Asia

As part of Thailand’s plan to upgrade electricity and transport infrastructure across the country, Bangkok is moving forward to transform the city into a wireless metropolitan area. Internationally-recognised project management services and advanced expertise in electricity infrastructure replacement works are in keen demand for the project, which is spearheaded by Thailand’s Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA).

At the signing ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Summit jointly organized by the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) on June 28, 2018, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Dr Somkid Jatusripitak and HKTDC Chairman Dr Vincent Lo congratulated Hong Kong Energy Infrastructure Limited (HEI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kum Shing Group, on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with MEA for "The Provision of Feasibility Study on Undergrounding Overhead Power Lines". This is the first time for a Hong Kong company to provide consulting services to a Thai state enterprise in the power and energy sector, and a milestone result of Kum Shing Group’s participation in the HKTDC-led Hong Kong-Shanghai joint infrastructure investment delegation to Thailand in May 2017, during which the company met with MEA and confirmed their partnership after rounds of discussion.

With over 55 years of experience, Kum Shing Group is Hong Kong's energy and mobility infrastructure specialist that provides engineering solutions to the city’s electricity supply system from power generation, transmission, distribution to utilization, assisting the local utilities in achieving a world-class supply reliability of 99.999%. Kum Shing Group possesses the experience and expertise to offer advisory services for Thailand’s MEA to manage its overhead line works and underground cable installation.

Mr Rex Wong, Executive Director and CEO of Kum Shing Group and Managing Director of HEI, said, "We appreciate the trust and confidence MEA has placed with us. We will utilize our engineering and management expertise to support the improvement and development of electricity system in the Greater Bangkok area."

The Thai Government has injected 51.7 billion Thai baht (approximately USD$1.58 billion) to the undergrounding project. Currently, 214.6 km of the MEA’s underground power transmission system project is under development on 39 roads in Bangkok, with completion slated for 2021. Kum Shing Group provides advisory services to MEA from technical design, application know-how, engineering expertise to resources deployment and stakeholder engagement planning. Not only does the project aim to beautify the streetscape, improve the neighbourhood environment and maximize land-use, but also enhance the electrical power distribution system to supply sufficient, stable and safe electricity for the city. Recently, Kum Shing Group has also offered stakeholder management consultancy services and training to MEA.

On the unique strengths of Hong Kong companies when participating in such projects, Wong said it is easier for Hong Kong, one of the world’s top-ranked cities in terms of reliability of electricity supply and transport network, to reach out to and gain the favour of the project owners and investors in the emerging markets of the neighbouring places who are looking for experienced and trusted consultancy to guide them through their local projects. Wong also advised the above-mentioned two types of people to get relevant consultancy and advisory services before jumping into investment to “ensure that the resources and time spent on the projects will not be wasted”.

For companies looking to tap into Belt and Road opportunities, Wong said companies should first focus on local projects before planning to venture overseas. “When you manage your local projects well and build up your organisation’s reputation, you’ll be better placed to find the right partners abroad and engage in a mutually trusting partnership.”

He believed that such collaboration with MEA will serve as a stepping stone for the Group to expand its business to the neighbouring regions, bringing its long-standing expertise and integrated technology and design solutions to other cities in the area to help meet the local demand for infrastructure development.

Hong Kong-based BPS Global Group is a logistics infrastructure service provider that offers integrated engineering building services and automated logistics solutions to its customers across Asia. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Hong Kong, the company deals with projects including industrial and logistic parks, warehouse automation and equipment, logistic technology, construction and engineering, investment and real estates, and e-commerce platforms.

As China’s Belt and Road Initiative gathers momentum, BPS Global has recently completed a project with a business partner from a Belt and Road country. Whereas many collaborations between China and Belt and Road countries so far have involved Chinese firms establishing a presence on the Belt and Road, in a way that echoes China’s development strategy of “going global”, BPS Global’s partnership with Indonesia’s Salim Group is a typical case of “bringing in”, another state strategy which involves the inflow of foreign capital into China.

