Alta Partners with TRIREC to Unlock Opportunities in Impact Investing for Third Climate-Focused Fund

Alta’s strategic partnership with TRIREC will provide access to the TRIREC Venture II (TVII) fund on its platform to Southeast Asian investors seeking meaningful opportunities to invest in impact investments.
The TVII invests globally in companies focusing on breakthrough areas of growth and innovation in climate tech looking to accelerate the rate of decarbonisation, providing investors the opportunity to participate in the growth of these companies in their nascent stages.

SINGAPORE, May 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Alta Alternative Investments Pte. Ltd. (Alta), Asia’s leading digital securities exchange for alternative assets, announces its strategic partnership with Singapore-headquartered investment firm focused on decarbonisation as its mandate, TRIREC. The partnership will enable Alta to provide its global community of investors access to the TRIREC Venture II (TVII) fund via its platform and unlock opportunities in impact investing.

The TVII fund aims to invest in portfolio companies that will play a significant role in positively impacting climate change. With a global investment mandate and a focus on APAC, the fund looks to invest in 15 to 18 early-stage portfolio companies. Through TVII, investors can access decarbonisation investments in energy, industries, mobility, building, and food & agriculture verticals, capitalising on the growing demand and substantial global government policy support.

“In recent years, the investment landscape has witnessed a significant shift towards impact investing with the global impact investment market estimated to hit US$4.5 trillion by the end of 2030. At Alta, we endeavour to bring such unique opportunities in alternative investments and private companies that deliver both potentially stellar investment returns, as well as tangible environmental impact. The partnership with TRIREC, the leading global decarbonisation fund, and the introduction of TVII on our platform will look to help investors deploy capital conscientiously while ensuring that their investments can truly create meaningful and lasting change for future generations,” said Benjamin Twoon, Co-founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Alta.

As the world grapples with ever-pressing issues of climate change, impact investing has only become more urgent, picking up momentum in recent years. In Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore launched the Finance for Net Zero Action Plan in 2023 to set out strategies to mobilise financing to catalyse Asia’s net zero transition and decarbonization activities in Singapore and the region.

Melvyn Yeo, Managing Partner of TRIREC added, “We are extremely pleased to partner with Alta in our third decarbonisation-focused fund, TVII. Since 2015, TRIREC has seen over 3,000 deals from both inbound and outbound channels, and we have been extremely selective with the firms we invest in. We are witnessing investor interest in emerging areas of growth and innovation in climate tech and are looking forward to tapping into Alta’s extensive network of global investors. This will enable us to extend the opportunities to invest in high-growth companies that are redefining how humanity tackles decarbonisation.”

TRIREC has successfully managed two funds and invested in over 20 decarbonisation companies, three of which have reached unicorn status. Importantly, TRIREC has also achieved successful exits for 3 of its portfolio companies previously. TVII is TRIREC’s third fund, further solidifying its position as one of the most established decarbonisation investment platforms globally.

TVII was launched in late 2023 and has made its first three investments in the following companies:

Immaterial – UK-based company focused on developing novel nanoporous materials and systems for carbon capture and hydrogen storage at ultra-low cost and highest efficiencies.
Fiutur – US-based start-up spun out of Xpansiv, a marketplace for environmental commodities, focused on developing an end-to-end financial data platform that enables a universal tracking system for all environmental commodities and a centralised tracking platform across the ESG asset lifecycle.
Type-1 Energy – US-based start-up harnessing advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics and innovations in high-temperature superconductors to develop stellarator systems.

About Alta

We’re Building the Future of Capital Markets
As Asia’s leading licensed digital securities exchange for alternative investments, we believe that access to capital markets are pivotal in all economies and recognize that our role in building this critical infrastructure goes beyond facilitating trades; it paves the way for entrepreneurship, job creation, financial inclusion, and economic resilience, fostering a brighter future for emerging markets and economies.

Empowering Private Markets
Through our Digital Exchange, we enable the tokenization and digital custody of alternative assets. This end-to-end solution simplifies and expedites the trading of smaller asset blocks, ultimately facilitating access and liquidity in private markets.

Innovative Financial Ecosystem
Our journey has seen us transition from securities trading and distribution of comprehensive products, including equities, private credit, funds, and asset-backed securities (ABS) (representing Real World Assets (“RWA”) like whiskies and wines) to include fund management and digital custody services.

Established in 2016 and headquartered in Singapore, Alta operates offices globally and is the only integrated securities exchange, brokerage, and fund management group in Southeast Asia. Visit us on https://alta.exchange/

About TRIREC

Founded in 2015, TRIREC is a Singapore-headquartered SFDR Article 8 certified global venture capital investment firm. The mission is to drive decarbonisation focused investments for a more sustainable future. Having been pioneers and experienced managers in decarbonization, we have witnessed the progression of climate technology from its infancy to its current state of advancement.

TRIREC benefits from its robust ecosystem, fostering substantial deal flow by collaborating with global stakeholders. We invest in companies focused on decarbonisation solutions that actively contribute to the reduction and removal of greenhouse gas emissions. Our portfolio companies span across five decarbonisation verticals: Food and Agriculture, Mobility, Buildings, Industries and Energy. TRIREC will continue to capitalise on its deep and wide roots in Asia, to serve as a natural bridge between the East and West. Find out more about TRIREC’s portfolio and purpose: https://www.trirec.co/

For media inquiries, please contact:
PRecious Communications for Alta
alta@preciouscomms.com

Singapore’s top general insurer debuts trading on Asia’s leading digital exchange, AltaX

The inaugural trades are part of the Income Insurance Share Liquidity Program launched in January 2024 by Alta and PhillipCapital for Income Insurance shareholders
The listing of shares for Income Insurance on AltaX, whose Net Asset Value is S$3.2 billion[1](US$2.35 billion), marks the largest listing of a non-listed company on a private market digital securities exchange

SINGAPORE, May 3, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Alta, a leading private markets digital securities exchange in Asia and Phillip Securities Pte. Ltd (PSPL), the largest retail broker in Singapore, today announced the inaugural trade for the first tranche of shares from Income Insurance Limited (Income Insurance) shareholders.

The trade was part of the Income Insurance Share Liquidity Program launched by Alta, through Alta’s exchange arm AltaX, and PSPL in January this year. The program provides a liquidity solution to almost 16,000 shareholders holding shares valued as much as S$840 million (US$619 million).

Additional windows for Income Insurance shareholders to sell their shares to PSPL will follow this first window, later this year.

