, Brand x IP Value-added, Smart Operations, and E-commerce Go-Global Support. Gathering e-commerce platforms, technology and business service providers, IP licensors, and Government funding booths, the Expo targets the four keys to going global, namely platform selection, brand building, smart operations, and global expansion. It provides a one-stop platform that assists SMEs from strategic planning to practical deployment, empowering brands to achieve borderless market expansion through e-commerce. Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, remarked in his opening address that as a staunch supporter of SMEs, HKPC has always provided comprehensive, tailored support to address SMEs' challenges, bridging policy resources with practical business needs to guide SMEs step by step from strategic formulation to execution. We hope this Expo will enhance the resilience and competitiveness of SMEs, speeding up local brands' integration into the global digital economy. HKPC and its 'SME ReachOut' team will continue to provide timely and practical support for all SMEs. Mr Algernon YAU Ying-wah, JP, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, stated in his address that the Government has always attached great importance to the development potential of e-commerce and actively encourages local enterprises to seize digital economy opportunities and utilise e-commerce to explore diversified markets, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Hong Kong's external trade and injecting new impetus into economic growth. As an international trade centre and business hub, Hong Kong plays a vital bridging role in connecting Chinese Mainland with the foreign countries. The Government encourages SMEs to proactively capture these emerging opportunities, leveraging Hong Kong's global advantages to expand overseas and elevate the international competitiveness of local brands and products. Mr Yau also thanked HKPC "SME ReachOut" for its efforts, and noted that since 2020 and up to the end of May 2026, SME ReachOut had handled nearly 40,000 SME enquiries, organised or participated in 16 exhibitions and 75 seminars and workshops, and conducted more than 350 outreach activities, visiting various chambers of commerce, industrial and commercial buildings, and co-working spaces under the support of the Government. Gathering Major E-commerce and AI Technology Service Providers to Support SMEs Going Global Digitally The Expo features a multitude of e-commerce and AI technology service exhibitors, offering all-round support to SMEs spanning e-commerce, AI technology, brand development, and going global. Alongside Hang Seng Bank, which provides professional cross-border payment solutions to address the collection and payment challenges faced by SMEs going global, the Expo's exhibitor lineup brought together a wide range of representative organisations from across the industry. Highlights included Innocorn and Auki Labs, technology companies specialising in AI solutions and scenario-based applications for cross-border e-commerce; Lazada, a leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia; the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association, which connects domestic and international e-commerce resources; as well as the Hong Kong Brand Toy Association (HKBTA) and SHIBAINC, both of which have successfully expanded globally through strong IP-driven strategies. Exhibitors widely expressed that the Expo effectively integrated resources across the industry chain, creating an efficient platform for networking and business matchmaking. This enabled SMEs to leverage...