In May, ewpartners, formerly eWTP Arabia Capital, extended its physical presence in East Asia, opening an office in Hong Kong.

Founded in Riyadh in 2017, the firm specialises in cross-border investments between the Middle East and wider Asia region, with a focus on key industries, such as digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, energy transition and logistics.

Backed by sovereign wealth funds and investors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Asia, it was the first international investment firm to launch a cross-border platform between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and China.

Hong Kong was an obvious choice for the company.

The city’s fundamental advantages – including the rule of law, free flow of capital, open business environment, world-class infrastructure and a low and simple tax system – attracted ewpartners to set up an office in Asia’s World City.

Cliff Chau, Managing Partner, believes ewpartners’ “investment philosophy aligns perfectly with Hong Kong's positioning as a superconnector and super value-adder, and our Hong Kong office will play a key role in driving cross-regional collaboration, fostering innovation and promoting growth.”

With their Hong Kong office, the aim is to “facilitate the expansion of Hong Kong’s top 100 leading tech firms to the Middle East over the next 10 years”, said Jessica Wong, Founding and Managing Partner, at the launch.

At the same event, ewpartners and Tahaluf, the creators behind LEAP, announced an exciting partnership for LEAP East.

The Asia-Pacific edition of Saudi Arabia’s flagship tech event will take place in Hong Kong on 8-10 July next year, a testament to Hong Kong’s strategic role as a connector to facilitate exchange and cooperation in this important field.

Setting foot in Hong Kong

What led ewpartners to expand their footprint to Hong Kong started back in 2023.

Founding and Managing Partners Jerry Li and Ms Wong first connected with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in February of that year during the mission the HKTDC organised to the Middle East.

Led by the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee, the delegation comprised over 30 business leaders from finance, logistics, technology and professional services.

ewpartners became acquainted with the HKTDC and the delegation during their stop in Saudi Arabia. Those interactions led the firm to build strong relations with the upper echelons of the Hong Kong SAR Government and business leaders.

Since the mission’s conclusion, the HKTDC in Hong Kong and our Middle East regional office in Dubai have been in regular communication with ewpartners.

We have been providing broad support, including sharing the latest market and regulatory developments of as well as business and investment opportunities in Hong Kong and the wider Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

We also facilitated vital connections for ewpartners via our events, including the Belt and Road Summit, and global network, enabling them to explore collaborations.

The HKTDC’s support has helped enhance our investment strategy in Asia and strengthened capital market ties between Middle East and Asia, said Ms Wong.

Saudi Arabia: Where opportunities abound

Today’s Saudi Arabia is a story of transformation.

Along with other GCC member states, the Kingdom has been opening up and diversifying its economy at remarkable speed.

At the heart of it is Vision 2030, the country’s development blueprint spearheading broad change and ushering in an era of openness and growth.  

The emphasis is on innovation and technology, manufacturing, renewable energy and logistics – sectors in which Hong Kong businesses are well-positioned to contribute their expertise, capital as well as talents.

In ewpartners’ new Asia to Arabia investment White Paper, “Saudi Arabia has emerged as the GCC’s economic engine, with over $3.3 trillion in planned investments by 2030.”

“Its reform agenda prioritises private sector empowerment, localisation of technology and scaling national champions through partnerships with global players.”

ewpartners has been riding on this sea change.

From partnering with leading tech firms to help them explore opportunities in the Middle East to collaborating with King Salman International Airport Development Company to establish the KSA-China Special Economic Zone within Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport, this dynamic region remains a key focus for ewpartners.

Central Asia is also in their sights. In January, ewpartners signed an MoU with the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, Qazaqstan Investment Corporation JSC and Agribot to support Kazakhstan’s aim to develop into a key innovation hub for advanced robotics and AI.

The launch event celebrating ewpartners’ new Hong Kong office – co-hosted by ewpartners, Capital Markets Forum Hong Kong, Saudi Tadawul Group and HKEX – marked a milestone in boosting ties between the Middle East and Hong Kong.

The event gathered over 100 representatives from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia’s government agencies, investment institutions and entrepreneurs.