1 Year on the Belt and Road: TFI assisted CZB with MISA MOU

On May 13, Riyadh local time, acting as the Middle East advisor for China Zheshang Bank (CZBANK), TF International facilitated and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between CZBANK and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA). This milestone makes CZBANK the first and currently the only Chinese joint-stock commercial bank to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MISA. The MOU provides a clear framework and explicit guidance for future cooperation between the two parties in the fields of finance and industry, and also demonstrates TF International’s planning, organization, and execution capabilities as an international Chinese securities firm, effectively promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and the Middle East.

On the day of the signing, CZBANK President Zhang Rongsen and his delegation visited the MISA. After comprehensive and in-depth discussions, both parties successfully signed the memorandum of understanding. Deputy Minister Saleh Al-Khabti and Assistant Deputy Minister Fahad Mansour AlHashem, and other representatives of the Saudi Investment Department attended the meeting. Deputy Minister Saleh warmly welcomed President Zhang’s delegation and briefed them on the department’s recent investment progress. President Zhang Rongsen stated that CZBANK, as a national joint-stock commercial bank, is committed to fully embracing and implementing China’s Belt and Road initiative and actively exploring viable paths for offering financial services in the Middle East. The two sides exchanged views candidly on issues of mutual concern.

Promoting Chinese Enterprises in the Middle East: “Wind Chain Plan” Continues to Expand into International Markets

As a core overseas financial service institution owned by the province, TF International continues to efficiently and steadily advance its Middle East strategy. It aims to combine the world’s most competitive supply chain system with the region’s most promising growth capital. The Middle East, with its abundant resource endowments and rapidly growing market potential, has become an important destination and transit point for Chinese enterprises to “go global”, as well as a key force in “brining in” high-quality capital. According to TF International CEO Zou Chuan, China possesses the world’s most complete, diverse, and creative supply chain system, while the Middle East is currently a hotbed for long-term industrial capital resources. The establishment of closer economic and trade partnerships between the two sides will create immense opportunities and achieve sustainable economic development.

From May 6 to 13, TF International efficiently introduced significant resources from the Middle East to CZBANK. During the recently concluded 13th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) in the UAE, TF International, serving as CZBANK’s Middle East advisor, actively facilitated connections and carefully organized events over more than a week, including arranging visits to several national investment departments, prominent local sovereign funds, and major financial institutions in the Middle East, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation. In Sharjah, discussions were held with relevant authorities of the Sharjah Emirate regarding collaboration on projects such as panda bonds. In Abu Dhabi, financial growth opportunities between China and Saudi Arabia were explored with the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi Global Market, among other national financial institutions. In Dubai, paths for mutual development were discussed with key governmental and private capital institutions, including Emirates Investment Bank (EIB), Mashreq Bank, and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). In Riyadh, collaborative prospects were explored with the Chief Investment Officer of Ajlan & Bros Holding and the management team of NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s new future city.

Leveraging its extensive industry network and international footprint, TF International not only provides robust, comprehensive financial services to support multi-dimensional communication platforms between Chinese enterprises and Middle Eastern partners but also establishes a vital communication bridge between the Middle East and China.

Aligning with National Strategy, Committed to Financial Services for the Real Economy

As global economic cooperation continues to deepen, TF International proposed a strategy to enhance the cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in the industrial chain as early as a year ago. TF International staff made their initial visit to Riyadh in late June 2023, where they met with local government investment departments and major financial investment institutions, and presented an “integrated industry chain solutions”. In less than a year since then, it has consistently accomplished multiple international business trade connections and organized two top-tier trade conferences sponsored by the People’s Government of Hubei Province. These include the “2023 China Hubei-Saudi Arabia Economic and Trade Cooperation Matchmaking Conference” held in Riyadh on November 26, 2023, and the “Cherry Blossom Viewing: 2024 Business Cooperation and Fortune 500 Dialogue with Hubei” kicked off on March 21, 2024, in Wuhan, Hubei, which featured the BRI Hubei-Middle East Economic and Trade Forum and the “Artificial Intelligence +” Technology Theme Roundtable Forum.

From initial investment strategies to high-level economic and trade matchmaking sessions, and culminating in the implementation of several memoranda of understanding, over the past year, TF International has successfully assisted Chinese and Middle Eastern institutions and enterprises in signing over ten cooperation agreements, gradually realizing the results of its long-term strategy in the Middle East. A series of business promotion and matchmaking activities initiated by TF International have facilitated the entry of more than 40 representative new-quality production enterprises from Hubei and other mainland China areas into Saudi Arabia and attracted over 20 significant Middle Eastern capital entities to Hubei, demonstrating a global perspective and a strong sense of responsibility. Additionally, TF International is preparing to establish a Belt and Road Division to explore and integrate more localized resources, providing comprehensive one-stop financial services.

Cooperation between China and the Middle East is continuously expanding, covering numerous areas including trade, production capacity, finance, and infrastructure development, with both the methods and intensity of cooperation deepening over time. In the future, TF International will continue its role as a bridge and an “ultimate connector”. The company will enhance its promotion of standout industries and quality enterprises from the mainland, and efficiently empower the real economy with expert financial services. It aims to foster robust strategic partnerships between China and Middle East countries, actively supporting the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030, while continuously leveraging the resource advantages and professional expertise of Chinese financial enterprises in Hong Kong.