HKU eyes potential investment, educational grabs in Saudi Arabia

Peng Yang Gao, Associate Dean at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Business School, said the faculty seeks to serve as a catalyst for economic dialogue between Saudi Arabia and China, pointing to the university’s plan to invest in the Kingdom through various avenues.

This includes potential cooperation with local universities and government entities such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Investment, he told Argaam in an interview.

According to Gao, the Saudi-Hong Kong Economic Forum is designed to create a platform for joint cooperation and identify opportunities for integration in the fields of investment, education, and talent development.

He highlighted that HKU is ranked among the top 11 universities globally by the QS ranking. Its business school is actively exploring all possible channels and has ambitious plans to soon announce strategic partnerships and qualitative initiatives in Saudi Arabia.

The recent Saudi-Hong Kong Economic Forum stems from the strategic alignment between the major transformations currently underway in China and Saudi Arabia, according to Gao.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative is unlocking new horizons for globalization, coinciding with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030-driven profound economic and social transformations. The forum seeks to support the sustainable global competitiveness of companies from both sides for the benefit of both populations, he added.

Addressing the Saudi higher education sector, Gao said the trajectory of China’s economic transformation has demonstrated the pivotal role of talent cultivation.

Talent development in Saudi Arabia will be paramount given the specific needs of the emerging new economy the Kingdom is pursuing.