Global Impact: is the ‘economic centre of gravity’ moving towards Asia as Saudi ministers, executives descend on Hong Kong?

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When Laura Cha Shih May-lung struck the ceremonial gong at the Hong Kong stock exchange (HKEX) with the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute’s governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, they kicked off the biggest gathering of Saudi government ministers and business executives ever assembled in the city.

More than 1,000 participants and 100 speakers thronged the HKEX’s Connect Hall at Exchange Square for the FII Priority summit on Thursday and Friday. It was a “significant step” in the deepening ties between Hong Kong and the Middle East, particularly with Saudi Arabia, said Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, after joining the opening ceremony with FII chief executive Richard Attias.