The Commissioner for Belt and Road Nicholas Ho on Monday said that Hong Kong, now more than ever, has a very pivotal role to play in the nation’s massive global infrastructure initiative.

His remarks came ahead of the 10th Belt and Road Summit which will be hosted in the SAR from September 10 to 11.

“Now more important than ever, Hong Kong has a very pivotal role, as a hub to aggregate global capital, global projects and to redeploy them and to make them bankable,” he told RTHK's Backchat programme.

He noted that Hong Kong’s trade with Belt and Road countries has gone up nearly 80 percent since 2013.

“That is about three times our average growth of our total merchandise trade globally. That means Belt and Road Region as a marketplace is getting more mature, and Hong Kong’s participation in it is starting to reap results.”

The commissioner said he is expecting this year’s Belt and Road Summit to have a record turnout.

“We are expecting a good turnout this year, most likely it will be more than last year... which was 6,000, we are optimistic we can definitely meet that number.”

Looking ahead, Ho predicted that the initiative will go into overdrive.

“I think the Belt and Road Initiative across investment and trade, across youth development, education, talent development... It’s going to be in hyperdrive in the next few years.

“Whether it is through the Belt and Road Initiative or through Brics or through Global South regional collaboration, there is a strong interest globally and there’s a strong urge to move capital towards these regions and to work together.”