HONG KONG, Jan 20, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 14th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded yesterday. Running on the theme "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape", the two-day virtual event also featured an online poll to gauge participants' views on the global economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various sectors. This year's AFF attracted more than 63,000 viewers from more than 70 nations and regions. To help facilitate more concrete collaboration between global investors, project owners and start-ups, the online forum included the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, with more than 700 one-on-one matchmaking meetings arranged.

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, expressed his views on the outlook for Hong Kong on the second morning of the forum. "My optimism for Hong Kong is clear and compelling. It's built on our distinctive advantages under the 'one country, two systems' arrangement. I'm talking about Hong Kong's world-class financial system and the professional services prowess that supports it. To that, add the free flow of information, talent, capital and goods, in and out of Hong Kong. No less vital is our long-standing rule of law and level playing field tied to our transparent and internationally aligned regulatory system, low and simple tax regime and deep market liquidity. Put it all together, and you know why Hong Kong means business. Whatever business you're in, whatever investment interests you may have."

68% of respondents believe Mainland China will offer best investment return in 2021

Real-time polling conducted at various sessions during the AFF enhanced interactivity between speakers and participants and gauged their views on subjects such as global economic prospects, the region that offers the best investment return, and the challenges of sustainable development. When asked about the outlook for the global economy in 2021, 32% of respondents were optimistic, 47% were neutral, while 21% of respondents expressed pessimism, reflecting a generally not-so-pessimistic view on the overall economic outlook.

Meanwhile, 68% of respondents believed that Mainland China would be the region with the best investment return, while ASEAN ranked second (18%) and the USA third (7%). This result echoed the sharing of Nobel Laureate economist and policy entrepreneur Paul Romer in the keynote session on the first day of the AFF. Mr Romer pointed out that Asia will likely lead the way in terms of economic contribution to global GDP. He explained that while there may be changes ahead and business travel may decrease, some economic trends are firmly in place that can continue, including urbanisation. And people will want more living space as wealth increases in Asia, helping to make the region a leader in urban development.

55% expect global economic activities to take one year to return normal

While the pandemic is still hindering world economic activities, the forum responded to the theme "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape" and conducted on-site polling to gauge participants' view on the impact of the pandemic on the global economy. The survey showed that 55% of respondents believed global economic activities would return to normal after one year, 28% believed it would happen within this year, while 17% of respondents said it would take more than two years to return to normal. When asked about their views on governments' measures to stimulate economic recovery, 24% agreed that unemployment assistance was the most effective, followed by stimulus payments in the form of vouchers to boost local consumption (21%) and tax relief measures such as deferral of corporate income tax payments (21%). When asked about the biggest challenge faced by the banking industry in 2021, 32% of respondents said credit risk and quality, followed by cyber threats due to increasing digital banking interactions (26%).

Shift from technology to traditional businesses in second half of 2021

The impact of the pandemic and evolving international geopolitical issues have created uncertainties in the global economy. More than 60 dialogues and discussion sessions were organised at this year's AFF, inviting more than 160 distinguished finance policymakers and business leaders to examine the market situation and share insights on the strategies to address the current financial stalemate. Stephen A Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone, who last year predicted that the economy of the United States would see a V-shaped recovery, expressed the view that as demand returns in the second half of 2021 there will be higher interest rates due to inflation. He also said that technology is revolutionising the world and has "had a massive run", after which it may fare less well this year in terms of investment return. "Conventional investing for value-oriented securities has really lagged because those companies are being disrupted, but I think there will be a rotation to some of the more traditional businesses as they recover."

Two tech trailblazers share insights on innovation technology and business ideas

Innovation and technology are fundamentally impacting financial development and were a key focus at this year's AFF. Two technology trailblazers – Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of Reddit and Seven Seven Six, and Luc Julia, Co-creator of Siri, Apple's virtual assistant – shared their insights during keynote sessions on the second day of forum. Mr Ohanian said: "There's an interesting timing opportunity for start-ups in the right place at the right time. Travel is a good example. There is an opportunity right now if you're building the right kind of travel business to seize a large part of the market quickly, because as the vaccine rollout continues, and as we start to beat COVID, there will be a huge appetite for things that fell to basically zero over the past year."

