The Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Prof Frederick Ma, visited Doha, Qatar, from 24 to 27 October at the invitation of the Qatari government, meeting senior officials and business leaders to deepen long-term economic ties between Hong Kong and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The visit matters because it signals Hong Kong's active pursuit of new investment and trade partnerships in the Middle East at a time of global geopolitical uncertainty, leveraging its role as an international financial centre to connect capital and opportunities across Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Speaking at the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment Forum, Prof Ma highlighted Hong Kong's advantages under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework, including its common law business environment, free flow of capital and connectivity to both the Chinese Mainland and global markets. He noted that despite current geopolitical volatility, building important relationships is essential for long-term economic development worldwide. The HKTDC's global network of 51 offices worldwide, he added, helps connect businesses and create opportunities.
During the visit, Prof Ma met with Qatar's Minister of Finance Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Bahrain's Minister of Industry and Commerce Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, and senior officials from Invest Qatar and the Qatar Investment Authority. Discussions also involved leaders from Qatar National Bank, the Qatar Foundation, the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Qatar Development Bank. These high-level meetings focused on exchanging views on economic trends and investment opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, technology and manufacturing, while exploring strategic partnerships that leverage Hong Kong's role as a super-connector and super value-adder. Such engagements are significant because they open doors for Hong Kong enterprises and investors to participate in the Gulf's diversification drive and for Gulf capital to access Asian markets through Hong Kong.
The HKTDC has been actively promoting business connectivity between Hong Kong and emerging markets through missions led by Hong Kong's Chief Executive and senior officials, together with enterprises from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Previous missions to Qatar and Kuwait in 2025, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in 2023, and Central Asia in June have demonstrated the value of government-to-government, government-to-business and business-to-business collaboration. 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, attended by some 6,200 business and government leaders from over 70 countries and regions. These efforts underscore Hong Kong's commitment to deepening ties with the GCC and positioning itself as a gateway for international trade and investment. For more information on HKTDC's global activities, visit its media room.
