Letters | Hong Kong must see Arab investors as more than genies in magic lamps
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While there is no doubt that the Middle East is a region with much untapped potential overlooked by the government for years, one must be careful not to romanticise investors from oil-rich lands with the stereotypical (and sometimes racist) image of an Arab man in a keffiyeh, having piles of cash and a collection of supercars back home.
The tantalising opportunities available may open up a Pandora’s box of troubles if business plans are not carefully scrutinised. The United Arab Emirates has largely kept away from unnecessary foreign intervention and conflicts. However, not every country in the region shares the same pragmatic attitude.
Unless we want to find ourselves in a new geopolitical predicament on top of worsened Sino-US relations, seeing investors from Arab states as genies in magic lamps would eventually lead to disillusionment. For now, the Hong Kong government may have to ramp up the nurturing of young leaders with a holistic understanding of international relations to meet the changing needs of this global financial hub before it is too late.