DUSHANBE, October 30, 2015, Asia-Plus – A conference formally titled “Silk Road Strategy - Focus on Tajikistan” took place at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on October 29.

Organized by the Tajik Embassy in Beijing, the China Business Center and the Silk Road Economic Development Research Center of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the conference reportedly brought together representatives of business communities, experts and researchers.

Speaking at the conference, Tajik Ambassador to China Rashid Olimov briefed those present on opportunities of investment in Tajikistan’s economy, including development of mineral resources and financing of large energy and infrastructure development projects.

Mr. John C Tsang, the Financial Secretary, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, speaking at the conference noted that it provided platform to explore in depth the vast possibilities and opportunities of the “Belt and Road” initiative.

“This is, indeed, the right moment as well as the right place for us, to seek to understand more about the different perspectives of the "Belt and Road" initiative, in particular the business environment and investment opportunities in the emerging markets in Central Asia,” he said.

According to him, the visionary and ambitious concepts of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, spearheaded by President Xi, can fill the void and become the much-needed driving force of the world economy in the 21st century.

With their strategic locations, the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Central Asia, together with other observer states and dialogue partners of the Organization, are indeed well positioned to tap the massive opportunities arising from the “Belt and Road” initiative, the Financial Secretary said, noting that they are now actively preparing for a visit to Central Asia to gain a first-hand view of those resourceful economies so that investors from Hong Kong would be able to grasp the massive opportunities that are waiting to find the right collaboration.