CE Lee secures 35 agreements during Qatar visit

These cover economic cooperation, investment, technology, and finance.

Chief Executive John Lee has secured 35 agreements across various sectors during his ongoing visit to Qatar. These agreements, spanning economic cooperation, investment, technology, and finance, involve Hong Kong, the Mainland, and Qatar.

Lee met Qatar’s Minister of Labour, Ali bin Saeed bin Samikh Al Marri, to discuss boosting talent exchanges. He highlighted Hong Kong's position as a hub for higher education and invited more Qatari students to study in the city through the Belt & Road Scholarship.

Additionally, he attended a roundtable with the Qatari Businessmen Association and the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry. He promoted Hong Kong’s advantages, including its legal and financial systems, and encouraged Qatari businesses to use Hong Kong as a gateway to Mainland China and global markets.

The chief executive also announced the near-completion of negotiations on an Investment Promotion & Protection Agreement with Qatar and revealed discussions on mutual recognition for Authorized Economic Operator Programs. He confirmed that Hong Kong passport holders can now visit Qatar visa-free for up to 30 days.

In addition to agreements between Hong Kong and Qatar, two were signed between Mainland China and Qatar focusing on financial services and high-end manufacturing. A tripartite agreement involving Hong Kong, the Mainland, and Qatar will advance collaboration in fintech, Web3, and artificial intelligence.

Moreover, Lee visited Hamad International Airport to learn about an autonomous vehicle pilot project, involving UISEE, a Mainland company with its international headquarters in Hong Kong.