Thailand Sends 80 SMEs to Hong Kong to Expand Global Markets

The Department of Foreign Trade and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion are working together to create opportunities for Thai SMEs to enter the global market. They are leading 80 entrepreneurs from the food and beverage, agricultural processing, consumer goods, and lifestyle sectors to Hong Kong under the Local to Global (DFT+) program running from August 13-17, 2026. The initiative aims to expose business owners to real market conditions, connect them with trade partners, and teach them about market trends and international business practices.

Arda Fuengtong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, has assigned Chaninethra Rimcharoen, Deputy Director-General, to head the delegation. The program includes four key activities: First, entrepreneurs will visit the HKTDC Hong Kong Food Pro 2026 exhibition and view the Thailand Pavilion to explore product trends and consumer behavior in the Asia-Pacific region. Second, the program will facilitate business matching between Thai SMEs and over 60 Hong Kong and Chinese partners including buyers, importers, distributors, and wholesalers, with transactions expected to exceed 100 million baht during the event and reach 350 million baht within a year. Third, entrepreneurs will attend specialized lectures and gain in-depth knowledge about the Hong Kong market and opportunities in the Greater Bay Area from the Thai Trade Office in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. Fourth, business owners will visit major retail chains such as HotMaxx, Yuan Ji Lin, Hui Kang Supermarket, and PARKnSHOP to learn about distribution channels, product presentation, and consumer behavior, as well as study green and smart living initiatives at the Hong Kong Productivity Council to understand sustainability and innovation in global business competition.