Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups can play key role in belt and road, summit hears

Hong Kong's ethnic minority communities can utilize their diverse backgrounds and language abilities to play a significant part in the city's efforts to forge connections with Belt and Road countries, according to Labour Minister Chris Sun Yuk-han. At the Zubin Foundation's Ethnically Diverse Youth Leadership Summit, Sun emphasized the importance of these historically underrepresented groups in helping mainland Chinese companies expand globally.

With around 300,000 ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, representing approximately 4.1% of the population, the city's ethnic minorities can bridge the cultural gap and provide valuable insights to foreign companies.

Addressing the summit's 300 attendees, most of whom were young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, Sun highlighted the city's collaboration with Belt and Road countries. He stressed that Hong Kong's multicultural talent pool, fluent in both local languages and international business practices, offers a distinct advantage. Sun encouraged ethnic minority youth to view their future as intertwined with the Belt and Road, as the city continues to attract top talent from these regions to its universities.

Despite advancements in recent years, ethnic minority communities still face challenges in socioeconomic mobility, including lower incomes, limited career opportunities, and insufficient Chinese-language skills. The summit aimed to identify opportunities and foster leadership within these communities. Shalini Mahtani, the Zubin Foundation's founder, emphasized the importance of focusing on opportunities and leadership rather than solely discussing barriers and challenges.

She praised the young attendees for their multilingual abilities, global connections, and ambitious aspirations.

Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, Hong Kong's commissioner for Belt and Road, echoed the sentiment that ethnic minority youth possess a significant advantage in the global marketplace. He stressed that the primary obstacles for Hong Kong and mainland Chinese companies venturing overseas are finding suitable talent and overcoming cultural barriers.

Ho emphasized that ethnic minority youth, with their diverse cultural backgrounds and strong ties to both their communities and Hong Kong, are uniquely positioned to succeed in international markets. He encouraged these young people to actively engage with Belt and Road nations, leveraging their multifaceted experiences to drive global growth.