From October 24 to 27, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Chairman Prof Frederick Ma traveled to Doha, Qatar, aiming to support enduring commercial connections between Hong Kong, Qatar, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During his visit, he engaged with high-ranking government representatives, including finance, investment, and trade ministers, as well as executives from major business groups and financial entities.
Prof Ma spoke at the UN Conference Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum, where he shared how Hong Kong is a trusted platform for global investment and trade. He said, “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.”
Deepening Business Ties
Prof Ma’s trip to Qatar provided an opportunity to promote the advantages of Hong Kong as the world’s leading international financial centre and investment hub. He highlighted Hong Kong’s unique One Country, Two Systems arrangement, which 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.
High-level meetings were held with 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. These meetings aimed to strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, exchange views on the latest economic trends, and highlight potential for strategic partnerships leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector and super value-adder.
HKTDC’s Initiatives
The 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. Recent missions to Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have demonstrated the value of government-to-government, government-to-business, and business-to-business collaboration in creating new opportunities for trade and investment.
The HKTDC also featured a special Middle East Chapter and a Middle East Zone at the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong in September 2026, which was attended by some 6,200 business and government leaders from over 70 countries and regions. The HKTDC celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, with over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, promoting Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub.
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