Invest in the Silk Road
The China Merchants Group has overseas assets in more than 40 countries worth 720 billion RMB, including major investments in nations along the Belt and Road. At a roundtable luncheon on 28 March, Li Zhonghan, General Manager of the company’s department for overseas business and international cooperation, discussed some of these projects – including a port in Djibouti and the China-Belarus Industrial Park -- to give members an insight into the advantages and challenges of Belt and Road investment.
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Belt & Road Working Group Meeting
At a meeting of the Chamber’s Belt and Road Working Group on 5 March, Paul McComb, Director General for Trade and Investment at the British Consulate General in Hong Kong, introduced the U.K.’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. This includes a contribution of US$50 million to the Project Preparation Special Fund of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and a programme of unconditional guaranteed bank loans provided by U.K. Export Finance. Andrew Wells, Convenor of the Working Group, and members continued the discussion informally at a networking session following the meeting.
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Practical implications of the Belt and Road for Hong Kong's SMEs: Risk and Dispute Resolution
Members of the Chamber’s Belt & Road Working Group discussed the practical implications of the initiative for SMEs in terms of risk and dispute resolution at a meeting on 11 December. Behzad Mirzaei, Partner of Basio Consultants & Services, shared his expertise, including doing business in the Middle East John Yeap, Partner at Pinsent Masons, introduced the typical risks associated with BR projects regarding utility ownership, labour, language and currency. Maria Tan Pedersen, Partner at Jones Day, said investors should fully understand their role and the type of project they are participating in before going ahead with any agreement. Sarah Grimmer, Secretary-General of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, explained some of the approaches to resolving disputes involving BR projects.
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Unleashing Myanmar's Potential
Serge Pun, Chairman of SPA Group, gave members a unique perspective on the facts and some of the myths of Myanmar’s business culture. Robert San Pe, Senior Legal Advisor to Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, discussed the challenges and opportunities of investing in the newly open Myanmar market. Speakers from the Department of Commerce and Economic Development of HKSAR, Jardine Myanmar Group, Nielsen and CityU also shared their insights at the event. A networking reception for a 30-member delegation from Myanmar following the seminar gave members and guests the opportunity to expand their connections and discuss opportunities in the country.
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New Opportunities in Pakistan Under the Belt and Road Initiative
At a Belt and Road series roundtable luncheon held on 26 March, Pakistan's Consul General in Hong Kong, Abdul Qadir Memon said many Hong Kong contractors had the qualities and resources to pursue infrastructure and finance opportunities along the belt and road, especially Pakistan, which China ranked as its most promising investment destination. Horance Hui, CEO of Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) also speaking at the roundtable, told members that Pakistan was transforming into a more stable environment for investment.
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Grasping Green Opportunities from the Belt & Road Initiative
Steve Wong, Vice Chairman of the Chamber's Environment and Sustainability Committee and Managing Director of BillionGroup Technologies, spoke at a roundtable luncheon on green opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative. He shared his views on how Hong Kong companies can use their expertise in areas such as water and waste management to provide eco-friendly solutions to countries along the Belt and Road.
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Belt and Road Series - New Belt and Road Opportunities for Latin America
Dr Le Xia, Chief Economist for Asia, BBVA Hong Kong, updated members on China-Latin America trade and investment and provided his insights into China's latest policy directives at a Chamber roundtable on 30 January. Tracy Wut, Partner, Baker & McKenzie, briefed members on the potential risks of investing in the region, as well as the measures businesses can take to protect themselves.
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Hearing from the Experts: Key Observations from the Belt & Road Forum
The Belt and Road is an ambitious initiative that aspires to spark economic development and cultural exchange through infrastructure and connectivity, as well as increase trade and investment. Yvonne Choi, Commissioner for Belt and Road, shared about the key takeaways from the Belt and Road forum in Beijing on 14-15 May. Dr Thomas Chan, an expert on the Belt and Road, briefed members on the major projects in the Belt and Road initiative.
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China and Belt & Road Infrastructure: 2016 Review and Outlook
Gabriel Wong, Partner and Head of China Corporate Finance, PwC, talked about the performance of infrastructure in the Belt and Road (B&R) countries in the past year, and shared his views on the recent development and outlook of B&R projects at a Chamber luncheon roundtable on 27 April. He explained there would be a significant ramp-up in power, rail and healthcare projects in middle-income B&R countries.
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Czech Republic: Europe’s Starting Point of the Belt and Road?
As one of the higher-performing countries in Central Europe, the Czech Republic boasts aerospace, automotive and advanced engineering, ICT, electrical engineering and electronics sectors. Ondrej Koc, Director for China and Southeast Asia Operations of CzechInvest, and Klara Jurcova, Deputy Ambassador and Head of Political Section of Embassy of the Czech Republic in Beijing, spoke about the investment environment, political agenda and international politics, as well as what the Belt and Road initiative means to the Czech Republic at the Europe Committee Country Briefing Series on 13 February. Louis Chan, Economist (Global Research) of Hong Kong Trade Development Council, also gave a briefing about the Belt and Road opportunities in the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), which the Czech Republic is one of.
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