SITI visits UAE (with photos)
6.3.2024

The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of representatives from the innovation and technology (I&T) industry to visit Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 6 (Dubai time). Professor Sun and the delegation attended a business luncheon hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai where he spoke to about 120 guests from local government of the UAE and businesses, particularly from leaders and executives of the UAE's I&T community. In his keynote speech, Professor Sun said that Hong Kong and the UAE have a lot in common, including the vision to develop a diversified and sustainable economy and to become a leading I&T centre in the regions. He also said that as a "super value-adder", Hong Kong makes good use of the distinctive advantage of being "backed by the motherland, and connected to the world" to create value in enhancing mutually beneficial partnership with friends in the international community. Shortly before the luncheon, Professor Sun had a brief exchange about I&T development in Hong Kong and the UAE with the Under Secretary of the Foreign Trade and Industry of the UAE Ministry of Economy, Mr Abdulla Al Saleh, who also attended the occasion. In the afternoon, Professor Sun and the delegation visited the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation Hub to meet with its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mohammad Alblooshi, to learn about the latest development of DIFC as one of the fintech centres and innovation hubs in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions, and the innovation hub's work in fostering the transformation, innovation and entrepreneurship of the fintech sector. Professor Sun also met with the Minister of State for Advanced Technology of the UAE, Ms Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri. In the meeting, both sides expressed their willingness to strengthen co-operation in I&T and new industrialisation between the two places, and hoped to further enhance exchange and pragmatic collaboration in advanced technology of the industries. Upon arrival in Dubai on March 5, Professor Sun and the delegation visited the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park to learn how the park provides an enabling environment for the development and management of innovative ecosystems, and supports collaboration between government, industry and academia to promote research and development and entrepreneurial innovation. He also visited the park's innovation laboratory, namely SOI Lab, and data centre. Professor Sun then called on the acting Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai, Mr Liu Zhengjie, and briefed him on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's efforts in leading the city to realise its vision of becoming an international I&T hub. Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives from more than ten technology enterprises in the two I&T flagships and relevant industries. Professor Sun and the delegation left for Abu Dhabi, the UAE in the afternoon of March 6 to continue the visit.