'HK ideal place to host the first FII Summit in Asia'
Around 1,000 global investors, innovators, entrepreneurs and policymakers will gather in Hong Kong next month for the inaugural Future Investment Initiative (FII) Priority Asia Summit.  The event is hosted by the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, in collaboration with the SAR government and a Saudi Arabian investment organisation and think tank - the Future Investment Initiative Institute. Nicolas Aguzin, chief executive of the city's stock exchange operator, told a press conference that Hong Kong's unique role as a "super-connector" made it the ideal place to host the first FII Summit in Asia. “We believe that the challenging macro environment means that it’s vital to continue strengthening the channels and platforms that support connectivity, because despite the challenges, we must chart a way forward, and capital always looks for opportunities,” he said. He said that while global investors used to focus on American and European markets, Saudi Arabia was emerging as a new powerhouse and "connector" between South Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.   He added that the SAR would continue to explore opportunities for cooperation. Hailing the upcoming event as the Asian debut of the FII Summit, Chief Executive of the FII Institute Richard Attias, said the event will address investment opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence, new energy and supply chain transformation.  “With the current geopolitical conditions, we want to be a ‘catalyst’, a ‘bridge’ between global investors,” he noted. The summit will take place in Central on December 7 and 8.