This liquidity program enables all shareholders of Income Insurance to reach out to PSPL to sell their shares. PSPL would then sell these shares on AltaX where they then become available to investors for trading.

Investors will be able to trade these shares seamlessly on AltaX, taking advantage of the digital exchange’s market participants, which includes an active global community of traders and market makers.

Kelvin Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Alta said, “Today’s inaugural trade for Income Insurance, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of private market liquidity. Shareholders, who have predominantly held Income Insurance shares for decades, now have a means to monetize their investments—a possibility that simply did not exist prior to the launch of this liquidity program.”

“Platforms such as Alta are reshaping the trajectory of private companies, providing them with the means to prolong their private status while accessing a diverse array of capital sources. Since the program’s inception in January, we’ve witnessed an overwhelming influx of inquiries from major unlisted entities worldwide. This surge underscores the profound impact of our technology-driven exchange, not only in fostering value creation but also in promoting financial inclusivity across the global economy,” added Kelvin.

Luke Lim, Managing Director, Phillip Securities added, “We are proud to pioneer the Income Insurance Share Liquidity Program in partnership with Alta. This collaboration not only underscores our dedication to delivering value to our clients but also reinforces our position as a leader in driving positive change in the industry. Through this partnership, Phillip Securities has enabled Income Insurance shareholders to seamlessly monetise their investments while AltaX provides institutional and accredited investors with unprecedented access to Income Insurance shares, along with a host of other alternative assets. Together with Alta, we’re shaping the future of trading alternative investments.”

Since inception, Alta has aimed to solve the issue of private market illiquidity by providing a secure exchange for buyers and sellers to trade in private shares. Besides Income Insurance, shares or funds of companies like SpaceX, Open AI, Epic Games, Discord, Bytedance, Hamilton Lane etc. have listed and traded on AltaX.

To date, Alta completed transactions worth US$700 million and enabled investments into over 100 unique companies. Trading volumes on Alta have shown a significant year on year growth, with an increase of over 300 per cent in order volume, from US$32 billion in 2022 to US$141 billion in 2023.

[1] Net Asset Value as of 2022

About Alta

As the leading licensed digital securities exchange for alternative investments in Asia, we are building critical capital market infrastructure backed by the most active securities brokerages and bookrunners on the Singapore Exchange – Phillip Securities, PrimePartners and Nomura Holdings (Japan).

Empowering Private Markets: Through our Digital Exchange, we enable the tokenization and digital custody of alternative assets. This end-to-end solution simplifies and expedites the trading of smaller asset blocks, ultimately facilitating access and liquidity in private markets. We believe that access to capital markets are pivotal in all economies, we recognize that our role in building this critical infrastructure goes beyond facilitating trades; it paves the way for entrepreneurship, job creation, financial inclusion, and economic resilience, fostering a brighter future for emerging markets and economies.

Innovative Financial Ecosystem: Our journey has seen us transition from securities trading and distribution of comprehensive products, including equities, private credit, funds, and asset-backed securities representing real world assets like whiskies, wines, to include fund management and digital custody.

Visit us on https://alta.exchange/

About PhillipCapital

Since inception in 1975, PhillipCapital has grown into an integrated Asian financial house with a global presence, offering a full range of quality and innovative services to retail and high net worth individuals, family offices, as well as corporate and institutional customers.

Today, PhillipCapital headquartered in Singapore, operates in the financial hubs of 15 countries, including offices in Australia, Cambodia, China (and Hong Kong SAR), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UK, UAE, USA and Vietnam, serving over 1 Million clients with Assets Under Management of total more than USD 35 Billion.

NOTE TO EDITORS
For media inquiries, please contact:
PRecious Communications for Alta
alta@preciouscomms.com

Alta Partners with Scenic to Enable Enhanced Access to Booming Secondaries Space

The Scenic Private Access Fund (SPA) provides exclusive access to late-stage technology companies with proven commercial success, offering risk-adjusted returns of 2-3x over the 4 year lifecycle of the fund
Alta experienced a significant surge in its secondary order volumes, reaching up to 300% in the previous year.
Today, the secondary market offers some unique opportunities to access renowned private companies such as ByteDance, Revolut, SpaceX and Epic Games.

SINGAPORE, Apr 2, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Alta Alternative Investments (Alta), Southeast Asia’s leading digital securities exchange for alternative assets, has partnered with US-based investment adviser Scenic Management LLC (Scenic) to launch the Scenic Private Access (SPA) Fund on its platform, enabling access to direct venture secondaries to its global investor community.

Through the SPA fund, Alta will provide direct access to late stage, VC-backed companies that have proven technology and commercially successful products. Later-stage companies typically have reduced risk profiles as compared to early-stage venture capital opportunities. According to Scenic, the SPA fund has the potential to offer risk-reduced returns of 2-3x over the 4 year lifecycle of the fund

“The value of secondary transactions may triple over the next seven years, from $114 billion in 2023 to $417 billion in 2030. At Alta too we saw a year-on-year increase of over 300 per cent in order volume on our secondary platform. This partnership with Scenic adds to the vibrant secondaries opportunities on our platform, providing our â€‹â€‹investor community with an exclusive and compelling option to invest in the booming secondaries space for wealth creation”, said Yifei Li, Managing Director, Head of Client Business, Alta.

Since emerging, Asia’s secondary market has matched global trends, comprising 5-10% of global volumes, akin to Asia’s representation in primary capital raised globally. In 2022, as aggregate exit values in Asia declined sharply, secondaries constituted 22% of total private equity exits in the region, indicating its rising significance for liquidity. According to consultancy firm EY, secondaries will become a popular exit choice in Southeast Asia for private equity (PE) firms in 2024, after an overall slowdown in the exit landscape last year.

Besides the Scenic Private Access Fund, TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, Epic Games, SpaceX and Revolut are some of the many high-profile private companies that have become easily accessible to investors through secondary deals.

Through secondaries, investors would be able to tap on significant tangible value increases by investing in a business that is in a later stage of maturity, where the business would have discovered how to reliably and sustainably generate revenue and profits.

Mark K Norbury, Managing Director and Head of Investor Relations and Co-invest at Scenic added, “Partnering with Alta marks a significant stride in our mission to create value for investors by exploring forward-thinking solutions. As we explore new horizons in private markets, we are excited about the prospects of expanding access to unique private market opportunities and allowing investors to invest in secondary opportunities in highly sought-after pre-IPO private companies. Alta’s proven track record and comprehensive approach to alternative assets complement our vision for a dynamic, interconnected marketplace. Together, we look forward to opening up new avenues for investors seeking new investment opportunities.”