Indonesia’s biggest conglomerate, Salim has interests ranging from palm oil plantations to media companies. In late 2015, its Chinese mainland-based subsidiary Salim Wanye Shanghai Enterprise Group came up with a plan to build a harbour in Fujian Province specialising in importing food products from Southeast Asia. Positioned as an “international industrial food park”, the harbour is to be located on a site owned by Salim within the Yuanhong Investment Zone in Fuqing City of Fujian. The project involves an estimated investment of 6 billion renminbi.

Salim’s original idea was to use the harbour to import aqua products, frozen meat and fruits from Southeast Asia to the Chinese mainland. The perishable nature of the imports meant careful logistics planning was of paramount importance. Before setting the project in motion, Salim had to commission a logistics consultancy firm to study the feasibility of the plan and provide logistical solutions. With the help of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Fujian office, which helped identify a number of candidate companies based in Hong Kong, Salim eventually decided to select BPS Global, which has affiliated companies in various mainland cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and also Singapore.

The role of BPS Global, which had previously handled similar projects including Humen Port and Nansha Port in Guangdong Province, involved carrying out a feasibility study and devising logistical plans. In practice, there were a variety of tasks, including designing the layout of the industrial park and working out a multi-phase development scheme for the project. The Hong Kong company also conducted a study on the feasibility of Salim’s idea of importing frozen food. One conclusion of the study, which featured a wealth of analysis and data, was that Xiamen, a port city in southern Fujian, has abundant supplies of frozen meat and fruits. BPS Global advised Salim against entering the fray and to focus on importing seafood instead, a suggestion that Salim eventually heeded. BPS Global then took reference from fish markets in Hong Kong and Tokyo and drew up detailed logistical plans, including how to keep the imported seafood fresh, what fish species should be frozen, what equipment should be used and meticulous transportation plans.

In the space of less than six months, BPS Global completed its task. The next step is for Salim to construct the harbour and related infrastructure, which should take one to two years to complete.

By applying advanced logistics concepts and technologies and by drawing on its wealth of industry experience to provide integrated logistics support, BPS Global has demonstrated how a Hong Kong logistics expert can help smooth the way for companies in Belt and Road countries to seize business opportunities in China. Through its involvement in the harbour project, the Hong Kong company has also played a part in helping the mainland attract investment from Belt and Road countries, effectively promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, which is designed to benefit all parties involved.

China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd (CALC), an aircraft operating lessor founded in Hong Kong, specialises in providing aircraft full-life solutions, such as aircraft leasing, purchase and leaseback, structured financing to airlines around the world. It also provides value-added services including fleet planning, fleet upgrade and aircraft recycling. In a dynamic market that has been gaining traction year after year, CALC is one of the market players that stand to benefit from the boom. Today, the company has grown to become China’s largest independent aircraft operating lessor, Asia’s first large-scale aircraft recycling facility operator, and one of the top 10 global aircraft lessors in terms of the combined asset value of its fleet and orders placed. Its global presence is continuing to expand.

CALC’s business is mainly divided into two areas: CALC itself is responsible for the leasing of new aircraft; its member company, Aircraft Recycling International (ARI), focuses on the disassembling and recycling of used aircraft and spare parts supply. This unique business model means the company’s services cover an aircraft’s full life cycle – from its days as a new plane to the time it comes to the end of its lifespan. As the first full value-chain aircraft solutions provider in Asia, CALC currently owns and manages 130 aircraft in its fleet and is on track to expand its fleet to more than 300 by year 2023.

Over the past three decades, the aviation leasing industry has been growing at a remarkable speed as more and more airlines prefer to lease, rather than own, their aircraft for operation flexibility and efficiency. The outlook for the industry has become even more positive in recent years, with low interest rates and surging demand for air travel providing strong tailwinds. Amid the boom, CALC launched in 2014 a “globalisation strategy” aimed to carve out a global presence for the company. In less than two years, CALC’s clientele expanded to include airlines in Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East and the United States, many of which are flag carriers or top-tier airlines in their markets.

The aircraft lessor first set its sights on Harbin, the pivot hub of the Longjiang Silk Road Economic Belt under the Belt and Road framework, which connects Eurasia with the Pacific and Baltic countries through a comprehensive land and sea transportation network. In 2014, CALC signed an agreement with the Harbin Municipal Government on the establishment of China’s first and largest aircraft disassembly project, the China Aircraft Disassembly Centre. The centre features an ageing aircraft material recycling system, which provides services to countries including those along the Belt and Road routes.

