With its global connectivity and world-class professional services, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region serves as an ideal two-way springboard for business expansion and can help Uzbek firms access the Chinese mainland, while enabling mainland enterprises to expand globally, including into Uzbekistan, the SAR’s leader said on Thursday.

“It's why the world knows Hong Kong as the ‘superconnector’ and ‘super-value-adder.’ We are adding value to whatever we pursue for you,” John Lee Ka-chiu said at a high-level business dinner titled "Partnering for Success - Hong Kong as a 'Super Connector' and 'Super Value-Adder' for Central Asia" in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan.

A pivotal player in the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong is one of the world's top three international financial centers, and the largest offshore renminbi hub, he said, referring to last week’s recognition of the SAR as the world's No. 1 largest cross-boundary wealth management center.

Pointing out that the HKSAR and Uzbekistan are important trade and investment gateways to their respective regions, the SAR chief executive talked about several areas in which businesses and investors from the two places can deepen their cooperation, including capital markets and privatization; green and sustainable development; digitalization and innovation; high-quality services; and gold trading.

Uzbekistan's ambitious privatization program, including listing state-owned enterprises such as airports and key infrastructure, aligns closely with HKSAR’s strengths as one of the world's major hubs for initial public offerings, said Lee, who is leading a 70-member delegation comprising SAR and mainland business and professional leaders to Central Asia.

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“Last year, we topped the world in both IPO volume and funds raised. Our markets can help enterprises from Uzbekistan scale, access international capital and drive high-quality development.”

Pointing out that Hong Kong has ranked first in green and sustainable bond issuance in Asia for eight consecutive years, Lee said the city can help Uzbekistan achieve its renewable energy targets.

Hong Kong can help realize Uzbekistan’s and Central Asia’s carbon neutrality commitments through its financing, professional services and technological support, he added.

Speaking about digitalization and innovation, he said the cluster formed by Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou ranks first among the world's top 100 innovation clusters, demonstrating the cities’ ability to convert ideas into tangible outcomes, drawing together the strengths of both the HKSAR and the mainland.

“We welcome technology firms from Uzbekistan to use Hong Kong as a launching pad into Asian and global markets, supported by our capital markets and infrastructure capabilities,” he added.

Pointing out that Hong Kong is the only city with five universities in the world's top 100, he said the HKSAR government offers scholarships specifically for students from Belt and Road countries, including Uzbekistan, to study at the city’s post-secondary institutions.

Turning to Hong Kong's high-quality services, he said, “From infrastructure to hospitality, we can finance and partner with Uzbekistan to develop new townships and smart cities, hotels, shopping centers, green buildings, factories and more.”

On gold trading, the CE said Uzbekistan is home to one of the world's largest reserves of gold and is looking for opportunities to diversify gold storage and investments, given today's geopolitical uncertainties. “Hong Kong is committed to becoming a gold trading center aligned with the international market.”

Pointing out that Uzbekistan is firmly on its way to building a modern and sustainable international economy, he said this creates far-reaching, mutual opportunities for businesses and investors from Hong Kong SAR, the mainland and Uzbekistan.

He invited Uzbekistan's enterprises to establish an office in Hong Kong and explore investment and business opportunities – in the Northern Metropolis, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and beyond.

"We are ranked No.1 globally in economic freedom as well. And we offer a world of companies, entrepreneurs and investors, those from Uzbekistan very much included, with an open and efficient business environment, a simple and low tax regime, and no capital controls or foreign exchange restrictions."

Lee said IT Park Uzbekistan and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Cyberport and the Hong Kong‑Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited are working toward cooperation. Also, the Law Society of Hong Kong will enter into an MoU with the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Uzbekistan, strengthening collaboration of our legal professionals.

In the cultural front, the Hong Kong Palace Museum will partner with the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan to co-organize exhibitions to be presented at both venues in the future.

Thanking Uzbekistan for planning to open a consulate-general in Hong Kong, Lee said the two places will expedite actions on discussions on a Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement.