Leap4Growth Takes the Stage at Chinese New Year Reception in Helsinki
Leap4Growth took a visible and central role at the high-level event “Journey to Hong Kong – Grow and Succeed ” and the Lunar New Year Reception 2026 in Helsinki. The event, co-organised by the Finland–Hong Kong Business Association, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, gathered around 150 representatives from government, business and innovation ecosystems on 11 February.
During the evening, Leap4Growth was prominently featured as a concrete pathway for Central Baltic SMEs looking to expand into the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and Vietnam. Project Lead Yi Tang of Business Tampere, together with participating companies, presented how the project supports companies in moving from initial market exploration to real business opportunities. Leap4Growth combines market expert coaching, lead generation, export missions and practical training to help SMEs prepare for complex and competitive Asian markets. The approach focuses on lowering barriers to entry and providing structured support throughout the internationalisation process.
Hong Kong’s position as an international gateway to Mainland China and the wider Asia-Pacific region framed the discussion. For Nordic and Baltic SMEs, success in these markets requires preparation, local insight and long-term commitment. In this context, coordinated public support across the Central Baltic region plays a decisive role. The project builds on long-standing cooperation between regional partners and Asian counterparts. Institutional links and business networks create a strong foundation, but Leap4Growth accelerates business interaction by translating these connections into concrete company-level support and export activities.
The event generated strong visibility for the project, including national television coverage, interest from the Hong Kong delegation to visit Finland later this year and new companies expressing interest in joining Leap4Growth. The engagement underlined the growing relevance of structured cross-border collaboration in enabling SME expansion into Asia. As the Lunar New Year season unfolds in both project markets, the timing is symbolic. It reflects renewed energy, strengthened partnerships and concrete steps toward international growth.
Leap4Growth aims to support 100 SMEs from Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia during the project period and to generate at least 20 concrete business deals in Hong Kong and Vietnam. Companies exploring opportunities in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area or Vietnam are encouraged to connect with the Leap4Growth team to discuss tailored support and upcoming activities.
Photos: Kimmo Penttinen / NoNegative
