Hongkongers blazing a trail in the Middle East: seizing on creative ideas, learning Arabic and beating desert heat all part of a day’s work

Hong Kong businessmen are making a splash in the desert with innovative ideas in a variety of sectors

As the city eyes new opportunities in the Middle East, the Post speaks to Hongkongers who have already made their mark in the region

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Published: 8:30am, 3 Dec 2023Updated: 12:49pm, 3 Dec 2023

The Hong Kong government is on a drive to tap into the wealthy Middle Eastern market and diversify the city’s economy after three years of pandemic devastation and strained US-China relations. In the second of a two-part series, Natalie Wong talks to Hongkongers who are already in the market. The first part can be found here.

Long before the Hong Kong government thought about going to the Middle East in search of the proverbial pot of gold, entrepreneurs like Aaron Shum and James Law were blazing a path to the region. They made a name for themselves on their own terms and with their own grit.

As emerging opportunities in the Middle East beckon with the Gulf states’ string of reforms designed to diversify their economies from dependency on oil or gas and branch out into other sectors, Hongkongers are heading to where the money is.

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu in February led a delegation to explore business ventures in the region.

Early results are trickling in, with new associations for entrepreneurs being set up and delegations going back and forth between the city and the Middle Eastern countries.

Hong Kong leader John Lee (left) meets Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih and Chinese-American mathematician Tony Chan during his trip to the region earlier this year. Photo: Handout

And, even as concerns mount over the impact of the Israel-Gaza war, businesspeople remain upbeat about prospects for the region.