This year's Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference will for the first time feature a low-altitude economy zone, and a co-organiser expects the event will lure 2,300 participants from more than 40 regions and countries.

The two-day 15th conference, which kicks off next Monday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, will see more than 90 exhibitors, including debuts by logistics giant SF Express and Hong Kong-based Greater Bay Airlines.

For Patrick Lau, deputy executive director at co-organiser Trade Development Council, China has strong advantages in the race towards developing a low-altitude economy.

He said the low-altitude economy zone would allow firms with an interest in the emerging technological sector to forge collaborations.

"This is one of the newest technologies in which our mother country, China, has a strong advantage [in] and we also want this low-altitude economy to contribute to the whole supply chain ecosystem," he said.

"We are also featuring companies participating in the Hong Kong regulatory sandbox pilot projects."

Another highlight of the upcoming conference includes thematic sessions on the Middle East and Central Asia markets – which Lau said are emerging markets for global trade and logistics.

"This event is not just a logistics event. It's a supply-chain event – it's our flagship event for supply chain," he went on to say.

"And we do believe it will create a lot of opportunities for all the participants."

The conference, which is in line with the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan to boost the SAR's status as an international shipping centre, will also focus on supply-chain diversification, sustainability and green energy, and innovation and technology.

Lau hopes the number of business matching to be forged at the upcoming conference will exceed last year's figure of more than 330.