To boost business ties between Hong Kong, Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council, also known as the GCC, HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma visited Doha this week at the invitation of the Government of the State of Qatar.
On this trip, Prof Ma met with senior Middle East officials, including ministers of finance, investment and trade as well as leaders of business organisations and financial institutions. He also spoke on a panel at the UN Conference Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum.
At the Forum session “International Investment Facilitation Policies: Creating Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, Prof Ma shared how Hong Kong as one of the world’s top international financial centres is a trusted platform for global investment and trade, connecting capital, enterprises and opportunities across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and beyond.
“Despite current geopolitical volatility, I believe it is important to reach out and build important relationships to ensure long-term economic development around the world. My trip to Qatar gave me this opportunity, while the World Investment Forum presented an ideal occasion to promote the advantages of Hong Kong as the world’s leading international financial centre and investment hub.”
“Hong Kong, under the unique One Country, Two Systems arrangement, combines connectivity to the Chinese Mainland and global markets with an international business environment based on common law, the free flow of capital and global standards – an effective platform to deepen relationships across regions to facilitate more business and investment. This is also our core mission at the HKTDC, where our network of 51 offices worldwide helps us connect people around the world to create business success.”
Prof Ma also met with high-level officials, including Qatar’s Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, senior officials from Invest Qatar and Qatar Investment Authority, and leaders from Qatar National Bank, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Qatar Development Bank.
The meetings provided valuable opportunities to exchange views on the latest economic and investment trends in infrastructure, logistics, technology and manufacturing, while strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and highlighting potential for strategic partnerships leveraging Hong Kong's role as a superconnector and super value-adder.
HKTDC has been actively promoting business connectivity between Hong Kong and emerging markets through organising business missions led by the Chief Executive and senior officials of the Hong Kong SAR Government, together with enterprises from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
Missions to Qatar and Kuwait in 2025, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in 2023, and most recently Central Asia this past June, have demonstrated the value of government-to-government, government-to-business and business-to-business collaboration in creating new opportunities for trade and investment.
HKTDC featured a Middle East Chapter and a Middle East Zone at the Belt and Road Summit in September, which was attended by some 6,200 business and government leaders from over 70 countries and regions.