Hong Kong’s Strategic Advantages Boost Business Ties with Southeast Asia and Middle East: Insights from Belt and Road Summit

Business relations between Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Hong Kong may be strengthened

The Belt and Road Summit indicates that the city's wealth of skilled professionals and financial and legal savvy makes it a perfect collaborator for growth in these two areas.

A wealth of skill and a refined understanding of financial and legal services are two significant benefits that position Hong Kong as an excellent entry point for businesses looking to grow in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, according to experts at a discussion held on Thursday.

"Hong Kong boasts unique strengths," stated Winnie Fan, who works as the assistant general manager for international corporate banking at Bank of China (Hong Kong). "It's acknowledged for its top-tier business climate, featuring uncomplicated and minimal taxes, a robust legal framework, unrestricted movement of capital, and an effective financial setup. It also offers numerous international channels and is the biggest and most significant global offshore hub for the [yuan] business."

The Philippines, a country with a significant demand for infrastructure growth, could greatly benefit from Hong Kong's proficiency in impact investing and handling environmental, social, and governance matters. This was proposed by Andrew Gan, a director at the Philippine Stock Exchange.