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Hong Kong forges new opportunities with Kazakhstan and Central Asia
Comprising over 70 business and professional representatives from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the delegation has already yielded significant results at its first stop in Kazakhstan.
Speaking at a business luncheon in Astana yesterday (June 2), Mr Lee highlighted that 43 memoranda of understanding (MOU) and agreements have been concluded by the visiting delegation with companies and organisations from Kazakhstan, with more agreements to come.
“They span aviation, finance and trade, innovation and technology, the digital economy, green development, and more,” Mr Lee said, adding that a Hong Kong airline plans to launch direct flights to Almaty in the first quarter of 2027.
“I believe that Kazakhstan can serve as a hub for Hong Kong to connect with the Central Asian market. In turn, Hong Kong can be Central Asia’s hub in the east and southeast Asian region,” Mr Lee said.
“By strengthening co-operation between our two hubs, we can construct a hub-to-hub co-operation model.”
On his first day of visit in Astana (June 1), Mr Lee met with top government officials including the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.
Mr Lee noted that Kazakhstan has been actively promoting reforms on various fronts to bring about rapid economic growth.
“As one of the world’s three major financial centres, and the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre and offshore Renminbi business hub, Hong Kong can provide diversified and flexible support including capital and asset allocation for Kazakhstan’s economic reforms and infrastructure development,” Mr Lee said.
The Chief Executive also encouraged companies in Kazakhstan to leverage Hong Kong’s advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle.
“Under this unique principle, Hong Kong has its own economic, social, legal, legislative and judicial systems. We are the only common law jurisdiction in China. We have our own currency, with no capital or foreign exchange controls. We are, as well, a separate customs territory,” Mr Lee said.
“The ‘one country, two systems’ principle ensures Hong Kong’s unparalleled access to the markets of the Chinese Mainland. Capitalising on our global connectivity and world-class professional services, Hong Kong is your ideal, two-way springboard for business expansion.”
Mr Lee also visited the Astana International Financial Centre and the Astana Hub, a local technology and innovation park, to respectively learn about Kazakhstan’s experience in promoting the development of the non-bank financial sector and the latest developments of the country in the field of AI.
Before leaving Kazakhstan today (June 3), Mr Lee visited Nazarbayev University, underscoring the historic significance of the trip.
“It was here, at Astana’s Nazarbayev University in 2013, that President Xi Jinping first raised the visionary initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt – today’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),” Mr Lee said.
Last year, at the 10th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, the university signed a MOU with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing higher education co-operation under the BRI. It further reached MOUs with Hong Kong’s Education University and Polytechnic University today.
“These agreements will deepen academic and research collaboration.
“Hong Kong is the only city in the world with five of the top 100 universities. This talent environment is reinforced by our global standing: last year, Hong Kong ranked first in Asia, and fourth globally, in the World Talent Ranking,” he added.
Mr Lee will continue to lead the delegation to Uzbekistan for the second leg of the mission to Central Asia.
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MET Group’s Climate Impact Report Confirms The Company’s Contribution to Profitable Decarbonisation
- In 2025, the Group increased the proportion of its CAPEX directed toward renewable energy and BESS projects to 39%. Renewable generation reached 625 GWh, supported by new solar parks in Germany and Italy, including the Group’s first Agri-PV project. MET also inaugurated one of Hungary’s largest BESS facilities at Dunamenti Power Station, supporting grid flexibility and renewable integration.
- MET Group’s average grid emission factor across its retail power markets improved from 279 to 255gCO₂e/kWh, which was primarily driven by significant portfolio growth in cleaner markets such as Spain.
- For the first time, MET Group’s greenhouse gas inventory has been subject to limited assurance by PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Zurich.
- MET Group’s climate approach strives to achieve alignment with the EU Fit for 55 framework and integrates climate-related risk management into long-term strategic planning and investment decisions. The report outlines MET’s approach to managing both physical and transition risks, while reinforcing the role of diversified assets, flexible infrastructure, and integrated trading operations in supporting resilience across evolving energy markets.
Hashtag: #METGroup #ESG #ClimateImpactReport
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MET Group
MET Group is an integrated European energy company, headquartered in Switzerland, with activities and assets in natural gas, LNG, power, and renewables. MET serves customers in 24 countries through subsidiaries, and is present in 33 national energy markets as well as 51 international trading hubs. The company’s 1,400+ employees represent close to 60 nationalities. MET has extensive experience operating renewable and flexible assets, thus providing the widest possible support to energy transition. In 2025, MET Group’s consolidated sales revenue amounted to EUR 28.5 billion, with a total transacted volume of natural gas amounting to 241 BCM and total traded electricity of 160 TWh.
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SCG Showcases Green Innovations and Low-Carbon Cement at Cemtech Asia 2026, Reinforcing ASEAN Leadership and Commitment to the Net Zero Pathway
At Cemtech Asia 2026, SCG demonstrated its commitment to advancing the cement industry through tangible low-carbon cement innovations. Mr. Surachai Nimlaor, President of SCG Cement and Green Solutions, stated:
“As the region’s leader in the low-carbon cement industry, SCG is dedicated to developing breakthrough innovations that minimize resource consumption and maximize eco-friendliness. By steadily reducing carbon dioxide emissions, we directly address the evolving demands and adaptation challenges of the construction industry across ASEAN and global markets.”
Alongside showcasing its cutting-edge LC3 low-carbon cement prototype at the exhibition, SCG hosted an exclusive site visit to its Ta Luang Cement Plant in Saraburi Province for global delegates. Key highlights of the showcase and tour included:
- SCG LC3 Structural Cement: Developed from limestone, calcined clay, and specialized additives, this next-generation low-carbon cement reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30–40%. Its production process incorporates up to 40% biomass alternative fuels (such as rice husks and straw) and over 35% renewable energy. This is achieved without compromising any product performance or structural integrity, with its environmental performance independently verified through an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
- Rondo Heat Battery: SCG has pioneered ASEAN’s first installation of the Rondo Heat Battery at the Ta Luang Cement Plant. Developed in collaboration with Rondo Energy, this breakthrough thermal energy storage solution converts intermittent renewable power into high-temperature thermal energy, storing it at up to 1,500°C in thermal media. With an exceptional energy recovery efficiency of up to 97% and a lifespan exceeding 40 years, the system provides a continuous 24/7 supply of clean heat, supporting the decarbonization of industrial manufacturing processes.
- Refractory Solutions by The Siam Refractory Industry Co., Ltd. (SRIC): As a leading global refractory solutions provider, SRIC showcased its advanced technologies and innovative solutions designed to enhance operational efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, including:
- Anti-Hydration Brick: The world’s first Anti-Hydration brick, extending shelf life from 6 to 24 months. This breakthrough innovation helps minimize material degradation, reduce production downtime, and improve overall operational efficiency.
- Thermal Media for Heat Battery: Co-developed with Rondo Energy, these high-performance heat storage blocks deliver up to 97% thermal efficiency, enabling reliable 24-hour energy availability and supporting the transition toward cleaner industrial energy solutions.
- Solar Floating: Installed at the Ta Luang Cement Plant, this floating solar array generates 16.6 million kWh of clean electricity annually, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by over 8,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. By repurposing the plant’s industrial reservoirs, the system optimizes resource efficiency and highlights SCG’s integration of green energy into heavy industry.
As co-host of Cemtech ASIA 2026, SCG reaffirmed its role as a trusted industry leader on the global stage. The event served as a major catalyst for expanding business networks and facilitating high-level technology and knowledge exchanges with world-class industry players. Moving forward, SCG is dedicated to cultivating global alliances to propel Thailand’s cement industry toward a Net Zero pathway, solidifying its position as ASEAN’s cement leader.
Watch the video:
CEMTECH ASIA 2026 | SCG Driving ASEAN’s Cement Industry Towards Net Zero
https://youtu.be/wCvSYeumGLY?si=nFle1kClP8sYR9z3
Hashtag: #SCG
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Mannings Continues “Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines Programme” for the Fourth Year Partnering with Community Organisations to Expand Network to 75 Collection Points
Free Medication Counselling Service to Prevent Misuse of Medicines and Protect Public Health
Over 15 Million Tablets Collected since Programme Launched in 2023
Philip Chiu, Chief Pharmacist of Mannings says, “From the past few years of the programme, we observed that many households accumulate significant amounts of unused medicines, including those requiring completion of the entire course, such as antibiotics or chronic disease medications. When citizens fail to follow doctors’ instructions and complete the course, it not only delays recovery but may also increase healthcare costs in the long run. This year, we would like to further promote the idea of ‘home pharmacy checks,’ reminding citizens to regularly review their medicine cabinets to avoid expired or misused medicines, and to feel more reassured in medication use. ”
For details on participating Mannings pharmacies and other designated community collection points for the “Mannings Safe Disposal of Unused Medicines Programme,” please visit https://bit.ly/3UuWGy5.
Hashtag: #Mannings #TrustedAdvisorForWellness #HealthandBeauty #SafeDisposalofUnusedMedicines #DFIRetailGroup
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About Mannings
Mannings is Hong Kong’s largest health and beauty products chain store with over 320 outlets and over 60 in-store pharmacies operating in Hong Kong and Macau, providing a wide range of quality health care, personal care, skin care and baby products to customers. Our team of Community Health Professionals is available at many of our stores, offering expert advice and free consultations from registered Pharmacists, Dieticians, Beauty and Health Advisors. Mannings has been named by the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA) as “Quality Service Retailer of the Year – Personal Care Products Category” for 15 consecutive years (2011 to 2025). Mannings has also been recognised as the “No.1 Most Preferred Brand” in online surveys conducted by global market research company Ipsos (2021-2024) and Nielsen (2025-2026) in Hong Kong for six consecutive years.
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