CE continues visit in Abu Dhabi and starts Dubai visit
9.2.2023

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, continued his visit to Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 8 (Abu Dhabi time) to tour local industrial facilities and a logistics group, and started his visit programme in Dubai in the afternoon. In the morning, Mr Lee led the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation to visit the China-UAE Industrial Capacity Cooperation Demonstration Zone at the Khalifa Industrial Zone in Abu Dhabi and meet with the Chairman of China Jiangsu International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group, Mr Song Qinbo. Developed and operated by Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company established by China Jiangsu International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group together with four national development zones, the zone is a major co-operation project for the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and the UAE. Mr Lee said that the zone was a successful example of joint effort between China and the UAE under the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrating the significance and the enormous potential of the initiative. He encouraged Hong Kong enterprises, by making good use of overseas Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones, to explore business opportunities in Belt and Road-related countries. The zone set a good example and offered valuable experience as well as mode of operation for the Hong Kong enterprises which wished to expand their business in the Middle East, he added. During the visit, Mr Lee also talked to Mainland staff working in the zone to learn about their work and life. Mr Lee and the delegation then visited the Abu Dhabi Ports Group and attended a luncheon hosted by the group to learn more about the development of the logistics industry in Abu Dhabi. Mr Lee was pleased to learn that the group shared deep ties and strong business connections with Hong Kong maritime enterprises. Noting that Hong Kong is an international maritime centre, Mr Lee believed that enterprises in Hong Kong and the UAE as well as those in the Middle East could work together to grasp the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by leveraging Hong Kong's role as a springboard. In the afternoon, Mr Lee departed for Dubai to continue his visit. Mr Lee met with the Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the UAE, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. During the meeting, Mr Lee said that there is a world of opportunities in Hong Kong available to UAE businesses and investors, from new and traditional energies to smart city, transportation, logistics, financial technology and biotechnology. He hoped that Hong Kong enterprises could work with UAE enterprises to further explore collaboration opportunities under the Belt and Road Initiative. He then attended the UAE-Hong Kong Business Forum and Chinese New Year Gala Dinner jointly organised by the Ministry of Economy of the UAE, Dubai Chambers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai. Addressing about 300 representatives of local authorities and business leaders, Mr Lee introduced Hong Kong's unique advantages and investment opportunities in his keynote speech. He said that the UAE is Hong Kong's largest trading partner in the Middle East region, Hong Kong looks forward to forging closer bilateral relations, particularly on green and sustainable finance, with the UAE, adding that the two places have kick-started the discussion on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation on the respective aspects. Afterwards, Mr Lee and the Chairman of Dubai Chambers, Mr Abdul-Aziz Abdulla Al Ghurair, witnessed the exchanges of three MoUs between Hong Kong and UAE enterprises on fostering co-operation in architectural professional services and innovation and technology, as well as business of enterprises or organisations between the two places. The Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble, a Hong Kong professional Chinese music group, performed at the gala dinner. A number of talented Hong Kong musicians employed the language of jazz with the means of both Chinese and western instruments to modernise melodies, showcasing the rich and unique East-meets-West culture and arts of Hong Kong to the audiences. Mr Lee will continue his visit in Dubai today (February 9, Dubai time). Ends/Thursday, February 9, 2023 Issued at HKT 8:00 NNNN