A growing number of Arab companies are eying strategic opportunities in the technological innovation hubs of Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, according to a regional trade chief.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily on Tuesday, Edwin Hitti, president of the Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry, identified this shifting trend among Arab investors who previously gravitated toward Western markets.

“Hong Kong has always been a safe haven for capital, for business, for people all over the world,” Hitti said. “More particularly now, it should be (a safe haven) for Arab companies and Arab individuals.”

As the CEO of the Hong Kong Islamic Index, the first Hong Kong benchmark to reflect Islamic investment principles, and the founder of Amwal Credit Union, the world’s first and Hong Kong’s sole Shariah-compliant financial institution, Hitti has long experience in facilitating Hong Kong’s efforts to attract Arab and Islamic capital.

“A lot of the announcements that were made by governments are very positive and very inviting,” he added, recognizing Hong Kong as a gateway between East and West that has a major role to play logistically, legally, financially, and commercially.

The acceleration of high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening as a forerunner of new quality productive forces has been written into the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) unveiled last month, while Hong Kong is positioned to be an international innovation and technology center.

Hitti described the 15th Five-Year Plan as “extremely astute and very wise in terms of ambitions and implications” and pointed out that artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, aviation, and robotics are all attractive sectors for Middle East countries.

“There are a lot of local companies throughout the Arab world that are very much interested in being a part of the up-and-coming technological innovation in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland,” he added.

Middle East capitals have been doubling down on Hong Kong assets, especially within the technology-related companies listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, for example, invested $65 million as a cornerstone investor in MiniMax, a leading Chinese AI startup listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in January.

Also, the Kuwait Investment Authority invested $500 million in the Hong Kong IPO of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, or CATL, the Fujian-based global leader in electric-vehicle battery manufacturing, last year.

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As China is a leading power in technological sectors such as AI and robotics, and with Hong Kong becoming a significant IPO league table for global investors, Arab investors are keen on this wave of investment opportunities, according to the Chamber president.

Meanwhile, he suggested that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government should streamline administrative procedures, including visa applications and bank account openings, to seize opportunities arising from capital and talent flows during the geopolitical turbulence.

“We do have a large number of experts that have come to the Chamber and who would like to relocate to Hong Kong,” he said. “We have got to make it smoother for individuals and companies to come to Hong Kong.”

Contact the writer at rayjia@chinadailyhk.com

Luo Weiteng contributed to this story.