In an era marked by evolving investor demands for liquidity and portfolio diversification, Alta provides diverse investment opportunities in private capital markets, including a wide range of alternative assets. Earlier in January, Alta launched a unique liquidity program for shareholders of Income Insurance Limited, a leading Singaporean insurer. This marked the largest listing of a non-public company on a private securities exchange, enabling institutional and accredited investors to trade and own shares of a non-publicly listed company.

About Alta

We’re Building the Future of Capital Markets

As Southeast Asia’s largest licensed digital securities exchange for alternative investments, we believe that access to capital markets are pivotal in all economies and recognize that our role in building this critical infrastructure goes beyond facilitating trades; it paves the way for entrepreneurship, job creation, financial inclusion, and economic resilience, fostering a brighter future for emerging markets and economies.

Innovative Financial Ecosystem: Our journey has seen us transition from securities trading and distribution of comprehensive products, including equities, private credit, funds, and asset-backed securities (ABS) (representing Real World Assets (“RWA”) like whiskies, wines, art, watches, and real estate) to include fund management and digital custody services.

Established in 2016 and headquartered in Singapore, Alta operates offices globally and is the only integrated securities exchange, brokerage, and fund management group in Southeast Asia.

Visit us on https://alta.exchange/

About Scenic Management LLC

Scenic Management LLC is Scenic’s fund management business. Scenic was founded in 2013 and was built by a team with decades of experience and billions of dollars of transaction volume in pre-IPO equities of leading venture-backed companies. We apply a systematic, quantitative approach to private markets that leverages proprietary data. We specialize in short-duration vehicles and employ a disciplined investing approach that delivers value within growth. Our funds provide diversified exposure to highly performing businesses at exceptional valuations for sophisticated investors. Headquartered in San Francisco, Scenic serves companies, shareholders, and investors globally.

For media inquiries, please contact:
PRecious Communications for Alta
alta@preciouscomms.com

Inaugural HKTDC Export Confidence Index: Rising expectations of export uptick

HONG KONG, Mar 27, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) released its inaugural HKTDC Export Confidence Index today.

An upgrade to the well-established HKTDC Export Index, the new quarterly HKTDC Export Confidence Index will provide a more nuanced and comprehensive overview of business sentiment among Hong Kong-based exporters.

Derived from a survey of more than 500 Hong Kong exporters, the Export Confidence Index comprises five sub-indices – Sales and New Orders, Trade Value, Cost, Procurement and Inventory. These findings are evaluated in terms of Current Performance (how they represent present market sentiment) and Expectation (a measure of exporter sentiment with regard to the coming quarter).

For the first quarter of 2024 (January-March), the overall Expectation score was 47.4. This figure is close to the 50 benchmark (the dividing point between contractionary and expansionary trends) indicating an improved near-term export outlook. It was also notable that the Expectation scores for all sub-indices comfortably exceeded the Current Performance reading of 39.6, which, again, suggests exporters are confident that better times lie ahead.

Commenting on the thinking behind the new index, HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: “Multiple elements impact exporter confidence and we now have an evaluation system that allows us to factor them all in. This will ensure that our quarterly assessment of this key component of Hong Kong’s economy is more versatile, more relevant and more insightful than ever before.

“The success of this initiative to date has allowed us to confidently report a likely uptick in orders from Mainland China, as well as a gradual overall recovery in exports that looks set to be led by the electronics sector.”

Optimistic prospects in Mainland China and US

Among the other key findings, the Sales and New Orders sub-index highlighted rising confidence in export growth, with its 49.9 reading close enough to 50 to suggest a high likelihood of stabilisation.

On the market front, exporters are generally more optimistic with regard to Mainland China and the United States, with exporters anticipating resumed growth in mainland orders in the second quarter.

Of the six key export sectors, electronics enjoyed the most positive outlook, followed by timepieces, equipment/materials, clothing, toys and jewellery.

There are also signs of stronger procurement activity in the electronics, toys and equipment/materials sectors as the corresponding Expectation indices approach or exceed the 50 level.

Overseas markets to regain growth momentum

For survey respondents, economic risks remained the primary concern among the external market issues that could potentially impact exports over the next 12 months. For 83.3% of respondents, an economic slowdown/recession in their primary markets was considered the biggest potential obstacle to export growth.

Putting the findings into perspective, Cherry Yeung, the HKTDC Senior Economist with oversight of the new Index, said: “Despite such concerns, there are many positive takeaways from the Q1 survey. Some 70% of traders, for instance, are anticipating resumed growth in their core overseas markets, while 37.1% are expecting a rapid upturn in mainland market demand. Looking beyond that, 36.4% of respondents are confident that e-commerce will provide new impetus for many export businesses in the course of the coming year.

“It is also reassuring that 55.9% of exporters believe their future profitability will remain unchanged or actually improve, with 40.9% expecting their profit levels to stay stable and 15% seeing an upturn on the horizon.”

References
HKTDC Export Confidence Index: https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MTY0Nzc3MTE3OQ
HKTDC Research website: https://research.hktdc.com/en/

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3xfpjHJ

HKTDC Director of Research Ms Irina Fan (right) and Senior Economist Ms Cherry Yeung (left) announced the inaugural HKTDC Export Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2024 at a press conference today

HKTDC Director of Research Ms Irina Fan

HKTDC Senior Economist Ms Cherry Yeung

Media enquiries

Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:

Jane Cheung

Tel: (852) 2584 4137

Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 now open for nomination

HONG KONG, Feb 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Hong Kong Investor Relations Association (HKIRA) is pleased to announce that public nomination is now open for the HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 (the ‘Awards’). This will be the tenth consecutive year of the Awards at which best IR and corporate governance practices are recognized among Hong Kong listed companies.

Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA, said, “This is the 10th year of the IR Awards launched since 2015. The IR professionals is facing with a high inflation, high interest rate and volatile geopolitical environment, which is a challenging year for financial markets around the world. During such times is when effective communication between companies and its stakeholders becomes increasingly important. Rising concerns over ESG, health and wellness issues have also been changing the ways in which investors value listed companies. We look forward to recognizing IR professionals that have been dedicating immense efforts in adapting to these changes and excelling in such challenging environment at this year’s IR Awards.”

