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A delegation led by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Frederick Ma, today (January 27) started their visit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to promote business co-operation in financial services and infrastructure.
The six-day visit to the Middle East, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, covers also Abu Dhabi and Dubai of the United Arab Emirates.
The delegation comprises some 30 members of the financial services sector and the infrastructure and real estate services industry, including legislators representing the insurance and the architectural, surveying and planning sectors respectively, Mr Bernard Chan and Mr Patrick Lau.
On their first day in Saudi Arabia, the delegation met with, among others, the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority as well as representatives of the Saudi financial and real estate sectors.
Mr Ma also had a meeting with Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Mr Ma said that economies in the Middle East played a crucial role in the global market for their financial strengths and their increasing trade and investment activities around the world.
䩕 As trade and investment between the Middle East and the Far East grow, there are many business opportunities ahead, and Hong Kong is well-positioned to serve as an intermediary matching business interests and opportunities between China and the Middle East.
䩕During the visit, we will promote Hong Kong﷿s strengths as an international financial centre and our quality services. At the same time, our delegation members will be able to obtain first-hand information about the latest economic development and investment opportunities there,蒅 Mr Ma said.
Ends/Saturday, January 27, 2007
Issued at HKT 21:20
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