Dezan Shira & Associates Europe Desk Engages Hong Kong Institutions Across Europe During Year of the Horse Celebrations

Representatives from Dezan Shira & Associates’ Europe Desk participated in a series of Lunar New Year receptions in Milan, Berlin, and Warsaw, marking the Year of the Horse. The Milan reception was hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, while the Berlin and Warsaw events were hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) in partnership with Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

The engagements began in Milan on February 9, where Patricia Aranguren Moliner, Assistant Manager within the International Business Advisory team’s Europe Desk, attended an evening reception at the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, bringing together over 150 guests from government, business, and cultural sectors.

The event coincided with the Hong Kong, China delegation’s presence in the city for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, including representatives from its Sports Federation and Olympic Committee.

The programme featured keynote remarks by Shirley Yung, Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, who expressed support for Hong Kong athletes participating in the Winter Olympics, noting that their perseverance reflects Hong Kong’s economic resilience.

She also highlighted the link between cultural exchange, international events, and economic engagement, as well as the strengthening of Italy–Hong Kong ties. The evening concluded with a live performance by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

The engagements continued in Berlin on February 26, where Riccardo Benussi, Partner, attended an evening reception at the Waldorf Astoria Berlin, bringing together government officials, ambassadors, business leaders, and media representatives.

The event featured remarks by Indiana Wong, Director of HKETO Berlin who highlighted Hong Kong’s strong economic performance, including GDP growth and its return as the world’s leading IPO fundraising hub.

He also outlined key measures from the 2026–27 Budget aimed at supporting innovation, international cooperation, and overseas business expansion, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a “super connector” in global trade. The programme also included a freestyle football performance by Hong Kong artists, reflecting the city’s dynamic cultural and creative landscape.

The series concluded in Warsaw on March 11, where Katherine Cheung García, Corporate Partnership Marketing Manager for Europe, attended an evening reception at the Sheraton Grand Warsaw.

The event brought together senior representatives from HKETO Berlin and the HKTDC, including Chris Lo, its Regional Director for Europe, Central Asia and Israel. In his remarks, he highlighted Poland’s position as Hong Kong’s leading trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe for goods and emphasized the global leadership of the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong innovation and technology cluster, ranked first worldwide. The night ended with a live a cappella performance, which added a cultural highlight to the reception.

Highlighting the depth of Europe-Hong Kong relations, Riccardo commented: “One wouldn’t know which European nation to start with when thinking of the history, development and mutual growth experienced by European investors there and the increasing sophistication of the economic fabric of ‘the fragrant harbor’. Ties between Hong Kong and Europe as a whole run very deep.”

Reflecting on the firm’s longstanding presence in the city and its evolution alongside Hong Kong’s growth, he added: “I cannot help but remind myself that our firm was founded in Hong Kong in 1992, and we have been growing alongside its development – witnessing its expanding and evolving role in the world economy, from a very small speck on a map. We continue to believe in Hong Kong’s openness and its experienced government and business partners.”

Dezan Shira & Associates’ Presence in Europe

Incorporated in Munich in January 2021, Dezan Shira & Associates’ European presence serves as a first point of contact for European companies wishing to do business in Asia. In both the Munich and Milan offices, our European-based team works with a variety of partners to educate businesses on the economic performance and regulatory environment of developing Asian economies.