Also in 2014, CALC entered into leasing agreements with Air India – its first non-Chinese customer – for five new Airbus A320 aircraft. The first of the five planes was delivered during Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj's trip to China in February 2015.

As the “Aviation Silk Road” continued to gather momentum, CALC expanded its reach into more and more Belt and Road countries. In 2016, it delivered two new Airbus A320 aircraft to Pegasus Airlines, Turkey’s leading low-cost carrier, and four Airbus A320 aircraft to Jetstar Pacific, Vietnam’s first low-cost carrier. In 2017, CALC continued to deliver aircraft to airlines in various parts of the world, including in Russia, one of the largest markets on the Belt and Road.

Currently, aviation is one of the key areas of focus of the Belt and Road Initiative. As of the end of December 2016, China had signed bilateral air transportation agreements with 120 countries and regions. Mike Poon, Chief Executive Officer of CALC, said CALC sees great growth opportunities arising from the Belt and Road Initiative.

“In China, demand for domestic and international air transport services, including different aviation financial services, is growing rapidly. Meanwhile, many Belt and Road countries are emerging economies with an underdeveloped aviation sector. We believe our growth potential is high since we are the first-mover in the industry and one of the few operators that provide full value-chain aircraft solutions and value-added services to our clients around the world,” Poon said.

That is not to say there is no challenge. As with many other cross-border industries, the aircraft lessor sector is exposed to different operational risks, including political instability, credit risk and interconnectivity risk. To counter the risks, which are not unusual in Belt and Road countries, CALC relies on its own professional team with substantial experience in global financing and a comprehensive risk management system. This enables the company, which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, to keep risks under control when expanding internationally.

According to Poon, in its continued effort to expand its international presence, CALC, being a Hong Kong company, also enjoys a diversity of advantages that the city offers. They include an open economy, the city’s sophisticated banking and financial sector, the common law system, and Hong Kong’s role as a facilitator of Belt and Road opportunities. In addition, the Hong Kong government’s move last year to grant aircraft leasing tax concessions to qualifying lessors has taken the city a step towards establishing itself as an international aircraft leasing hub. All these local advantages stand CALC in good stead, enabling it to grow fast and in the right direction while playing an effective role in building the “Aviation Silk Road”.

When Anthony Espina visited Kazakhstan for the first time in 2007, he felt right at home. “I was struck by how similar Kazakhstan was to Australia, from the open fields to the friendly people and multicultural society,” said Espina, a Filipino-Indonesian born in Hong Kong and educated in Australia.

Espina was attracted by the growth potential of Kazakhstan. On his first trip to the country in 2007, Espina, then owner of a Hong Kong-based securities dealer of the Hong Kong stock market and Chairman of the Hong Kong Securities Association, was part of a government delegation to promote Hong Kong Stock Exchange as a destination for listing Kazakh companies. Meeting the locals allowed him to glean a better understanding of Kazakhstan, which, as he learned, has an abundance of natural resources and is one of the best economic performers among all former republics of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. Espina immediately saw business opportunities.

His instinct proved right. A few months later, a Kazakh business contact approached him and sought his help to import TV set-top boxes from China.

“They had sourced set-top boxes from Ukraine and other former Soviet republics. The cost was US$40 to $50 per unit, compared with only $30 from Shenzhen manufacturers. So they wanted to source directly from China. But in those days, trade between China and Kazakhstan was rare and language was a barrier. Chinese companies required Kazakh buyers to settle all payments before goods were shipped out of China,” Espina said.

“For me, the deal was very simple. I only had to cross the border to liaise with mainland manufacturers and help with the shipping, making sure everything was right before and after payment was made,” he said. “Hong Kong is a long-established trading port and we have the experience to handle such deals.”

The collaboration was soon followed by more business opportunities. For instance, another Kazakh company enlisted Espina’s help to import agricultural chemicals. Espina also started to dabble in Kazakhstan’s financial sector, facilitating companies to complete merger and acquisition transactions. In 2012, a turning point came. The Italian bank UniCredit wanted to sell its stake in ATF Bank, one of Kazakhstan’s five largest banks by assets. At the time, Espina had been with a Kazakh company handling a merger and acquisition transaction. He then helped that company take over ATF from UniCredit. The deal was closed in early 2013 upon getting approval from the National Bank of Kazakhstan, and Espina has been ATF’s CEO since then.

