DESTINATION HONG KONG

WORLD'S NO. 3 FINANCIAL CENTRE SET TO BOOST CO-OPERATION WITH THE MIDDLE EAST REGION IN FINANCE, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT

- Muzaffar Rizvi [e-mail]

Hong Kong has a strong, long-standing and ever-growing relationship with the Gulf Co-operation Council, and it will continue to strengthen economic ties, foster collaboration, and attract more businesses from the region to tap into the mainland and the broader Asia-Pacific countries, says a senior official.

Charles Ng, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), said world's one of the top three leading financial centres is committed to deepening economic relations with the region's dynamic market - the UAE and Saudi Arabia, by increasing co-operation in finance, trade, and investment in coming years.

"We are eager to explore opportunities to enhance our presence in the region, including leveraging platforms like the Economic and Trade Office in Dubai. This office serves as a vital hub for fostering economic collaboration, and we see it as a strategic avenue to deepen our connections with the UAE and the wider Middle East," Charles Ng told Khaleej Times during an interview in Dubai.

Charles Ng, during his visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, participated in various high-level business roundtables, bringing together representatives from prominent businesses, family offices, and investors. He also met representatives of leading Middle Eastern companies and discuss how establishing a presence in Hong Kong can drive their global expansion strategies. "We will continue to strengthen our regional footprint to connect global capital with opportunities in Asia and beyond. We are enthusiastic about the potential to work more closely with governments, financial institutions, and companies in the Middle East to facilitate investment flows and market access," he said.

He said Hong Kong has developed strong economic and trade relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia and now looks at expanding in presence in other GCC countries — Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain —in addition to Egypt in North Africa.