Mayer Brown: Middle Eastern funds eager to invest in Mainland China

Mayer Brown Asia Chair Hannah Ha is quoted in Hong Kong Commercial Daily discussing Middle Eastern fund investment strategies.

Ms Ha says Middle Eastern funds are keen to invest in Mainland China, especially in high-tech and renewable energy industries, and she sees Mainland China and Hong Kong as favourable entry points amid changing geopolitical dynamics and the progress of the "Belt and Road Initiative".

She says Hong Kong serves as a base for Middle Eastern funds to enter Mainland China, with many sovereign wealth funds setting up dedicated funds for mainland investment. She mentions that Mayer Brown provides comprehensive legal services and assists in establishing a presence in Hong Kong.

She notes that the Greater Bay Area initiative is expected to attract interest from the insurance industry, given the large population in Mainland China and the current low penetration of the insurance market. She says Hong Kong's role as a gateway could also see the return of insurance companies, leading to an increase in services, contracts and M&A activity in the sector.