A warm welcome to the first issue of the Belt and Road Global Forum newsletter – a platform for sharing the latest insights and updates on the Belt and Road Initiative, and for facilitating business opportunities through Hong Kong.
Established with the support of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Belt and Road Global Forum is a network of organisations and companies from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland and around the world, which share an interest in the Belt and Road Initiative. The forum aims to promote interaction, information sharing and business collaboration among member organisations to create opportunities.
Since the Belt and Road Initiative was introduced by China’s President Xi Jinping in 2013, many from the public and private sector have been keen to find out what it means, and more importantly, how this vision can be turned into tangible business opportunities.
Given the scope and magnitude of the Belt and Road, it is important to assess the potential risk and return of participating in its projects; it is even more important to find the right partners to develop these opportunities together.
It is with this in mind that the Belt and Road Global Forum has been set up. We hope the Global Forum can give you information to make informed decisions, and help you find the right partners to navigate this vast landscape together.
Once you have made the connections and done your research, Hong Kong is the ideal platform on which to conduct your international business for Belt and Road projects, whether your members are investors, project owners, entrepreneurs, professional and research experts.
Not only is Hong Kong the two-way international gateway for China, it is also a global city with worldwide connections and centuries of experience doing business with the world.
Apart from being the secretariat of the Belt and Road Global Forum, the HKTDC also hosts a wide range of Belt and Road events, such as the annual Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong (to be held on June 28 this year) and specialised investment missions to Belt and Road countries. The HKTDC also operates a digital information resource (www.beltandroad.hk) that has investment project listings, news and insights and a directory of Hong Kong-based professional service providers.
With the establishment of the Belt and Road Global Forum, we hope the exchange among members will foster deeper and wider collaboration, generating more opportunities for all.
Vincent HS Lo
Chairman, HKTDC Belt and Road Committee
Chairman, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
