ABU DHABI, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The co-founder and CEO of Abu Dhabi-based alternative investment firm Gulf Capital told Xinhua that investments between the Gulf region and China are booming and expecting more windfalls in the years ahead.
"We're attracting a lot of entrepreneurs and investors from China and Asia to the region, and we are also taking our investments to China and Asia to connect these two regions," Karim El Solh told Xinhua in an interview on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), which runs from Dec. 9 to 12.
"We invest in the Gulf region, but increasingly pushing into Asia. We've done 15 acquisitions in Asia, including China," he highlighted. "The growth momentum in the Gulf is remarkable, entering our golden age and growing at 5, 6, or 7 percent annually."
"We're seeing a lot of Chinese entrepreneurs and business people coming to the Gulf. They see the growth and bring something unique. Not just capital, but also technology, great companies and startups, and that collaboration is very exciting," El Solh stressed.
Established in 2006, Gulf Capital is one of the largest private equity firms in the region, investing from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to the rest of Asia. The firm specializes in private equity, growth capital, and real estate, managing 2.4 billion U.S. dollars in assets across its portfolio.
According to El Solh, Gulf Capital is planning to launch its fourth fund, with 60 percent of its investment focused on the Gulf region and 40 percent on Asia.
ADFW is an annual flagship financial event taking place in the capital of the United Arab Emirates. ■