For Hong Kong businesses interested in investing in Kazakhstan, Espina said patience and finding a reliable local partner are key. “There are many business opportunities in Kazakhstan, but it takes time to capture them.”

In September 2013, Chinese President Xi visited Kazakhstan and outlined for the first time the plan to build a Silk Road Economic Belt when he delivered a speech at Nazarbayev University in Astana. The Silk Road Economic Belt is a land-based component that, together with the oceanic Maritime Silk Road, forms the Belt and Road Initiative.

It is a development that has excited Espina till this day. “Central Asia occupies the biggest share of the Belt and Road. Kazakhstan, the biggest country in the region, has many advantages as far as the Belt and Road Initiative is concerned,” he said.

According to the Kazakh government, Kazakhstan and China have drafted more than 50 projects totalling US$27 billion and involving various fields, including the chemical, mining, infrastructure, energy and agricultural sectors.

Hong Kong, being a financial hub that has long been playing the role of financial intermediary to China, also stands to gain, Espina said. “Under the Belt and Road Initiative, Hong Kong is the ideal place for fundraising for Kazakh companies and foreign companies doing projects in Kazakhstan. Given Hong Kong’s financial knowledge, we can help Kazakh companies carry out feasibility studies and raise funds at lower financial costs.” he said. “Hong Kong is more than a ‘connector’. It is an international financial centre that Kazakhstan can use to build its own capital and debt markets.”

According to Espina, the Kazakh government has set a strategic goal to reduce its role in the economy through privatisation. In February 2018, he was appointed as advisor to the CEO and Chairman of the management board of Samruk Kazyna, the sovereign wealth fund of Kazakhstan. The fund is the holding company of all the major state-owned enterprises of Kazakhstan. Espina is currently advising on the privatisation of four companies of the fund. The state-owned companies to be privatised will be listed on the Astana International Exchange (AIX), which is part of the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC).

Officially opened in July 2018, the AIFC is a planned financial free zone in Astana designed to open up the country for international business. Positioned as a financial hub in Central Asia, it has a special legal framework based on the principles of English law and the preferential tax regime, which will make it easier for foreigners to invest in Kazakhstan. Espina said the AIFC encourages Kazakh companies to list debt and equity securities there, and in the long run other Central Asian companies will also be attracted to list their shares on the AIFC. In the process of privatisation, Hong Kong can also play a part, he said.

“Hong Kong has played an important role in the privatisation of mainland state-owned enterprises. We have the knowledge, expertise and experience in facilitating the privatisation of mainland companies. We can do the same for Kazakhstan,” Espina explained.

“If Kazakh companies decide to dual-list their shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK) and the Astana International Exchange (AIX), then Hong Kong-based financial services providers will definitely have to set up operations in the AIFC to advise on SEHK listing rules. Also, if Kazakh companies were to raise funds through Hong Kong from the Chinese mainland, for example, the financial services providers can also advise on taxation and other issues.

Espina called for the Hong Kong government, the Financial Services Development Council and the SEHK to take the initiative to promote Hong Kong’s advantages and bring Hong Kong-based financial services companies to Kazakhstan.  

In addition to partnering and collaborating on infrastructure projects, such as building ports, roads and bridges, countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have also agreed to synergise medical research and epidemic prevention efforts, which fit with the Belt and Road objectives of promoting cooperation, mutual learning and mutual benefits.

A good example of Belt and Road cooperation involving Hong Kong is the comprehensive Asia Pacific Viral Hepatitis Policy Survey, which published its findings earlier in 2017. The extensive survey, the first to be conducted since 2012, was carried out by the Centre for Global Health under the School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK CGH), with the support of the Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific (CEVHAP), an independent, multidisciplinary non-profit organisation dedicated to hepatitis policy advocacy.