700+ meetings arranged through online matchmaking sessions

The AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session ran on a virtual platform this year, helping to arrange 718 one-on-one meetings between project owners and investors and bringing together investors, project owners and start-ups, breaking the record for the number of companies involved. Investment projects covered areas including the Internet of Things, digital technology, healthtech, fintech, education, environment and energy, food and agriculture, infrastructure and real estate services.

This year's AFF continued to present the Fintech Showcase, FintechHK Startup Salon, InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone. More than 140 local and overseas international financial institutions, technology enterprises, start-ups and investment agencies, including Mox Bank, a start-up group from Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, PAO Bank and Airwallex, came together to give online presentations on the latest trends in fintech innovation and next-generation business ideas, helping industries from different parts of the world to explore investment opportunities. The HKTDC, 500 Startups and FWD Group also jointly presented the inaugural "AFF Accelerate", an open-innovation challenge with eight start-up finalists devising insurance technology solutions to help the insurance industry recruit agents, engage prospects and solve payment problems. "Open innovation" refers to an innovation management model that promotes collaboration with external parties.

Overview of 2021 Asian Financial Forum participants' polling results

1. With the government measures and COVID-19 vaccine in place, when do you expect global economic activity to return to normal? – Polling result
– 2Q 2021 3%
– 3Q 2021 25%
– Beyond one year 55%
– Beyond two years 15%
– Beyond five years 2%

2. Governments worldwide have rolled out relief packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In your view, which of the following measures is the most effective in stimulating economic recovery? – Polling result
– Monetary policy measures such as interest rate reductions 19%
– Tax relief measures such as deferral of corporate income tax payment 21%
– Moratorium on delayed debt repayments for enterprises 15%
– Unemployment assistance 24%
– Stimulus payment in form of vouchers to boost local consumption 21%

3. Which of the following would you consider as the most prominent feature of the post-pandemic economy? – Polling result
– Lower flow of global travellers 12%
– Accelerated adoption of technology in businesses 47%
– Persistently low interest rate 10%
– Deglobalisation 9%
– Rising inequality 22%

4. Global economic outlook in 2021 – Polling result
– Optimistic 32%
– Neutral 47%
– Pessimistic 21%

5. Which of the following economies/regions do you think will offer the best investment return in 2021? – Polling result
– Mainland China 68%
– ASEAN 18%
– USA 7%
– India 4%
– Others 3%

6. The biggest challenge faced by the banking industry in 2021 – Polling result
– Credit risk and quality 32%
– Cyber threats due to increasing digital banking interactions 26%
– Workforce management for a more agile and remote way of working 13%
– Customer relationship and loyalty 4%
– Political risks 25%

Websites
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/
– AFF programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/s/programme
– AFF speakers: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/speaker/main
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3iqxHZu

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 trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.

Media enquiries:
HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HONG KONG, Jan 18, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 14th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) opened today on a virtual platform. Under the theme "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape", the two-day forum runs round the clock across different time zones, examining the current economic landscape and exploring global business opportunities with more than 160 influential policymakers, financial experts, investors, business leaders and economists.

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, officiated at the forum's opening ceremony, saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought both risks and opportunities. She explained that although participants from around the world were not physically able to attend the AFF this year, the online event would still offer invaluable financial wisdom and insights, the opportunity to exchange ideas and build business relations, and a chance to learn more about different alternatives for business investment. Mrs Lam also pointed out that as an international financial centre and one of the world's great business hubs, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to attract tremendous opportunities in the post-pandemic period.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr Peter Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said: "The Asian Financial Forum traditionally opens the new year by bringing together leaders from the financial industry and the corporate world to address the major issues of the day. Given the huge challenges faced globally in 2020, our theme of 'Reshaping the World Economic Landscape' for this year's forum is especially meaningful. The events of last year have not only reshaped the global economy but also led to lasting changes in many aspects of our lives. That is why this year's AFF is more important in helping find ways to address these changes. One thing that's significantly different this year is the digital format for AFF. The power of technology enables us to welcome participants and speakers from every corner of the world to explore ways to facilitate the global economic recovery and explore issues ranging from technology innovation to sustainable development."

