Tag: hktdc

2023 Toys & Games Fair, Baby Products Fair, Stationery & School Supplies Fair Open Today

  • Return of in-person fairs to embrace opportunities upon border re-opening

As the first round of Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) 2023 trade shows, the 49th HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, the 14th HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and the 21st Hong Kong International Stationery and School Supplies Fair, jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, kick off today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The three fairs will run concurrently until 12 January and bring together more than 1,000 exhibitors to showcase a wide range of inspiring toys, quality baby products and creative stationery.

The physical Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair open today and run until 12 January 2023 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Bernard Chan, Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, delivered an opening speech at the opening ceremony this morning.
Brand Name Gallery at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair presents branded products with outstanding design and innovative functions from over 120 internationally renowned brands.

Sophia Chong, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “With the first phase of the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and Mainland China starting yesterday (8 January), Hong Kong’s business travel is gradually returning to normal. The HKTDC continues to help companies seize opportunities, welcoming over 250 exhibitors from the mainland at the Toys & Games Fair. The Fair is supported by the Guangdong Province Department of Commerce’s Cantonese Business Go Global programme, attracting over 120 exhibitors alone, and more than 1,000 representatives from Guangdong enterprises are expected to participate in the three fairs in-person.”

Ms Chong added: “We are pleased to see that exhibitors at the three fairs are ready to showcase a wide range of uniquely designed toys products, quality and safe products for babies and children as well as personalised and eco-friendly stationery.”

Hong Kong Toys Industry Conference 2023: latest trends and keys to success
The three fairs, themed Play To Bond – Family and Beyond, have attracted exhibitors from 17 countries and regions. One of the flagship events, the Hong Kong Toy Industry Conference 2023, opens tomorrow themed The Future of Play. Clifton Chiu, Research Analyst, Toys and Games of Euromonitor International will present the toy industry’s key trends, while toy industry players will share how to succeed in the business. E-payment agencies and e-commerce companies will also discuss expanding your business through e-commerce. In addition, there will be seminars on smart toys and electronic games, baby products’ market trends, the latest toy safety regulations, toy specifications, testing and certification and other topics.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair have various themed zones for easy sourcing. The highlighted Brand Name Gallery showcases branded products with eye-catching designs and innovative functions, featuring over 120 internationally renowned brands, including 4D Master, Eastcolight, Hape, KEEPPLEY, Ming the Minibus, Welly, Winfun and Marcus & Marcus. During the epidemic, school closures kept children at home for long periods, making educational toys a popular choice.

The Smart-Tech Toys zone presents toys and games that incorporate innovative technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR), allowing consumers to learn while having fun. Kidult World features products for grown-ups, such as model mechs and vintage Paper Cardboard Vending Machine, filled with childhood memories. This year, more than 100 exhibitors showcase green toys, and a special Green Toys label helps buyers identify and source eco-friendly toys, one of the most popular product categories in the industry.

The Hong Kong Baby Products Fair continues to receive support from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency and the Hong Kong Children, Babies, Maternity Industries Association, and once again has two pavilions, bringing diverse baby products to buyers. The popular Korea Pavilion showcases baby fashion, health and bath products, maternity products and more. The Strollers and Gear zone showcases strollers, car seats and bassinets. Other highlighted theme zones include Baby Bedding Items and Furniture and Feeding and Nursery Products.

Jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Hong Kong International Stationery and School Supplies Fair features the latest in creative art supplies, gift stationery, school and office supplies. The organisers continue to cooperate with renowned industry associations in different regions, including the Malaysia Stationery Importers and Exporters Association, the Federation of Stationers and Booksellers Association of Malaysia, the Taiwan Association of Stationery Industries, and the Thai Stationeries and Office Supplies Association, to promote the fair to their respective members.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair run under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, which includes HKTDC-organised physical fairs, the smart business-matching platform Click2Match, online-to-offline seminars under the Intelligence Hub, and the hktdc.com sourcing platform. This extends face-to-face interactions from physical exhibitions to an online smart business-matching platform to help enterprises connect with business partners proactively. The Click2Match platform for the three fairs will be accessible until 19 January, allowing exhibitors and buyers to continue to conduct business discussions online after the physical show.

Fair Websites
– HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair: http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: http://hkbabyfair.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: http://hkstationeryfair.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3vOO1uA

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.

Media enquiries
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Overwhelming interest among global financial leaders to attend 16th Asian Financial Forum

  • First mega financial event of the year examining current state of global economy

The 16th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will once again be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 11 and 12 January to bring together global financial leaders in person. The event will also be accessible virtually. The first large-scale business exchange event of 2023 comes on the heels of the reopening of the Hong Kong-Mainland China border and the resumption of quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and the mainland since the start of the pandemic.

Wilson Chow, PwC Global Technology, Media and Telecommunications Industry Leader; Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director; Mary Huen, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Cluster CEO, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, at Standard Chartered; and Danny Lee, Director of Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association [L-R]

The HKTDC is organising a series of travel experiences, food and accommodation discounts and other opportunities for overseas guests to make the most of their stay in Hong Kong during the AFF and International Financial Week and enjoy the vibrancy of Asia’s World City.

With this year’s theme being Accelerating Transformation: Impact – Inclusion – Innovation, AFF will examine the current state of the global economy and explore major issues, such as trade and sustainable development across more than 40 panel discussions and workshops. Given the interest in hot-button social issues related to international finance and topics such as climate change, health policy, energy and environmental protection, food and agriculture, in addition to the emergence of new economic models from rapid fintech developments like Web 3.0 and the Metaverse, this year’s Forum will launch the Global Spectrum series, while continuing to organise Fireside Chats, to help participants stay current on a wider scope of matters affecting the latest global situation.

