The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, led a delegation of innovation and technology (I&T) industry to begin their visit to Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 7 (Abu Dhabi time).

     In the morning, Professor Sun and the delegation visited Masdar City which is a business, and research and development hub with comprehensive ecosystem, driving innovation to realise greener and more sustainable urban living. They were briefed on the innovative design and technology projects of this sustainable urban community. 
      
     Professor Sun later met with the Board member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ms Noor Al Tamimi, and exchanged views on forging closer business and trade ties between Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi, as well as strengthening co-operation in such areas as I&T and new industrialisation. Professor Sun pointed out that both Hong Kong and the UAE are leading regional financial and business centres, and have huge potential for co-operation in the area of I&T development.
      
     In the afternoon, Professor Sun and the delegation visited Hub71 to learn more about how the technology centre supports corporates to innovate and start business, as well as the centre's various programmes and funding support for its member start-ups. Professor Sun and the delegation then listened to a presentation about the Abu Dhabi's I&T ecosystem and had an exchange with the Director General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Mr Badr Al-Olama; the Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Residents Office, Mr Hareb Al Mheiri and the Executive Director of Industrial Development Bureau, Mr Arafat Al Yafei.

     In the evening, Professor Sun attended a dinner hosted by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the UAE, Mr Zhang Yiming, where they met again after Mr Zhang's visit to Hong Kong in May last year. Professor Sun introduced the latest initiatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to promote the development of I&T and new industrialisation in Hong Kong, which support the high-quality development of Hong Kong's economy.

     In the evening of March 6, Professor Sun joined representatives from more than ten technology enterprises in the two I&T flagships, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, and relevant industries participating in the visit for dinner. He thanked them for their support to the visit and bringing along innovative solutions to tell the good story of Hong Kong's I&T to the world together, and hoped that they could explore new business opportunities and development in the Middle East market.
      
     Members of the delegation include the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Albert Wong; the Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Mr Peter Yan, and representatives from more than ten technology enterprises in the two I&T flagships and relevant industries.

     Professor Sun concluded the visit and returned to Hong Kong in the evening (March 7, Abu Dhabi time).

Ends/Thursday, March 7, 2024
Issued at HKT 23:30

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