Guo Shuqing, Secretary of Party Committee of the People's Bank of China and Chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. He said: "Today's world is witnessing historic changes. Asia may once again play a prominent development role in global civilisation as it did a few centuries ago. As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is embracing the opportunities of the new century. We firmly believe Hong Kong will become more stable and prosperous in its role as a global financial hub. The COVID-19 pandemic will eventually recede. We will work together with other countries to share the opportunities and benefits of globalisation."

Nobel Laureate economist examines current economic outlook

Despite the move to a new online format, AFF continues to feature a star-studded lineup of speakers. Among the keynote speakers this year is Paul Romer, 2018 Nobel Laureate for Economic Sciences and policy entrepreneur, who analysed the current state of the global economy and posited the path towards a new and sustainable growth engine. Mr Romer said that 2020 was the year in which Asia significantly outperformed Europe and the United States, explaining: "The danger in the US and Europe was that people thought they already knew what to do – just doing what they had always done. But this is the mindset that kills innovation."

He believes that, despite the uncertainties, the world has entered a new era with low inflation, low interest rates, and an expected recovery from the pandemic. "If we can maintain that mindset of innovation and experimentation, we can continue to progress," he said.

Reshaping the world economic landscape

The AFF's plenary session addressed the salient issue of "Reshaping the World Economic Landscape". Chaired by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government, the panel's distinguished speakers included Pierre Gramegna, Minister for Finance of Luxembourg; Jin Liqun, President and Chairman of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Bandar M H Hajjar, President of the Islamic Development Bank Group; Marcos Troyjo, President of the New Development Bank; Teresa Czerwinska, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank; and Sean Fleming, Minister of State at the Department of Finance of Ireland. Together they examined how the financial services sector can contribute to the recovery of the global economy and what opportunities await in the new economic landscape.

In the face of the global pandemic, many governments employed unconventional financial policies to roll out large-scale fiscal stimulus packages. The policy dialogue session this morning was themed "Policy Responses to COVID-19", with distinguished speakers including Ahmed Alkholifey, Governor of the Saudi Central Bank; Jessica Chew, Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Malaysia; Ryozo Himino, Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency of Japan; and Martin Raiser, Country Director, China and Mongolia, and Director, Korea of the World Bank. The experts shared insights on the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies in supporting growth, and the implications of the increasing use of financial technology from the perspective of regulators.

Panel addresses global economic outlook and sustainable investment

The global banking industry have been reacting quickly to transform its business in light of the current environment of low interest rates, increased compliance requirements and digital innovation, together with the raft of challenges brought by the pandemic. In the afternoon session titled "Global Economic Outlook", chaired by Victor Chu, Chairman & CEO of First Eastern Investment Group, business leaders from the banking and financial sectors shared their thoughts on the outlook for the global banking industry, while considering how banks should respond to regulatory changes and advances in technology. The distinguished panel of speakers included Laura Cha, Chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Jean Lemierre, Chairman of BNP Paribas; Liu Liange, Chairman of the Board of Bank of China Limited; Urs Rohner, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Credit Suisse Group AG; Jose Vinals, Group Chairman of Standard Chartered PLC; and Wong Kan-seng, Chairman of United Overseas Bank Limited.

As socially responsible investment and impact investment gain stronger ground, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into investment decisions, creating long-term value for corporations and generating higher returns for investors. The discussion on "Responsible and Impact Investment" analysed the long-term prospects for sustainable investing with a panel that included Yoshio Hishida, President of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management; Amy Lo, Chairman, Executive Committee, Private Wealth Management Association, and Head and Chief Executive, UBS Hong Kong Branch; Jena Raby, CEO of Natixis Investment Managers; Vineet Rai, Founder and Chairman of the Aavishkaar Group; and George H Walker, Chairman and CEO of Neuberger Berman. The discussion was chaired by Jonathan Drew, Managing Director, ESG Solutions, Global Banking of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. The subsequent dialogue session with Mark Tucker, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc, took a deeper dive into the topic of climate change and ESG.

Other notable figures sharing their thoughts in the various dialogue sessions today were Lei Zhang, Founder and CEO of Hillhouse Capital Management; and Philippe Brassac, Chief Executive Officer of Credit Agricole SA.