Last year, 126 award entries were received from listed companies, over 740 eligible voters and over 290 voting institutions participated in the voting. 41 winners from various categories were recognized at the Awards. Among the winners, China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (stock code: 00291) and Xtep International Holdings Limited (stock code: 01368) were awarded Overall Best IR Company by company size – Large Cap and Mid Cap – respectively. The Judging Panel concurred to withhold the Overall Best IR Company Award for Small Cap last year, and looked forward to ongoing efforts in the adoption of IR best practices by Small Cap listed companies in Hong Kong.

The HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 is once again honoured to have Professor Louis Cheng, Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance and the Director of Research Centre for ESG at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, as the Chairman of the Judging Panel. Being an advocate and a researcher of best practice of IR, Professor Cheng has in recent years been promoting the idea of integrating ESG into investors’ decisions. ESG-related awards have been added to the HKIRA IR Award categories since 2020. In addition, Professor Cheng has been working with HKIRA to continuously fine-tune the award criteria and categories to better recognise the latest development of IR activities and strategies in Hong Kong and Asia.

Public nomination for the HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 is now open to Hong Kong-listed companies. Nominated individuals and companies will be placed on the online voting list upon confirmation of their participation. The investment community, including buy-side and sell-side analysts, and fund managers, are eligible to vote. Nominees with the highest votes (weighted) in each award category will be shortlisted and then undergo a final assessment by the judging panel. Finally, the Most Progress in IR, IR Committed Company, Overall Best IR Company and Grand ESG Awards will be selected by the judging panel. Facilitating a fair and balanced evaluation, the judging panel comprises academics, representatives from professional associations and the investment community.

The HKIRA 10th IR Awards 2024 scheme has a total of 16 award categories honouring best IR practices of individuals and companies. Among these awards, 12 categories are open for nomination and voting, while the other 4 awards are selected by the judging panel. The award winners are to be announced at a ceremony to be held in Hong Kong in June/July 2024. For more information, please visit www.hkira.com/awards.

Strategic Public Relations Group is once again proud to be the Official Public Relations Partner and the Diamond Sponsor for the HKIRA IR Awards this year. Please find key dates relating to the Awards with its categories and criteria for selection listed in the Appendix.

Professor Louis Cheng, Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance and the Director of Research Centre for ESG, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Chairman of the Judging Panel; Dr Eva Chan, Founding Chairman of HKIRA; and Mr Kevin Leung, Investor Relations Director & Company Secretary of China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (From left to right).

About HKIRA

Hong Kong Investor Relations Association (HKIRA) is a non-profit professional association comprising investor relations practitioners and corporate officers responsible for communication between corporate management and the investment community. HKIRA advocates the setting of international standards in IR education, advances the best IR practices and meets the professional development needs of those interested in pursuing the investor relations profession.

HKIRA is dedicated to advancing the practice of IR as well as the professional competency and status of its members. To date, HKIRA has over 1,300 members most of whom are working for companies primarily listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. About 68 of the Hang Seng Index Constituent Stock companies are currently members of HKIRA. HKIRA’s members are from a wide spectrum of professions including IR, finance, accounting, company secretarial to corporate investment and hold positions at different corporate levels, including top executives responsible for IR and management of listed companies. For more information about HKIRA details, please visit our website http://www.hkira.com.

About the IR Awards

The HKIRA Investor Relations Awards (the “IR Awards”) is an annual campaign that aims to encourage, recognize and reward the excellence in investor relations practices by individuals and companies listed in Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Since the launch in 2015, each year the Awards seeks out and highlights the incredible achievements of individuals and companies with high standards in investor relations through their role modelling to the investment community.

The Awards ceremony, consisting of a conference in the morning and presentation in the afternoon, is a spectacular gathering of IR specialists and industry professionals that applauds and publicizes the year’s achievements in investor relations. For details of the Awards and online nominations, please visit http://www.hkira.com/awards.

Media enquiries:

Strategic Public Relations Group

Cindy Lung Tel: +852 2864 4867 Email: cindy.lung@sprg.com.hk

Holly Szeto Tel: +852 2864 4859 Email: holly.szeto@sprg.com.hk

Michelle Shiu Tel: +852 2864 4861 Email: michelle.shiu@sprg.com.hk

Website: www.sprg.asia

Hong Kong Investor Relations Association

Scarlet Cheng Tel: +852 2117 1846 Email: irawards@hkira.com

Website: www.hkira.com

Appendix

Key Dates

Nomination period: 21 February to 26 March 2024

Online voting period: 8 April – 15 May 2024

Judging Panel Meeting: Second half of May 2024

Award Presentation: June /July 2024

Award Categories

Award Categories	Recognition	Selection Method
Best IR Company	Company’s Achievements	Open for nomination and online voting
Best IR Team
Best ESG (E)
Best ESG (S)
Best ESG (G)
Best Investor Meeting
Best Investor Presentation Material
Best Annual Report
Best IR Company for an IPO*
Best IR by Chairman/CEO	Individual’s Achievements
Best IR by CFO
Best IRO (Investor Relations Officer)
Most Progress in IR	Demonstration of the most progress in IR in the above areas during 2023	Selected by Judging Panel
IR Committed Company	Demonstration of substantial efforts and allocated valuable resources towards enhancing their IR functions
Overall Best IR Company Awards	Outstanding and all-round excellence in the above areas
Grand ESG Award	Overall excellence in all the three areas across ESG

* Companies which were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2022 and 2023 are eligible to be nominated for this award.

Remarks: All awards will be further categorised by company market capitalisation into Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small Cap, except Best IR Company for an IPO, Most Progress in IR and IR Committed Company Awards.

Judging Panel (Arranged in alphabetical order of last name)

Name	Title	Firms / Organizations
Professor Louis Cheng (Chairman of Judging Panel)	Dr. S H Ho Professor of Banking and Finance, Director of the Research Centre for ESG	The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
Dato’ Seri CHEAH Cheng Hye MAoF	Co-Chairman And Co-Chief Investment Officer	Value Partners Group
Mrs Amy Donati	Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer	EDICO Holdings Limited
Ms Ashley Khoo, CFA, CPA	Ex- Board Director	CFA Society Hong Kong
Mr Stephen Law	Vice-President	Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Mr Andrew Look	Independent Non-Executive Director	CITIC Resources Holdings Limited
Ms Victoria Mio, CFA, FRM	Portfolio Manager, Head of Greater China Equities	Janus Henderson Investors
Dr Maurice Ngai	General Committee and the Chairman of Membership Services of the Sub-Committees	The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies

E Fund & Saudi Riyad Capital Enter Partnership to Share Local Investment Expertise, Enhancing Mutual Investment Capabilities

HONG KONG, Feb 21, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – On February 20, 2024, E Fund Management Co., Ltd. (“E Fund”) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Riyad Capital, to enter into an agreement to collaborate on sharing local investment expertise. The MoU was signed at the Saudi Capital Market Forum 2024 in Riyadh.

E Fund, the largest fund manager in China, is pleased to announce a new cooperation with Riyad Capital, a leading asset manager in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration aims to combine the strengths and expertise of both organizations to enhance investment opportunities and create long-term, sustainable value for clients.

The cooperation will leverage both firms’ extensive knowledge of respective local markets and investment strategies. Through this cooperation, clients of both E Fund and Riyad Capital will have access to a broader range of investment products and services.

Xiaoyan Liu, Co-Chairman of the Board and CEO of E Fund stated, “The high level of openness of China’s capital market provides opportunities for the international development of Chinese fund management companies. E Fund has been consistently advancing its global development strategy, and this partnership with Riyad Capital represents a significant step forward. With this partnership, we will enhance our investment capabilities in Saudi Arabia and the broader region and expand our product offerings and services, while also establishing a bridge for investors in Saudi to understand and allocate to China.”

“We are pleased to partner with E Fund Management,” said Abdullah Alshwer, Riyad Capital’s CEO. “This collaboration allows us to tap into their extensive Asia network and access to their products, while also sharing our local investment expertise. In line with the KSA Vision 2030 through the Financial Sector Development Program we will be able to offer global investors access to Saudi capital markets and similarly offer our local clients a wider range of investment opportunities in different global markets.”

Both companies are confident that this cooperation will foster financial innovation, strengthen investment capabilities, and ultimately benefit their clients, who will gain access to a more comprehensive suite of investment solutions. By combining their local expertise and presence, E Fund and Riyad Capital are poised to create a mutually beneficial relationship.

Mercury Securities Introduces Mercury Gold

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Bursa Malaysia listed Mercury Securities Group Berhad (“Mercury Securities” or “Company”; Stock Code 0285), announced the launch of their newest venture, Mercury Gold, which aims to empower both seasoned investors and newcomers to participate in the precious metals market.

Mercury Gold offers physical bullion for purchase as well as Mercury Bullion Savings, a program where customers can buy, sell and accumulate bullion by the gram. With live pricing, a transparent fee structure, and a user-friendly interface, gold and silver investment has never been easier.

The management team of Mercury Securities said, “In the past few years, we have seen gold prices rise as more people look to gold as a safe haven and tangible store of value in uncertain times. As demand increases, we want to provide Malaysians with a transparent and secure platform to buy, sell and save precious metals to diversify their investments. The flexibility to invest in physical bullion or in Mercury Bullion Savings, accumulating grams of gold or silver over time, will allow everyone to participate in this thriving market.”

Mercury Gold Bullion

Mercury Gold’s bullion is sourced from renowned global mints PAMP Suisse and other sovereign mints from the United States, Canada and Australia. All are certified by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), the global authority for precious metals. Individual bullion bars in various sizes and government-minted legal tender coins are available for sale.

Mercury Bullion Savings Program (MBS)

In addition, Mercury Gold is proud to introduce Mercury Bullion Savings (MBS) Program, which is an easy, safe and cost-effective way to invest and own gold and silver bullion. Via MBS, customers may buy as little as RM50 of gold per transaction, and all customer holdings are fully backed by physical bullion. Savers in the program can sell their bullion holdings at any time or convert their holdings into LBMA-certified gold or silver bars with zero conversion fees, upon reaching a savings threshold.

To learn more about Mercury Gold and open an account, go to: Mercury Gold. Follow Mercury Gold on social media: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

The 17th Asian Financial Forum concludes successfully

The 17th AFF concluded today, attracting over 3,600 policymakers and business leaders from more than 50 countries and regions who actively joined vibrant discussions, fostering sustainable development and multilateral cooperation and showcasing Hong Kong’s vibrant economy, setting the stage for conferences and exhibitions in the new year
The Forum arranged over 700 one-on-one meetings, successfully connecting investors with project owners and exploring opportunities in various industries
The AFF facilitated the signing of MoUs and agreements, including the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Hong Kong and Croatia and Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Services Development Council and Financial Sector Development Program of Saudi Arabia, deepening business collaborations
On-site polling during the Forum showed that most participants considered the digital economy (31.4%) and electric vehicles (26.1%) the most promising industries in Mainland China

HONG KONG, Jan 25, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The 17th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), jointly organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), successfully concluded today, attracting over 3,600 financial and business elites from more than 50 countries and regions, including over 70 overseas and Mainland China delegations. The Forum showcased Hong Kong’s thriving economy as participants explored opportunities, accelerated sustainable development and multilateral cooperation and launched Hong Kong’s conferences for the year.

The event was marked by a vibrant atmosphere. Various segments – including the opening session, plenary discussions, policy dialogue, keynote luncheons and cocktail reception – were well attended. Leaders from around the world actively engaged in discussions.

In just two days, the Forum arranged over 700 one-on-one meetings, successfully connecting investors with project owners and exploring opportunities for industry and investment cooperation. After the Forum’s conclusion, participants will have the opportunity to continue discussions and meetings online from tomorrow until 30 January (Tuesday).

Over the two-day physical event, the AFF brought together more than 140 policymakers, international financial and multilateral organisation representatives, financial institutions and corporate leaders from around the world as speakers.

On the first day of the Forum, Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, addressed the keynote luncheon, affirming the importance of Hong Kong as an international financial centre. He said that global cooperation could help solve problems that were even beyond our reach. He believed Hong Kong could play a full role in sustainable development financing, an increasingly important area.

One of the highlights of this year’s AFF was the Plenary Session I – Charting the Path to a Shared Future, hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, bringing together financial officials from around the world to discuss economic challenges countries face. Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance, Thailand, said: “The Asian Financial Forum is the place where both the public and private sectors can have honest discussions to find solutions to tackle major problems today and transform the economy for the future.” H.E. Dr Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, Egypt, mentioned that the world was grappling with rising geopolitical tensions and a lack of clarity about the future, weighing on the achievement of sustainable economic growth. To address global challenges, the world needed to deploy all efforts to coordinate economic policies on a multilateral scale.

On the second day, the Breakfast Panel focused on Unleashing the Dragon’s Currency: Navigating Renminbi Internationalisation on the Global Stage, allowing participants to delve into the renminbi’s growing use worldwide and trends in international demand. Prof Douglas W Diamond, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2022 and Merton H Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, addressed the Keynote Luncheon on the second day, which was moderated by Raymund Chao, Asia Pacific and China Chairman, PwC.

Global Spectrum, Dialogues for Tomorrow and Fireside Chat brought together pioneers from various industries to discuss a host of topical subjects, explored the latest Web 3.0 and virtual asset development, the future of fintech innovation, CIO Insights, green finance and opportunities in new markets. Speakers included Bob Prince, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, Dr Ma Jun, Chairman and President, Hong Kong Green Finance Association (HKGFA), Guinandra (Andra) Jatikusumo, Group Director and Chief of Investments & Business Development of CT Corp, Darmawan Junaidi, President Director, Bank Mandiri, Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, Animoca Brands, and more.

Understanding prospects for mainland industries, environmental economics

To gauge participants’ views on the global economic outlook this year, the Forum conducted on-site voting during panel discussions. For instance, at the Panel Discussion on Global Economic Outlook, participants were asked about the greatest threats or uncertainties to economic growth in the Asia-Pacific. Most attendees identified geopolitical fragmentation (66.7%) as the biggest challenge, followed by a slowdown in the recovery momentum in key economies (17.7%), persistent inflation (6%), a tightened monetary environment (4.2%), continued supply chain reshaping (3.6%) and other factors (1.8%).

In the newly introduced Panel Discussion on Stewarding China’s New Chapter, participants were asked about the most promising industries in Mainland China. The digital economy took top spot with 31.4%. Electric vehicles (26.1%) and renewable energy (18.8%) followed in second and third place, respectively. Advanced manufacturing (15.8%), other industries (4.2%) and electronic devices (3.2%) ranked subsequently.

Over 700 matching sessions held on-site, online platform continues to yield results

Through the years, the Forum has played a crucial role in deepening business and trade collaboration. AFF Deal-making, a global investment project-matching event jointly organised by the HKTDC and Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA), was well received, facilitating over 700 one-on-one meetings, connecting funds and investment projects from around the world. The founder of one of the start-ups from Thailand said he had met 20 visitors with potential deals, ranging from a family office to a legal adviser. He also commented that the geographical diversity of the visitors at Deal-making was extensive, ranging from India to Europe and Japan. The deal-making session had presented valuable opportunities to find potential business partners.

This year’s AFF also facilitated the signing of various Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Agreement. These included the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Hong Kong and Croatia and Memorandum of Understanding between the Financial Services Development Council and Financial Sector Development Program of Saudi Arabia.

The Forum also featured exhibition zones including the Fintech Showcase, Fintech HK Startup Salon, the InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone, presenting innovative solutions from international financial institutions and introducing prospective unicorns from Hong Kong and around the world. The exhibition segment brought together over 140 exhibitors, including international financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups, investment promotion agencies, and sponsors, including knowledge partner PwC, along with HSBC, Bank of China, Standard Chartered Bank, UBS, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Huatai International and Cyberport.

The 2024 International Financial Week (IFW) commenced on 24 January to create synergies, bringing together over 20 partner events. These events cover a many topics of global interest to the financial and business community. They include private equity investment, alternative investments, sustainable investments, family offices and women’s empowerment, among others. These events highlight the role of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.

To seize opportunities and promote the conference and event economy, the AFF collaborated with various organisations to arrange activities for participants beyond the Forum. These activities included free admission to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Hong Kong’s iconic Aqua Luna red-sail junk boat, TramOramic tour and open-top Big Bus arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. These experiences allowed forum guests to feel at home and appreciate the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong.

Furthermore, to provide overseas participants with a better understanding of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the vast business opportunities within, organisers will lead a delegation to Shenzhen tomorrow (26 January), including corporate visits and exchange activities.

Websites
Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/3SvMXru

The 17th Asian Financial Forum, jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and the HKTDC, concluded successfully, attracting over 3,600 financial and business elites who actively participated in the event, creating a vibrant atmosphere for exchanges and showcasing Hong Kong’s thriving economy

Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, addressed the Keynote Luncheon on the first day

Prof Douglas W Diamond, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2022 and Merton H Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, delivered insightful remarks during the Keynote Luncheon on the second day

Bob Prince, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, an investment veteran, shared his experience in leadership transfer, markets views and investment tactics in Mainland China

The AFF Deal-making, an investment project matchmaking event organised by the HKTDC and the HKVCA, drew strong interest, facilitating over 700 one-on-one meetings and connecting funds and investment projects from around the world, involving more than 270 investors and over 560 projects

Representatives from Hong Kong and Croatia sign the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement

The Financial Services Development Council and Financial Sector Development Program of Saudi Arabia sign their MoU

The cocktail reception on the first day invited Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of HKSAR; Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC and Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC, to deliver speeches, fostering lively exchanges among guests from around the world

Media enquires

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Anson Wong, Tel: (852) 3428 3413, Email: awong@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung, Tel: (852) 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Hing-fung Wong, Tel: (852) 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC

NASDAQ-listed Agape ATP Unveils Expansion Plans and Green Initiatives at Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – Homegrown Nasdaq listed Agape ATP Corporation (“ATPC” or the “Company”; NASDAQ: ATPC) announces the Company’s move to push forward its Sustainability Green Energy Initiative at the NASDAQ Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony hosted by ATPC at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre recently.

Datuk Ir. (Dr.) Khairol Anuar Mohamad Tawi, Pengerusi, SIRIM Berhad; YBhg. Datin Saidatul Badru Tun Said; YBhg. Puan Sri Datin Noraini Binti Mohd; YB Tan Sri Dato’ Johari Bin Abdul, Yang di-Pertua Dewan Rakyat; YBhg. Datin Sri Dr. Yvonne Teng; YBhg. Dato Sri Dr. How Kok Choong J.P., Founder & Global Group CEO, AGAPE ATP Corporation; Professor Dr. MD Nasir Ibrahim, Penasihat Koporate Agape ATP Corporation; Mr. Hiren Krishnani, NASDAQ ASEAN Investor Relations and IPO Director; YBhg. Dato’ Rohaizi bin Bahari, Pengarah Kanan Sektor Perdagangan Pengedaran dan Perniagaan (SDTP); Dr. Fernando Cortizo, Executive Director of Agape ATP Corporation [L-R]

The event held marks a significant milestone for ATPC and was attended by the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, YB Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Johari Bin Abdul; Representing the Honourable Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living YB Datuk Armizan Bin Mohd Ali is Senior Director, Trade, Distribution, and Business Sector, YBhg. Dato’ Rohaizi Bin Bahari; Chairman of SIRIM, YBhg. Datuk Ir (Dr) Khairol Nuar Mohamad Tawi; the NASDAQ ASEAN Investor Relations and IPO Director, Mr. Hiren Krishnani; and guests and business partners from Japan, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, the United States of America, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

Dato’ Sri Dr. How Kok Choong, Founder and Global Group CEO of ATPC said, ‘It is with great honour and immense gratitude that we welcome our distinguished guests, partners from around the globe, and the respected dignitaries of Malaysia to this momentous NASDAQ Opening Bell Ringing Ceremony. Your presence today is a testament to our shared vision for a sustainable future.”

Central to ATPC’s sustainability strategy is a Memorandum of Agreement with Volt Industries Sdn. Bhd. (“VOLT”) in November 2023, marking a significant milestone in both parties’ collaborative efforts. While the acquisition of a 51% stake in VOLT is currently its’ final stages, this partnership is expected to play a crucial role in ATPC’s Sustainability Green Energy Initiative. This initiative includes the development and installation of 50 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations in Pahang, Malaysia, which is already in development progress.

Meanwhile, following a Memorandum of Agreement signed in November 2023 between ATPC and Oriental Industries Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. (“OIE”), a specialist in the EV bike industry, both companies established a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), with each holding an equal of 50% share, focusing on the distribution and marketing of EV bikes. Highlighting this partnership, the Ceremony featured an impressive showcase of EV bike display which will go to market in key cities, especially in the Klang Valley region, after inspection and obtaining clearance from SIRIM.

Dato Sri How elaborated, “As we forge ahead with our pivotal collaborations with various companies, we are thrilled to be at the forefront of Malaysia’s green energy transition. Our initiative of establishing 50 EV charging stations in Pahang, coupled with the plans of establishing a 300 MWp solar farm in Sabah, is a bold stride towards our commitment to sustainable development. These efforts, enhanced by our partnerships, are a testament to how environmental sustainability and corporate growth can successfully coexist. We stand here today, poised for a future where green energy is not just an option, but a driving force for innovation and prosperity.”

Further contributing to this wave of sustainable initiatives, VOLT has independently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KAB Smart Solar Energy Sdn. Bhd. (“KAB Smart Solar”). This agreement opens avenues for collaboration in Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning services specifically for Solar Photovoltaic systems, highlighting the synergy between VOLT’s EV charging station expertise and KAB Smart Solar’s proficiency in the realm of solar energy.

17th Asian Financial Forum opens today

The 17th AFF, themed Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow, is taking place at the HKCEC for two consecutive days. It is expected to attract over 3,000 finance and business elites, including more than 70 delegations from overseas and Mainland China, boosting the convention and exhibition industry’s contribution to economic growth
The opening day of the Forum featured a keynote luncheon speech by Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. He discussed how Responsible Capitalism will foster public-private partnerships and promote sustainable development
Finance ministers from various countries gathered in the Plenary Session I – Charting the Path to a Shared Future to share how they collaborate in addressing global economic issues within limited fiscal space and resilience. In Plenary Session II – Finance for Sustainability and The Role of Multilateralism, speakers delved into the impact of multilateral cooperation on regional economic development, financial standards and sustainable finance
Tomorrow’s Forum promises equal appeal, with a keynote speech by Prof Douglas W Diamond, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2022 and Merton H Miller, Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. He will address prospects for multilateralism and modern finance

HONG KONG, Jan 24, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The 17th Asian Financial Forum 2024 (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). With the theme Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow, the two-day Forum serves as the first major financial and business event in the region for 2024. Over 130 finance officials, international financial and multilateral organisations, financial institutions and private-sector leaders from around the world gather in Hong Kong as speakers. They analyse global economic dynamics, promote collaboration among stakeholders, explore sustainable economic development models and identify opportunities for multilateral cooperation.

The Forum is expected to attract over 3,000 finance and business elites, including more than 70 delegations from Mainland China, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, Australia, Europe, and the United States. The Forum aims to showcase the vibrancy of Hong Kong and promote the convention and exhibition industry to participants from all over the world as an economic growth driver.

The Opening Session of the Forum featured opening remarks by John Lee, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, special remarks by Li Yunze, Minister, National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) and welcome remarks by Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC. Dr Lam said: “A year post-pandemic, what we all are seeking are opportunities to grow and transform and create a better world for future generations. Opportunities that can only come to fruition as a result of sustained multilateral cooperation. Themed ‘Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow’, the Forum brings together leading policymakers and industry players from the world of finance and business to engage in meaningful, forward-looking conversations and find ways to collaborate for success on today’s most pressing issues.”

The two-day Forum encompasses diverse events, including plenary sessions, policy dialogue, keynote luncheons and business networking opportunities. Through meetings and exhibitions, it delves into global economic outlook, opportunities in China, investment prospects, green finance, financial technology, the ecosystem of family offices, renminbi internationalisation and financial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). These hot topics comprehensively showcase Hong Kong’s advantages as an international financial centre.

Diverse speakers from the Middle East and ASEAN for plenary discussions

This year’s Forum focuses on exploring opportunities in Mainland China, the Middle East and ASEAN. One highlight was the Plenary Session I – Charting the Path to a Shared Future, hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR. The session brought together financial officials from around the world to share their countries’ outlook on financial policies for this year. The guest speakers included Ali bin Ahmad Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance of Qatar; Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand; Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance of Egypt; Suahasil Nazara, Vice Minister of Finance of Indonesia; and Marko Primorac, Minister of Finance of Croatia.

Following that, Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, hosted a Policy Dialogue session Towards International Economic and Financial Cooperation. The session discussed how to maintain financial system stability amidst changes in monetary policies, fluctuations in commodity prices and frequent extreme weather events. The guest speakers in this session included Burkhard Balz, Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank; Lkhagvasuren Byadran, Governor of the Central Bank of Mongolia; Thomas Helbling, Deputy Director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF); Ian Johnston, Chief Executive of the Dubai Financial Services Authority; and Scott Morris, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank. They exchanged valuable insights on issues such as how to respond to global financial crises through multilateral cooperation.

