THE Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is preparing to announce the Hong Kong Export Index for the third quarter of this year at a press conference to be held tomorrow (September 18) at the HKTDC Council Chamber in Wanchai from 2:30pm-4pm. The conference will be presented in Cantonese, and questions will be taken in Putonghua and English.

The index measures the confidence of local exporters in their respective industries and gauges their near-term prospects, an official release said.

At the press conference, HKTDC director of research Nicholas Kwan and his team of three economists will share their views on the outlook for major industries and markets amid the challenges brought about by the ongoing US-China trade war.

The HKTDC will also give an update to its forecast for Hong Kong's export performance in 2019.

"Given the friction between the world's two biggest economies, an increasing number of Hong Kong traders are looking to expand into new markets and develop more diversified businesses. HKTDC economists will unveil opportunities in the mainland's silver market and provide practical tips and advice for manufacturing in Cambodia and Myanmar," the statement said.