A key aim of the survey was to evaluate the systems and preparedness of Asian governments in the goal to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. China’s President Xi Jinping and former World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan agreed to bring a global health focus to economic development, starting with Belt and Road countries. The countries and territories surveyed included Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. While globally millions of people have infected with viral hepatitis, the Asia Pacific region is home to the highest percentage of people whose lives are impacted by the virus. Termed by some as the "silent epidemic", estimates suggest that globally, viral hepatitis is responsible for more than a million deaths.

Having worked on hepatitis policy advocacy for a number of years, Elizabeth Fung, Senior Account Manager of FleishmanHillard (Hong Kong) said the international communications firm was ready to provide assistance again. Previously FleishmanHillard worked with various public sector organisations including the provision of communications support to CEVHAP. FleishmanHillard worked closely with CUHK CGH and CEVHAP to provide corporate communication services and helped to compile the final survey report. 

"Hong Kong is a key member of the wider Asia Pacific community, and as an agency based in Hong Kong, we want to contribute to the creation of a hepatitis-free future in Asia Pacific," Fung said. Hong Kong has a number of well-known health related research institutions. Hong Kong is also a globally recognised knowledge hub for public health and hepatology (the branch of medicine that incorporates the study of liver, gallbladder and pancreas). "This means we have access to a research team more than capable of meeting international standards," said Fung who also points out that Hong Kong is a regional media hub, with over 50 international media with sizeable operations which contribute to international news coverage. "The presence of quality research partners and access to the media makes Hong Kong an attractive option for coordinating a regional survey," noted Fung.

The experience, comprehensive construction and technical know-how accumulated in Hong Kong is key to tapping into Belt and Road opportunities, according to Dominic Pang, Chairman of Asia Allied Infrastructure Holdings Limited (AAIH), whose company has recently secured a major water-supply infrastructure contract in the Philippines.

Having participated in a number of large-scale integrated construction projects in Hong Kong, including the Central-Wan Chai Bypass project, MTR Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (Hong Kong Section) and Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme, AAIH accumulated extensive experience in the construction sector enabling it to expand business to the Belt and Road countries.

“The Philippines is a starting point to explore other Belt and Road-related construction opportunities around the region. Through this project, we hope to expand our business in the Philippines and find relevant partners. Technology transfer will help the local partners develop and list in Hong Kong, bringing project and investment returns to AAIH,” said Pang, who believed that construction projects, however they are tied to the Belt and Road Initiative, provides the Hong Kong construction industry with an opportunity to export its hard-earned reputation for managing and constructing world-class infrastructure projects. “As more Belt and Road projects are announced, we should be looking at ways to export our Hong Kong premium brand of construction and engineering capabilities and skills of handling complex projects  to other regions,” said Pang. 

With two independent thirdparty construction contractors, AAIH has entered into a contract with Manila Water Company, Inc to design and construct the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4, water conveying facilities. Due for completion in 2021, the 5.4 billion-Peso (approximately HK$800 million) project will improve the long-term water supply services between Novaliches and Balara in Quezon City, the most populated city in the Metro Manila area. One of the two contractors also worked with AAIH previously on the Sha Tin-Central Rail Link project, constructing the tunnel between the Kai Tak and Diamond Hill MTR Stations.

In addition to the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 project, Pang said AAIH is exploring collaborative relationships with construction firms in Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. “Other than project management, we are looking at ways to set up material and equipment sourcing collaborations to provide benefits along the construction supply chain,” said Pang. He said establishing connections with local stakeholders and introducing best construction project management practices is a good example of the Belt and Road ethos of promoting cooperation, mutual learning and mutual benefits.

Stephen Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Chun Wo Construction Holdings Limited, said it is noteworthy the Novaliches-Balara Aqueduct 4 project, which features a 7km long and nearly 4m diameter tunnel, will be the first tunnel in the Metro Manila area to be constructed using a tunnel boring machine (TBM).  Used as an alternative to drilling and blasting methods, the use of TBMs requires expert planning and operating processes. “Our project management team has worked on challenging tunnelling projects in Hong Kong and will apply their skills and experience on the Philippines tunnelling project,” Lee said. Ahead of the commencement of tunnelling work, currently, geotechnical inspection work is being conducted to evaluate soil conditions and groundwater conditions.

