Hong Kong lawmaker urges firms to expand into emerging markets amid US visa pause
Hong Kong companies should accelerate their expansion into the Middle East, the Asean bloc and Central Asia to reduce their exposure to geopolitical risks, a lawmaker has said, as the US moved to disrupt immigrant-visa appointments worldwide. Jonathan Lamport, the representative for the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) in the Legislative Council, said the visa uncertainty reinforced…
A Hong Kong lawmaker has urged companies to expand their operations into emerging markets such as the Middle East, Asean, and Central Asia, to diversify their presence and mitigate risks associated with the US visa suspension. Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) representative Jonathan Lamport highlighted the importance of not relying solely on traditional Western markets.
While maintaining relationships with the US and Europe, Lamport emphasized the need for strategic expansion into regions like the Middle East and Asean. The HKGCC plans to consult the US consulate in Hong Kong to obtain updates on visa processing timelines, enabling businesses to adapt their schedules and allocate resources accordingly.
The US State Department confirmed the suspension of immigrant-visa appointments worldwide, affecting only permanent business and tourist visa categories. The department, however, did not specify whether temporary business visas would also be impacted. The administration's move aims to enhance vetting standards for visa applicants, with a federal judge recently ruling against a separate policy suspending immigrant-visa issuance to citizens from 75 countries.
Despite the visa disruption, Lamport expressed optimism that regular business activities and people-to-people exchanges would remain uninterrupted during this period.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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