The 15th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), organised by the Hong Kong Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held entirely online through the AFF virtual platform, 10-11 January. Organisers said the decision to go entirely online was made in line with the tightening of the government's public health measures in response to the latest pandemic developments.
The two-day forum is designed to help participants from both Hong Kong and overseas build business connections, exchange market intelligence and seize global opportunities.
Running on the theme ‘Navigating the Next Normal towards a Sustainable Future’, 170 global business leaders, policymakers, financial experts, investors, entrepreneurs, tech giants and economists will speak at AFF 2022. The forum will host AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Sessions and a fintech exhibition to help participants identify investment opportunities and explore innovative solutions.
Speakers include Mark Carney, United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance and Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank.
Patrick Lau, acting executive director of HKTDC, noted: “Even though it has been two years since the onset of the pandemic, businesses are still facing all sorts of challenges, and versions of the new normal are continually emerging in different sectors. We must step further ahead to sense the pulse of the market and generate business opportunities. The theme of AFF 2022 is sustainable development, which is a goal shared by everyone touched by the pandemic. We must strive to conserve our natural resources and minimise the impact of climate change.”
AFF 2022 also features online exhibitions, where more than 130 local and international financial institutions, tech companies, start-ups and investment agencies will showcase a broad range of advanced technologies in the Fintech Showcase, InnoVenture Salon and FintechHK Startup Salon. Exhibitors will include PwC, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, HSBC, China International Capital Corporation and Cyberport. Meanwhile, the Global Investment Zone will showcase a plethora of investment opportunities through the AFF's virtual platform, including those from Australia, Canada, Italy, Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Korea, Qatar and the UK.
The InnoVenture Salon is also a platform for start-ups to connect with international incubators, investors and potential business partners.
Additionally, the HKTDC, Mizuho Bank and Eureka Nova, a start-up incubation and open innovation platform established by New World Development, will come together for the first time for AFF Accelerate. On the platform, innovators will introduce their innovation and technology solutions and demonstrate how innovative concepts can be commercialised for adoption in the business sector.
