As global technological competition accelerates, regions around the world are making bold moves to position themselves at the forefront of emerging industries. On Aug 25, SpaceX announced a plan for a massive $100 billion spaceport in Louisiana — which is projected to create 3,000 high-paying frontier jobs. This illustrates how rapidly frontier industries are reshaping economic development. There, they expect to be launching over 30 rockets per day, starting as soon as 2029. While the specifics of that project remain subject to official confirmation, the broader trend is clear: the 2030s will be a pivotal decade and countries and regions that act decisively in space, artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced manufacturing will define the next era of global competitiveness. A global competition has emerged — not for land, not for capital, but for frontier talent.

For the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, this global shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. We are not into making things, but we are quite good at connecting and trading things. The city has long been one of China’s most internationally connected hubs, with strong universities, a sophisticated financial system, and deep experience in global commerce. These strengths give Hong Kong a unique foundation to contribute to national priorities such as the low-altitude economy, commercial space, green finance, and AI-driven industries by focusing on the city’s unique strengths in law, trade, finance, maritime, and professional services.

To fully seize these opportunities, Hong Kong must think beyond incremental improvements and embrace ecosystem-level innovation. Are we ready?

We can be. But we can’t afford to allow Hong Kong’s universities to train graduates for yesterday’s industries. The city’s immigration policies still seem to assume that professionals want to work in offices, not in orbital data centers or drone operations, or devising new financial instruments to fund space insurance.

New phase of talent competition

Frontier industries depend on highly skilled talent — engineers, data scientists, robotics specialists, satellite analysts, and professionals who can integrate technology with real-world applications. Across the economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a new generation is emerging that is eager to work in AI, drones, robotics, and space. Hong Kong can become a magnet for this talent, but only if it builds clear pathways for meaningful participation in these future-oriented industries that these countries and regions would be hard-pressed to develop themselves.

Hong Kong sits at one hub of the Belt and Road. Hong Kong’s universities teach in English. Hong Kong is a safe, global, and internationally recognized city wherein young graduates would relish spending their formative years. In fact, Hong Kong is the only Chinese city wherein a student from a BRI-participating country can learn AI, space, and finance in English. For millions of bright young people across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Hong Kong can be their natural educational and entrepreneurial choice given today’s geopolitical reality — if we seize the opportunity.

This shift requires more than attracting individuals. It demands that the HKSAR government establish structured talent pipelines, professional accreditation systems, and industry-ready training aligned with national development goals. By aligning local strategies with national priorities — and by communicating a forwardlooking vision to youth, enterprises, and global partners — Hong Kong can strengthen its role as a center of innovation with global reach for talent, while fulfilling national ambitions.

Call for strategic boldness

Hong Kong can become the global hub for young people from BRI-participating countries seeking careers in AI, robotics, drones, and space economy. It can build the world’s first space-AI district in the Northern Metropolis. It can anchor Asia’s orbital economy with satellite data centers, drone corridors, and frontier-industry visas. It can create 10,000-plus high-paying frontier jobs within five years. But none of this will happen until the city stops asking, “Is this without challenge?” and starts asking, “Is this transformational?”

The world is not waiting. Louisiana certainly isn’t.

Hong Kong must decide whether it wants to be a spectator in the “NewSpace plus AI” century — or a builder of it.

The author is convenor of the Global Council for the Space Economy Association of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.