With a wealth of experience in the construction industry, Edward Yeung, Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of AAIH said by working with Philippine sub-contractors and employing local labour, AAIH can introduce the latest construction techniques and help fast track up-skilling. “The Philippines may lag behind the sophistication of Hong Kong's construction industry, but there is a lot of enthusiasm and commitment to improve,” noted Yeung. Dubbed by the government as the “golden age of infrastructure”, the Philippines has launched a major public spending programme focused on the construction of new roads, bridges, railways, and airports costing some US$167 billion. “As a company that possess extensive experience in project management and construction, AAIH is looking forward to sharing our expertise with suitable partners,” said Yeung.

Blackpanda, a Hong Kong special risks consultancy, draws on the image of the panda to show its community development credentials. But it also aims to show “risk” as an important aspect of the Belt and Road Initiative, with cyber security a major challenge, says CEO Gene Yu. Hong Kong’s connector role is all-important to clients as the firm opens markets in Southeast Asia.

Speaker:
Gene Yu, Co-founder, CEO, Blackpanda

Related Links:
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
http://www.hktdc.com

HKTDC Belt and Road Portal
http://beltandroad.hktdc.com/en/

Hong Kong-based special risks consultancy firm Blackpanda has developed methods to reduce concerns to investors and project developers under the Belt and Road Initiative. Specialising in physical security, intelligence, community relations, cyber security and insurance, the firm has done military-style exercises to measure risks and CEO Gene Yu says Hong Kong’s safe environment and financial stature are matched by its alignment with the Belt and Road.

Speaker:
Gene Yu, Co-founder and CEO, Blackpanda

Related Links:
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
http://www.hktdc.com

HKTDC Belt and Road Portal
http://beltandroad.hktdc.com/en/

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is playing a key research role for Belt and Road Initiative opportunities, says HKUST’s Albert Park. Co-presenting a series of market insight seminars, Professor Park says the HKUST’s Business School has a major collaboration with overseas academics while as founding member of the Asian Universities Alliance it is promoting two-way partnerships with Belt and Road countries and opportunities in Hong Kong.

Speaker:
Albert Park, Director, HKUST Institute for Emerging Market Studies

Related Links:
Hong Kong Trade Development Council
http://www.hktdc.com

HKTDC Belt and Road Portal
http://beltandroad.hktdc.com/en/

Prosper Construction Holdings, a Hong Kong-based contractor specializing in marine construction services, has an established track record in marine infrastructure developments at home and abroad.

Established in 2001, Prosper Construction owns over 50 marine plants and vessels, including floating jetties, a floating batching plant, a wide range of barges and dredging equipment, and a diversity of land construction equipment such as cranes and earth-moving machines. It also operates its own crew and technicians. All these give the company an edge when bidding for projects and enables it to ensure high project quality and good time control. This strength in resources has also helped Prosper Construction win a variety of marine infrastructure projects in regions or countries along the Belt and Road route. A good number of the projects are located in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy which has the region’s greatest need for new infrastructure.

A high-profile project that Prosper Construction completed recently through its subsidiaries, Hong Kong River Engineering Co. and PT Indonesia River Engineering Co., is a coal-fired power plant in Bali.

Located in Celukan Bawang, North Bali, the plant was built with an investment of US$700 million by China Huadian Group, one of the five largest state-owned power generation enterprises in China, as well as PT Merryline International, and PT General Energy Indonesia. It consists of three units, each carrying a capacity of 142 megawatt units and using efficient, clean coal technology.

Over the past decade, Bali the island has been depending heavily on electricity supplied by Java-based power plants. Demand for electricity on the island has been on the rise, and frequent blackouts have hampered local businesses and investments. The establishment of the plant is expected to help the island enjoy more stable power supply.

Prosper Construction was responsible for constructing the jetty, revetments and seawater intake pipeline. The company’s Hong Kong team was behind the scenes, drafting the tender proposal in the early stage and liaising with consultants.

There were considerable challenges in executing the project, including local shortage of building materials and strong wind and fierce waves in the area where the plant is located. Yet Prosper Construction managed to pull through by ensuring its technicians upheld the safety standards and by sourcing materials from China.

The project is an example of how a resourceful Hong Kong company can readily employ what it has to support Chinese investors to go abroad and help build infrastructure projects that benefit Belt and Road countries.