Industry leaders analyse emerging issues

The green economy, 5G and innovation have become important elements of economic development in recent years. The afternoon session, "Greening the Economy with 5G and Innovation", was chaired by Wilson Chow, Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Industry Leader of PwC, with speakers including David Chung, Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology of the HKSAR Government; Grace Hui, Head of Green and Sustainable Finance, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; Gordon Guo, Deputy Head, Internet & Enterprise Solution Division, China Mobile Hong Kong; and Sammie Leung, Climate and Sustainability Leader of PwC Mainland China and Hong Kong.

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are gaining more attention in global markets. As a premier international financial centre and the world's largest offshore renminbi hub, Hong Kong is well positioned to facilitate the exploration and expansion of CBDCs at the cross-boundary level. In a discussion themed "The Evolving Central Bank Digital Currency Landscape", panellists shared insights on potential use cases for CBDCs and how Hong Kong's burgeoning fintech ecosystem can get better equipped for the opportunities that lie ahead. The speakers included the Financial Services Development Council's Chairman, Laurence Li, and Executive Director, Au King-lun; Henri Arslanian, Global Crypto Leader and Partner, PwC; Shusong Ba, Managing Director and Chief China Economist, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and Chief Economist of the China Banking Association; Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government; and Benedicte Nolens, Head of BIS Innovation Hub, Hong Kong Centre.

New "Dialogues for Tomorrow" series explores future of different industries

This year's AFF sees the inauguration of the "Dialogues for Tomorrow" series. The two-day programme will discuss the future of different sectors such as banking, insurance, fintech, energy, healthcare, food and agriculture and big tech. Distinguished speakers taking part include Melissa Guzy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Arbor Ventures; Florian Kemmerich, Managing Partner of Bamboo Capital Partners; Randall S Kroszner, Deputy Dean of Executive Programs and Norman R Bobins Professor of Economics of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Mary Huen, CEO of Hong Kong, Standard Chartered; Maaike Seinebach, General Manager, Hong Kong and Macau of Visa Inc; Sally Wan, CEO of AXA Hong Kong and Macau; Ming Yang, Chief Financial Officer of Daqo New Energy; and Tao Zhang, Founder and Managing Director of Dao Ventures & Dao Foods International.

Online showcase for fintech and start-ups with 140-plus institutions

The AFF includes the Fintech Showcase, FintechHK Startup Salon, InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone, with more than 140 local and overseas international financial institutions, technology enterprises, start-ups and investment agencies coming together to give online presentations on the latest trends in fintech innovation and next-generation business ideas, helping industries from different parts of the world to explore investment opportunities. Exhibitors include Mox Bank, a start-up group from Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, PAO Bank and Airwallex. In addition, this year's AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session again connects investors with project owners from around the world covering different areas including the Internet of Things, digital technology, healthtech, fintech, education, environment and energy, food and agriculture, infrastructure and real estate. With one-on-one meetings organised on a virtual platform this year, a record number of participants is expected.

The InnoVenture Salon continues to empower start-up enterprises by building connections with international investors and potential business partners, joining hands with Hong Kong financial regulators to solve start-up problems. The HKTDC, 500 Startups and FWD Group are also jointly presenting the inaugural "AFF Accelerate", an open innovation challenge inviting start-up entrepreneurs to devise insurance technology solutions for the insurance industry, bringing innovative ideas into the commercial world.

Two keynote speakers and more financial leaders on second day of AFF

Sharing their insights on innovation, artificial intelligence and venture capital investing tomorrow (19 January) will be two keynote speakers, Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of Reddit and Seven Seven Six, and Luc Julia, Co-creator of Siri, Apple's virtual assistant. Kicking off tomorrow's proceedings will be two panel discussions covering "Asset and Wealth Management Industry in the Post-COVID Era" and "Climate Change Risks and Opportunities for Insurance". In addition, a dialogue session moderated by Antony Leung, Group Chairman & CEO of the Nan Fung Group, will feature Stephen A Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone.

Websites
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/
– AFF programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/s/programme
– AFF speakers: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/speaker/main
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3bJfBk6

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 trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Media enquiries:
HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department
Angel Tang, Tel: +852 2584 4544, Email: angel.hc.tang@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com