Part of the China Insider Series
Supported by the China Committee and the International Infrastructure Forum
First launched in late 2013, China’s Belt and Road strategy generated significant interest from business and governments around the world. The initiative showed initial promise with a flurry of national and international Chinese infrastructure development projects. However more recently, the initiative met with some resistance from partner countries, including over debt and sustainability. The Belt and Road Forum in Beijing last month saw something of a re-set, with an emphasis on environmental and financial sustainability, closer partnership with recipient countries, and local labour and other standards.
At this event a panel of experts will review the successes and failures of the Belt and Road so far, with specific case studies; reflect on the outcome of the Belt and Road Forum and consider if this will lead to a substantive change of approach, including greater participation by international business.
About the speaker
As Chairman of the Chamber's Environment and Energy Committee (2007 – 2016), Anne Kerr has assisted in the preparation of submissions to the government on climate change, air and water quality objectives, sustainable development, the CE's policy addresses and participated in the debates on a wide range of topics of interest to Committee Members and the Community at large. She took up the Vice Chair role on the General Committee in 2016 and has continued to support various Committees including Environment and Energy Committee. In recognition of the cross-cutting nature of the smart cities agenda which is being promulgated by HK Government, Anne established the Smart City Forum which draws its membership from across the Chamber with the express intent of sharing information, informing, showing leadership and providing direction in this diverse and fast-growing sector of interest, too both the public and private sectors. Her Chamber priorities for 2017/18 include focused lobbying of government in terms of ensuring an integrated approach is adopted for development initiatives and particularly those around the Smart City Agenda, as well as recognition and action on climate change and energy and water resource issues.
As Managing Director Greater China and Global Head of Cities at Mott MacDonald Anne has access and engages with city leaders and officials in many parts of the globe and she works as an informal “ambassador” for Hong Kong’s achievements as well as bringing examples of best practice back to Hong Kong.
Adam Rush is Regional Director of Consulting based in Hong Kong. Adam has over 20 years of work experience in government, the private sector and academia. His experience covers strategic planning, township development, tourism planning, the management of open space, and developing urban renewal strategies. He has particular skills in environmental planning; urban sustainability issues; sustainable urban development, especially public transport planning as well as managing public consultation processes. He has a rich track record that covers Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Africa and has recently assisted many major Chinese companies in exploring opportunities in emerging markets, particularly along the Belt and Road.
Adam is an economist, environmental planner and sustainable development expert who has a deep, first-hand understanding of China’s changing marketplace. A fluent Mandarin speaker, Adam has extensive knowledge in undertaking market and financial feasibility of projects of different nature and scale in China.
Apart from his role at Cushman & Wakefield, Adam is Member of the Environment Institute of Australia and is a regular guest speaker and panelist and major global forums.
Mukhtar Hussain is a Group General Manager of HSBC based in Hong Kong. He is responsible for two of HSBC’s most important strategic growth initiatives namely the Belt and Road initiative and Business Corridors in Asia. In this role, he is responsible for driving dialogue with key clients and counterparts for HSBC Group. He reports directly to Peter Wong, Deputy Chairman and CEO of HSBC in Asia.
Mukhtar has spent his entire career at HSBC (36 years) joining the Bank in London in 1982 as a graduate trainee. He spent 11 years in the City of London before being invited to establish the wholesale banking platform for HSBC in the Middle East in 1993. He was extensively involved across the Middle East and responsible for helping HSBC establish Saudi Arabia’s first investment banking platform. He served as Deputy Chairman of HSBC Middle East.
About the moderator
Ben Simpfendorfer is CEO of Silk Road Associates, a data-driven strategic advisory based in Hong Kong. He advises Fortune 500 multinationals and leading Asian firms on their commercial strategies in Greater China, South East Asia, the Middle East & Africa, providing clients teams with geospatial-driven solutions based on the firm’s proprietary SRA Intelligence™ analytics. He briefs CEOs and executive boards worldwide.
Ben has worked in Asia and the Middle East for the past 20 years. He was previously chief China economist at RBS and senior China economist at JPMorgan in Hong Kong. He started his career in Beirut in the 1990s, later working as a Middle East & North Africa senior analyst for Dun & Bradstreet in London.
He is a leading expert on China’s Belt & Road initiative, a Mandarin and Arabic speaker, author of The New Silk Road (2009) and The Rise of the New East (2014), and a member of the Foreign Experts Committee advising the Chinese government on the implementation of the Belt & Road initiative. He is a regular commentator on Bloomberg & CNBC.
This event is hosted by Andrew Seaton.
Ticket includes a full hot English breakfast buffet.
Please note that Business Attire is required by the Hong Kong Club - collared shirts must be worn by men, and jeans, sandals and sports shoes are not permitted. To see the full list of club rules on dresscode, please click here.
Pricing
- Member: HK$ 400
- Non-Member: HK$ 520
- Y-Network Member: HK$ 300
- Start-up Member: HK$ 300
Terms & Conditions
- Reservations in advanced are required. Please consider your booking confirmed unless notified otherwise.
- Business Attire is required by the Hong Kong Club. No jeans or sports shoes.
- Cancellations must be made in writing 24 hours prior to the event. No shows will be charged.
- This event is closed to the media.
- The event will be cancelled if the No.8 Typhoon signal or the Black Rain Storm warning is in force.
- By attending this event, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed and give permission to use your likeness in promotional and/or marketing materials.
- For further information please email [email protected]
- Please make cheques payable to: "The British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong" & send it to Room 1201 Emperor Group Centre, 288 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong