The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO), in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Invest Hong Kong, co-organised a networking luncheon in Singapore today (November 11) for the visiting HKTDC jewellery mission. The event aimed to promote exchanges and business collaboration between the jewellery industries of Hong Kong and Singapore. The Singapore mission is a key promotional activity under the Economic and Trade Express initiative, which helps Hong Kong companies seize overseas opportunities while attracting more enterprises to invest and establish operations in Hong Kong.
Speaking at the luncheon, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, highlighted Hong Kong's strengths as an international jewellery trading hub. With its distinctive advantages under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong serves as a "super connector" and "super value-adder" between the Chinese Mainland and overseas markets. In the first eight months of 2026, the value of Hong Kong's exports of jewellery, goldsmiths' and silversmiths' wares rose by more than 47 per cent year-on-year to around US$31 billion, while jewellery imports grew by over 50 per cent to US$40 billion. The two international jewellery shows held in Hong Kong also attracted around 4 000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions.
Ms Hung also outlined the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address. Unveiled in September 2026, Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan sets out a clear roadmap to strengthen Hong Kong's core advantages and advance the "four centres and one hub", reinforcing its status as an international financial, maritime and trade centre and international aviation hub, and as an international innovation and technology centre and a global hub for high-calibre talent.
In particular, she highlighted that Hong Kong is building a comprehensive jewellery and precious-metals ecosystem by accelerating the development of an international gold trading market, which includes a central clearing and settlement system for gold to be formally launched in the first quarter of 2027, and enhanced cross-border connectivity with the Shanghai Gold Exchange. To fully support the development of this ecosystem, the city is implementing targeted initiatives such as establishing a dedicated Gold Hotline to provide one-stop support for overseas gold traders, and expanding storage and refining capacities.
The luncheon also featured a panel discussion on market development trends and collaboration opportunities in the Hong Kong and Singapore jewellery sectors, bringing together around 80 business leaders, industry representatives and buyers from both regions. Following the luncheon, the mission also held one-on-one business matching meetings with local buyers.
Led by the HKTDC, the mission comprised 25 representatives from Hong Kong's jewellery industry and visited Singapore from November 10 to 13 to engage with local industry players, gain insights into the latest market trends, and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
