Consulting giant taps Belt and Road markets

The world's leading risk management and claims consulting company for the construction industry is aiming for bigger markets in China amid the nation's Belt and Road Initiative.

HKA launched its new global brand after uniting the former construction claims group of Hill International and associated subsidiaries in the British Embassy in Beijing on Tuesday.

HKA is a privately owned organization with management equity, supported by Bridgepoint, a major international private equity group headquartered in London. Bridgepoint Development Capital, a part of the group, will spearhead support.

Benjamin Highfield, an HKA partner, said the company aims to help international construction clients by providing advisory, consulting and expert services for the development of major projects and programs around the world.

With a history of more than 40 years, HKA has been involved in several of the world's most complicated projects including the Burj Khalifa, the first nuclear power station in the UAE and the biggest coal-fired power station in the Southern Hemisphere.

The UK-China Infrastructure Alliance was launched after Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in 2015 to increase collaboration between the two countries.

In the UK, according to Anna Shotbolt, head of an environment and infrastructure department of the British Embassy in Beijing, London is not the only hot destination for Chinese investors. The "Northern powerhouse" and "Midlands engine" are two key poles of the nation as the two powerful clusters boast UK's most dynamic cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.

Chinese companies have been involved in major projects, like Hong Kong-listed R&F's 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion) into the Vauxhall Square development and China Investment Corporation's 1.4 billion into the UK's National Grid.