Wednesday, 24 February 2016

HK expects to issue third sukuk to finance AA projects

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, John C Tsang, unveiled the 2016-17 Budget on February 24, saying that the city should act swiftly to identify new development opportunities as a result of a new economic order .

The government will strengthen Hong Kong's commercial connectivity to maintain the city's position as an aviation and maritime centre and support the development of high value-added logistics services. The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) is pressing ahead with the implementation of the three-runway system.

The government will strengthen efforts to highlight Hong Kong's edge in developing green financial products and the AA will explore the feasibility of financing through green bonds. Following the success of the two sukuk issuances over the past two years, the government plans to issue a third sukuk in a timely manner, Tsang said.

Randstad Technologies' Maggie Li, Associate Director for Banking & Financial Services, said: “Ranging from the push for the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market, profits tax exemption initiatives, further plans to issue sukuk, to the new Hong Kong Monetary Authority office to finance projects on the back of the One Belt One Road strategy, the financial services sector is set to benefit from the Government’s initiatives and see growth in various areas such as corporate treasury.”