Prof Sachs from the UN analysed responsible capitalism

The Keynote Luncheon on the first day heard welcome remarks by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR. This was followed by a keynote address from Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The speech explored how Responsible Capitalism could foster public-private partnerships and drive the economy towards sustainable development. Following Prof Sachs’ speech, Ronnie Chan, Chair of Hang Lung Properties Limited, moderated a discussion session.

Financial and business leaders discuss global economy, cooperation opportunities

The afternoon session began with the Panel Discussion on Global Economic Outlook, moderated by Victor Fung, Chairman of Fung Investments. The panel included esteemed speakers such as Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of Société Générale; Jenny Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton; Chartsiri Sophonpanich, President of Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited; and José Viñals, Group Chairman of Standard Chartered plc. They shared insightful perspectives on prospects for the global economy and future policy directions.

The afternoon session continued with Plenary Session II – Finance for Sustainability and The Role of Multilateralism, once again hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR. The panel featured Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank; Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission; Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Egypt; and Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank. They delved into such topics as the impact of nearshoring, rising protectionism and multilateral cooperation on regional economic development, financial standards and sustainable financial development.

Empowering global economic integration by unleashing China’s potential

The Panel Discussion on Stewarding China’s New Chapter debuted this year, aiming to explore the potential of Mainland China’s market and analyse the role and advantages of Hong Kong under strategic initiatives launched by the mainland. The session was moderated by Fan Gang, President of the China Development Institute, and featured prominent figures from the financial and business sectors who are well-versed in Chinese market trends. They shared insights on how businesses worldwide could seize opportunities presented by the rapid development in Mainland China. The guest speakers included Jan Craps, CEO & Co-Chair of Budweiser APAC and APAC CEO AB InBev; Fang Feng-lei, Founder and Chairman of Hopu Investments; Liu Yang, Chairperson and Chief Investment Officer of Atlantis Investment Management; Jung-Ho Rhee, Vice Chairman of Mirae Asset Securities; and Anil Wadhwani, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential plc.

The first day of the Forum also heard the results of a joint market survey by the HKTDC and Knowledge Partner PwC on the financial industry’s views on application of artificial intelligence. Raymund Chao, Chairman of PwC Asia Pacific and China, pointed out during the Forum that the survey revealed a growing prevalence of AI applications in financial services. Survey findings emphasised the importance for the industry of seizing opportunities and harnessing the developmental potential of AI more effectively.

Thematic sessions discussed topics trending across the world, covering the global economic outlook, impact of sustainability on insurance and capital markets, as well as collaborative opportunities in asset and wealth management. Additionally, Global Spectrum, Dialogues for Tomorrow, and Fireside Chat sessions brought together pioneers from different industries to delve into current hot topics such as next-generation entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, food supply and Islamic finance.

Unlocking investment opportunities with over 400 projects at AFF Deal-making

To facilitate substantial cooperation, the HKTDC and Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA) are co-organising AFF Deal-making. This platform enables participants to engage in one-on-one meetings, connecting them with funds and investment projects from around the world. The event focuses on key industries such as financial technology, environment, energy and clean technology, medical technology, deep technology and food and agriculture. This year’s AFF Deal-making has attracted over 200 investors and more than 400 projects. Following conclusion of the Forum tomorrow, participants can use the deal-making online platform for virtual meetings until 30 January (Tuesday) to continue exploring key opportunities in different fields.

Creating business connections through multiple exhibition zones

The Forum continues to feature exhibition zones including Fintech Showcase, Fintech HK Startup Salon, the InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone which bring together over 100 exhibitors, including local and global financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups, investment promotion agencies and sponsors. Participants include knowledge partner PwC, along with HSBC, Bank of China, Standard Chartered Bank, UBS, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Huatai International and Cyberport.

The Global Investment Zone features participation from countries and regions including Canada, Dubai, Egypt, Finland, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mainland China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Portugal, Spain and the UAE. Investment promotion agencies introduce local investment environments and potential projects on-site. The InnoVenture Salon is dedicated to supporting start-up development and provides a platform for more than 100 start-ups to connect with international investors and potential partners. At the FintechHK Startup Salon 60 enterprises from Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, France, Japan, Korea, the Mainland, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam showcase innovative concepts in areas such as AI, blockchain, insurtech, payment technology, regulatory technology and wealthtech.

Momentum continues at key sessions tomorrow

AFF continues tomorrow with rich content, including diverse thematic discussion sessions and workshops that comprehensively analyse trends in capital markets, RMB internationalisation, philanthropy, green smart cities, financial technology, healthcare investments and more. A highlight will be the lunch session where Prof Douglas W Diamond, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2022 and Merton H Miller, Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, will deliver a keynote speech on multilateral cooperation, deconstructing the phenomenon of global geopolitical fragmentation.

A highly anticipated session is the Dialogue with Bob Prince, featuring Mr Prince, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. He will share his investment insights and views on multilateral cooperation. Another new session, CIO Insights, will also take place tomorrow morning, bringing together chief investment officers from internationally renowned institutions to share their experiences in guiding asset allocation and investment decisions during economic uncertainty. Other featured AFF guests tomorrow include Susan Chan, Senior Managing Director, Head of Asia Pacific, Head of Investments, Asia Pacific of BlackRock; René Buehlmann, Chief Executive Officer, Investments of abrdn plc; Janet Perumal, Senior Managing Director, Wellington Management Company; and Min-Lan Tan, Head of Chief Investment Office APAC of UBS AG.

To allow overseas participants to experience the vibrant colours of Hong Kong and promote the conference and exhibition economy, the organisers have collaborated with several organisations to offer exclusive experiential activities for those visiting Hong Kong, including free admission to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Hong Kong’s iconic Aqua Luna red-sail junk boat, TramOramic tour, and open-top Big Bus arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. In addition, they can enjoy dining discounts at various restaurants and special offers at local tourist attractions, as well as participate in guided tours.

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/428McIg

The 17th Asian Financial Forum kicked off today at the HKCEC. The Forum runs for two consecutive days under the theme Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow

John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, delivered opening remarks

Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, delivered welcome remarks

Li Yunze, Minister of National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA) delivered the special remarks in the Opening Session

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, participated in the Keynote Luncheon of the first day Forum and delivered the welcome remarks

Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, delivered the keynote address

Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR (left), hosted two Plenary Sessions at this year’s AFF

This year’s AFF Deal-making has attracted over 200 investors and more than 400 projects. Following conclusion of the Forum tomorrow, participants can use the deal-making online platform for virtual meetings until 30 January (Tuesday) to continue exploring key opportunities in different fields

Websites
Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/
Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme
Speaker List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakers

Media enquires

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC