• Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu graciously conveyed an inspiring apothegm for ewpartners‘ Hong Kong Office grand opening, reaffirming Hong Kong’s pivotal role as the superconnector fostering innovation and growth between Asia and the Middle East.
• Capital interaction between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong is at an all-time high, with unprecedented activity. Today at the CMF HK conference, the Premia BOCHK Saudi Arabia Government Sukuk ETF was announced for listing, making it Hong Kong's first ETF based on Islamic securities (Sukuk).
• ewpartners and Tahaluf announced a strategic partnership for LEAP East 2026 in Hong Kong, leveraging the city’s position to drive tech exchange and economic impact matching LEAP’s USD 820 million footprint.

Hong Kong, May 29, 2025--- Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu graciously provided the following inspiring apothegm for the opening of ewpartners’ Hong Kong office: “Fostering Strategic Partnerships across Borders, Driving Innovation, Growth and Prosperity.” This message reflects Hong Kong’s commitment to serving as the premier platform connecting Asia and the Middle East.

The luncheon, co-hosted by ewpartners, Capital Markets Forum Hong Kong (CMF), the Saudi Tadawul Group (STG), and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), marked a key milestone in strengthening capital market ties between Asia and the Middle East. The luncheon brought together over 100 key representatives from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia’s core government agencies, investment institutions, and entrepreneurs.

The Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, emphasized Hong Kong’s unique position as an international business hub combining the global advantages and the China advantages to offer significant benefits for businesses. “Our competitive advantages include the rule of law, free flow of capital, a free investment and trade regime, and a clean and efficient government. Together with our low, simple and competitive tax system, open business environment, world-class infrastructure and multicultural talent pool, Hong Kong continues to offer unparalleled advantages for businesses from around the globe, including those from the Middle East.”

Cliff Chau, Managing Partner of ewpartners, noted, "Since our establishment in Saudi Arabia in 2017, ewpartners has successfully bridged capital and expertise between Asia and the Middle East through over 20 projects. Our investment philosophy aligns perfectly with Hong Kong's positioning as a 'super connector' and 'super value adder,' and our Hong Kong office will play a key role in driving cross-regional collaboration, fostering innovation, and promoting growth. With the thriving activity in public markets, private investments, and the family office ecosystem, we are excited to be part of the continued success of Asia-Middle East cooperation."

Mohammed Al-Rumaih, CEO of Saudi Exchange, stated, "We are seeing significant growth in the Saudi capital markets, with record IPOs and increased investor participation, solidifying our position as one of the top exchanges in the region and among the top ten globally. The collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong plays a critical role in strengthening this position. For instance, Sahm Capital, a subsidiary of Valuable Caital Group and supported by ewpartners, has become one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in Saudi Arabia. Looking ahead, we are excited about further cross-regional partnerships and fulfilling our commitments to drive growth and innovation in the Middle East and beyond."

According to Asia House, bilateral trade doubled after Chief Executive Lee’s first visit to the Middle East in 2023, fueled by the Belt and Road Initiative. His second visit in May further reinforced this momentum.

Capital markets have shown unprecedented vitality, with landmark deals like CATL’s $5.3 billion IPO and BYD’s HK$43.5 billion H-share placement featuring strong Middle Eastern investor participation. The ETF, called Premia BOCHK Saudi Arabia Government Sukuk ETF, also started trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, announced during CMF Hong Kong. On May 29–30, CMF Hong Kong, in collaboration with STG and HKEX, held its second edition, bringing together key representatives from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia’s leading financial regulators, investment institutions, and industry leaders, including Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Abdulaziz Bin Hassan, Board Commissioner of the Capital Market Authority, and Mohammed AlRumaih, CEO of the Saudi Exchange.

Building on eight years of experience, ewpartners has facilitated partnerships with leading Hong Kong related tech firms—including Alibaba Cloud under Alibaba Group (HKG:9988), J&T Express (HKG: 1519), and Leshines, the supply chain solutions arm of Lenovo (HKG: 0992)—helping businesses leverage Hong Kong’s strategic position and technology to expand into the Middle East. These insights were summarized in ewpartners’ whitepaper, Asia to Arabia: Strategic Investment Pathways in the GCC, released during the luncheon.

At the same event, ewpartners and Tahaluf—the powerhouse behind the globally renowned LEAP tech conference—announced an exclusive strategic partnership for LEAP East, the Asia-Pacific edition of Saudi Arabia’s flagship technology event, scheduled for 8–10 July 2026 in Hong Kong. This collaboration aims to leverage Hong Kong’s strategic position to enhance technology exchange and cooperation, drive business tourism, and generate significant economic impact comparable to LEAP’s USD 820 million footprint.

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About ewpartners
ewpartners (formerly eWTP Arabia Capital) is an international investment firm specialising in cross-border investments between Asia and the Middle East. Backed by Sovereign Wealth Funds and investors from ASIA and the GCC, the firm has been active in Saudi Arabia since 2017 and was the first investment firm to launch a cross-border platform between the Kingdom and China.

Headquartered in Riyadh, ewpartners focuses on building value across borders by establishing strategic partnerships with exceptional companies. Our team's expertise in shaping innovative conducive policy frameworks can support governments in fostering economic transformation and diversification driven by innovation and technology.

We are committed to investing in, supporting, and growing successful businesses across the Asia and Middle East regions, with a focus on key industries and themes such as digital infrastructure & solutions, advanced manufacturing & energy transition, and logistics & consumer enablement.

To Access White Paper: https://qrco.de/bg1gMp