Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that more Central Asian state-owned enterprises are preparing to list in the city, as authorities expand support for Belt and Road firms seeking new markets.
Writing in his weekly blog, Chan said Hong Kong would step up assistance for enterprises tied to the initiative as they pursue regional growth. He framed the city as a business hub and financing platform linking mainland Chinese and overseas capital.
Chan pointed to expansion in emerging markets and developing economies over recent years. He cited International Monetary Fund projections of further growth of 3.8 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively over the coming period.
Central Asian state firms have shown rising interest in Hong Kong’s exchange as an alternative to Western markets. The push aligns with Beijing’s broader effort to deepen commercial ties across the region under the Belt and Road framework.
The Belt and Road Initiative, launched in 2013, funds infrastructure and trade links across Asia, Africa and Europe. Hong Kong has positioned its capital markets as a channel for companies operating within that network to raise funds and reach investors.
Chan’s remarks follow earlier commitments by the city government to court businesses from partner economies. Officials have promoted Hong Kong’s role in green finance and cross-border investment as part of that strategy.
The city’s stock market has drawn a stronger pipeline of listings this year, aided by improved sentiment and renewed interest from firms across Asia and the Middle East. Officials have sought to widen the pool beyond traditional mainland Chinese issuers.
Chan did not name the Central Asian companies preparing to list or give a timeline for their offerings. He said the government would continue building connections between Hong Kong and Belt and Road economies to support long-term expansion.