This story was published in the SCMP’s Education Post on 27 September, 2016.
Hong Kong will benefit from the OBOR initiative, Vincent Lo Hong-sui, chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), told the engaged conference audience.
“China has an interest in bringing prosperity and stability to this fragile world,” he said, noting that this idea was the driving force behind the initiative. “China has come a long way since it opened up only three decades ago,” Lo added.
The OBOR initiative is a development strategy which will connect Asia, Europe and Africa. “It’s a grand vision, although it is often dismissed as a purely political concept,” said Lo, adding that the resulting economic and social integration will accelerate growth and bring prosperity and balance to all the nations involved. The initiative will give China, and around 64 other countries significant economic opportunities, as it entails enormous developments in infrastructure. “The initiative is not just talk – it is [about] real money, real projects, and real jobs.”
Lo said that Hong Kong businesses will benefit from the OBOR infrastructure projects, and will also discover new trading opportunities once the routes have been established. He added that Hong Kong will certainly play a part, as it has traditionally adapted itself to the mainland’s development. The city was the conduit for countries to do business with “the world’s factory” last century, and its financial and professional services now have an opportunity to help the mainland work with new trading partners.
Read the full story here.
Rebecca Simpson. Writer and editor. 