From Hong Kong to Kazakhstan: Cloof’s adventure at KAZDENTEXPO 2025

In recent years, Belt and Road countries have increasingly attracted the attention of Hong Kong residents, many of whom travel to these nations for business, academic exchanges, exhibitions, and leisure. Mr Cloof Siu Chun-ping, a fifth-year student in the Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Secondary) - Information and Communication Technology (BEd(S)-ICT) programme, and a gold medallist of the Outstanding Prospective Teachers Award 2025, joined this trend by attending KAZDENTEXPO 2025. The event was held from 12 to 14 May in Almaty, where he participated as a member of the Hong Kong Pavilion.

“Taking part in KAZDENTEXPO 2025 in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, was an eye-opening and enriching experience that broadened my professional and cultural horizons. The event attracted over 6,000 industry professionals from Central Asia, Russia, Germany, Italy, and other countries, including global leaders such as Colgate-Palmolive, Straumann, and Sinodent. During the three-day exhibition, I had ample opportunities to exchange ideas with experts in dental and medical technology from Kazakhstan and other participating nations,” Cloof shared.

KAZDENTEXPO is an international dental exhibition organised for professionals across the Eurasian region. For more than 17 years, the expo has been held twice annually in Kazakhstan—once in Almaty in spring and once in Shymkent in autumn.

The Hong Kong Pavilion, organised by the Hong Kong 3D Printing Association, featured Hong Kong-based companies such as Cathay Tat Ming, Koln 3D, and Dr. Tong, alongside individuals with extensive experience in 3D-printing, robotics, and ICT technology. At the pavilion, Cloof eagerly engaged with innovators from these companies. “These conversations deepened my understanding of how advanced manufacturing, 3D-printing, and robotics are revolutionising the medical and dental fields, and how such technologies are being applied in diagnosis and treatment,” he explained.

Throughout his five years at the EdUHK, Cloof has focused on ICT technology and STEM education. He is also a core member of EdUHK’s robotics team. “The potential of technology to improve people’s well-being has always been close to my heart. KAZDENTEXPO 2025 was filled with the spirit of cross-cultural collaboration and mutual learning. I attended several live demonstrations and seminars on the latest clinical technologies, which inspired me to think more critically about how innovation in one field, such as dental health, can inform my own work in STEM education and AI-assisted robotics,” the BEd(S)-ICT student said.

In addition to gaining technical expertise, Cloof also acquired valuable experience in organising an international exhibition at KAZDENTEXPO 2025, assisting with booth set-up and managing logistical challenges. “Participating in the expo helped me better understand cultural nuances and how to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds. It has greatly enhanced my global perspective and adaptability too. This journey has not only enriched my academic outlook but also reinforced my commitment to developing interdisciplinary solutions that utilise technology to address educational and healthcare needs,” he concluded.

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