Central Asia tipped as Hong Kong's next logistics hub amid conflicts

Airport Authority chairman Fred Lam has identified Central Asia as a potential strategic logistics hub for Hong Kong, citing the region's location between conflict-affected areas in the Middle East and Russia. Speaking on a radio program after accompanying Chief Executive John Lee on a diplomatic and business trip to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Lam noted that cargo volume between Hong Kong and those two countries surged nearly fivefold year-on-year. He described Central Asia as “the next Middle East” — a terminal connecting Asia and Europe — with its value going beyond exploring an emerging market. The trip included the largest delegation of the current administration, featuring over 30 local business leaders and around 30 mainland Chinese entrepreneurs.

Lam also shared positive outlook for Hong Kong International Airport, predicting passenger traffic could reach 70 million in 2026, nearly recovering to pre-Covid levels. The airport authority's CEO Vivian Cheung visited Uzbekistan separately during the trip. The comments come as ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East and Russia have disrupted traditional air cargo corridors, pushing businesses to seek alternative routes. Central Asia offers a comparatively stable corridor with growing infrastructure, and Hong Kong aims to leverage its free-trade status and logistics expertise to capture new transcontinental freight flows.