The Belt & Road General Chamber of Commerce (BRGCC) has launched its Middle East Chapter and appointed business leader Vivian Chen as its inaugural president, marking a significant step in the organisation’s international expansion and growing focus on the Gulf region.
The appointment, announced at BRGCC headquarters in Hong Kong, takes effect from April 1, 2026, with Chen set to serve a five-year term. The move signals the Chamber’s intention to strengthen economic and commercial ties between China and Gulf nations while extending its global network deeper into the Middle East.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, BRGCC has built its reputation as an international commercial platform linking governments, corporations and investors involved in Belt and Road cooperation. Founded by prominent business figures including Dr. Peter Lam Kin-ngok, Cheng Cheung-ling and Yan Bin, the organisation has worked across sectors such as infrastructure, finance, technology, digital economy and green development.
The creation of the Middle East Chapter comes at a time when Gulf economies are accelerating diversification efforts beyond oil. Countries across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have increased investment in sectors including artificial intelligence, renewable energy, smart cities and digital technologies as part of long-term national development plans.
BRGCC said the new chapter is intended to channel its international commercial and financial resources into the region while creating a platform for investment dialogue and industrial cooperation between China and Arab states.
Chen, chairman of Gallery Five Group, was selected to lead the chapter due to her long-standing business experience in the Gulf. She has spent more than 17 years working in Qatar and neighbouring markets, developing projects in interior architecture, supply chains and cross-border investment.
Her business model, focused on combining physical development with integrated content and supply networks, has connected Chinese suppliers with Middle Eastern markets and helped establish extensive regional business relationships.
Speaking after the announcement, Chen described the appointment as both an honour and a responsibility. She said the Middle East Chapter would aim to serve as a major platform for investment and commercial cooperation, supporting Chinese companies seeking opportunities in Gulf markets while also encouraging Gulf investment into China.
The chapter has outlined seven priority areas for its work, beginning with high-level trade and investment matchmaking between Chinese and Middle Eastern institutions. Plans also include building a regional network involving corporations, banks and business associations across the six GCC states.
Support for Chinese enterprises entering the Gulf market will form another key focus, including guidance on regulations, policy interpretation and business connections. The chapter also plans to encourage collaboration in emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, digital technologies and green energy.
Cultural and educational exchange programmes, along with economic forums and investment events, are also expected to form part of the chapter’s activities.
BRGCC officials expressed confidence that the new office, supported by the organisation’s international network and Chen’s regional experience, would become an influential commercial platform supporting long-term economic cooperation and sustainable development across the Gulf region.
