Hong Kong must transform itself into a more diversified international hub and embrace the role of a "super value-adder" for multinational firms, according to Heiwai Tang, Associate Dean of HKU Business School.

Speaking after a radio programme on Sunday, Tang outlined a strategic vision for the city beyond its traditional role as a connector or broker.

He pointed to Central Asia as a key partner, noting that the resource-rich region is also shifting towards AI-driven economies, with the chief executive set to lead a delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan early next month.

"If an economy needs to be transformed into a new economic centre, it needs financial and different kinds of resources like human capital. Hong Kong will be able to provide that kind of support," Tang said, adding that Central Asia’s strategic location between Europe and China makes it an important Belt and Road hub.

"In the long run, I can see quite a lot of synergy between our own economic transformation and theirs," he said.

Tang believes Hong Kong should host more regional headquarters for multinational firms.

"Central Asia has some very rich companies. They may not have expanded their footprints into Asia before, and Hong Kong is a very important gateway for them to tap into Asean as well as China’s resources and business opportunities," he said.

He also noted that shifting geopolitics are reshaping Hong Kong’s outbound investment strategy, positioning the city as a "going global" platform for mainland enterprises.

While traditional destinations like Asean remain important, Tang highlighted the growing significance of the Global South, including the Middle East and Central Asia.

"The Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, used to be a very important destination, but now the situation is changing. So Central Asia’s importance has increased," he said.

When asked about Hong Kong’s economic outlook for the rest of the year, Tang pointed squarely to the war between the United States and Iran.

"A crucial key for this year’s economy is when the Iran war will end. If it drags on for another two or three months, I expect significant global inflationary pressure," he said.

"Central banks may start to feel pressure to raise interest rates. That would affect financial markets and real estate."