'HK positioned to facilitate capital flow under BRI'
Hong Kong Stock Exchange CEO Nicolas Aguzin said on Wednesday that the SAR can play an important role in facilitating the two-way flow of capital between China and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Speaking at the Belt and Road forum in Beijing, he said young people in Asean are making their mark on the global stage through innovation. He said Hong Kong can connect China's capital with them. “These companies of tomorrow will need a lot of capital to fund their ambitions. Hong Kong is uniquely placed to connect these opportunities to both China’s onshore investor pool and the international investor pool. No other market in the world can offer this in the way Hong Kong can do it.” he said.   On the other hand, he pointed out that the growing middle class in Asean is creating a demand for investment diversification, adding that Hong Kong can act as a bridge between Asean investors and China's markets, especially in the areas of innovation and sustainability. Similarly, he said, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) can facilitate two-way capital flows between China and the Middle East. "At HKEX, we are committed to leveraging our unique position. And we do this by continuously developing the right channels, platforms and products to support the opportunities that two-way flows bring," he said.  "This includes enhancing our listing regime to reinforce our role as a world-leading fundraising venue for new economy, biotech and, as of this year, specialist technology companies."