17 business delegations, with more than 200 representatives, will attend AFF in person, including from Mainland China, Australia, Canada, Germany, Indonesia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. These also include delegations led by the World Federation of International Financial Centers, Beijing Financial Bureau, Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Shenzhen Financial Bureau, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in Thailand, Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and other organisations. More international business representatives are expected to confirm their in-person participation at the Forum in the coming days.

Mary Huen, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Cluster CEO, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau, at Standard Chartered, said: “For Hong Kong, 2023 will be a year of recovery and the return to normalcy. The imminent and orderly resumption of travel with the Mainland will help stimulate our economy, improve market sentiment, and consolidate Hong Kong’s role as a super connector – bridging the Mainland and the international market. We are glad that this year’s Asian Financial Forum will see global leaders gathering here physically to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the financial industry, reinforcing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.”

Dr Patrick Lau, the HKTDC’s Deputy Executive Director said: “Firstly, given last year’s volatile financial markets and fragile economy globally, transformation is key, as the world in 2023 needs new insights, solutions and opportunities, which the more than 100 global political and business leaders, financial experts, investors, entrepreneurs, tech giants and economists we engaged as our speakers will share with our distinguished AFF participants. Secondly, with the resumption of quarantine-free travel between the mainland and Hong Kong and the lifting of international travel restrictions in Hong Kong, we are pleased to see huge interest to join AFF, including attending in-person in Hong Kong. We believe that the AFF platform enables all participants to have closer interactions and create more business opportunities. Another big attraction is, of course, that the participants will introduce their projects at AFF to secure partners or investors. AFF will attract global financial leaders and professionals to participate in person as well as online, and will once again showcase Hong Kong as a vibrant international business centre.”

Comprehensive analysis of the latest social and financial situation
This year’s forum gathers financial experts from all over the world. Three keynote speakers, Ban Ki-moon, eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations; Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; and Christina Figueres, co-founder of Global Optimism and former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will share their insights on topics, such as multilateral cooperation for sustainable development, diversification and integration, climate action and net zero emissions.

Other distinguished guest speakers include Valerie Baudson, Chief Executive Officer of Amundi; Gu Shu, Chairman of the Agricultural Bank of China; Takeshi Kunibe, Chairman of the Board of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners; Dr Ridha Wirakusumah, Chief Executive Officer of the Indonesia Investment Authority; Mark Tucker, Group Chairman of HSBC; Dr Jose Vinals, Group Chairman of Standard Chartered; and Liu Jin, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and President, Bank of China. Their insights will offer an in-depth look at the state of play of global finance, opportunities in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area markets, asset and wealth management, ESG and green finance, family office ecosystems, impact investing, inclusive finance and more.

Norman Chan, Chairman of RD Wallet Technologies, will have a dialogue with Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect on creating an inclusive capital market; Jeremy Coller, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Coller Capital, will share his views on ESG in private equity investment; Evan Auyang, Group President of Animoca Brands, Dr Giovanna Graziosi Casimiro, Head of Metaverse Fashion Week of Decentraland and Sebastian Fahey, EVP, Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead, Metaverse of Sotheby’s, will look at NFTs and digital collectable trends. (For the full list of AFF speakers and programmes, please visit https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speaker and https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en )

AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session extended to showcase fintech solutions
The popular AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, will provide investment matching services in hybrid format. The first two days of matchmaking meetings (11 and 12 January) will allow participants to meet at the physical Forum venue and will continue online until 17 January, offering investors and project owners a prolonged period to connect and explore collaboration opportunities. The investment projects covered will span diverse sectors, such as deep tech, digital technology and media, healthtech, education, infrastructure and real estate services, with an eye towards facilitating connections between investors and project managers. More than 600 Deal Flow matchmaking meetings are expected to be held.

There will also be featured exhibition zones – both physical and online. These are Fintech Showcase, the InnoVenture Salon, FintechHK Startup Salon and the Global Investment Zone, which will showcase various innovative technologies. More than 120 local and international financial institutions, tech companies, start-ups, investment agencies and sponsors – including PwC, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, HSBC, UBS, China International Capital Corporation, Huatai International, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, as well as Cyberport – will gather at the Forum to showcase technologies of tomorrow and global investment opportunities.

Travel experiences, food and accommodation discounts, and more for overseas participants
To encourage overseas AFF delegates to make the most of their stay and experience the vitality of Hong Kong outside the Forum, the HKTDC has for the first time partnered with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Klook, the Lan Kwai Fong Group and hotels to offer travel experiences, food and accommodation discounts, coupled with other special offers to showcase Hong Kong as a popular tourist, conference and exhibitions destination. As the HKSAR Government announced the resumption of quarantine-free travel between the Mainland and Hong Kong in a gradual and orderly manner last month, the HKTDC extends the special offer for an admission pass to 8 January, on top of the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme, in the hope of driving more participation.

Websites
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/en/
– Members of the media interested in interviewing speakers at the Asian Financial Forum can email tleung@yuantung.com.hk or ayiu@yuantung.com.hk by 9 January 2023.
– HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3CvC7to

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,

Media enquiries
Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@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
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Baby Products Fair and Stationery & School Supplies Fair open next Monday

HKTDC kicks off 2023 with three large scale trade events

The 49th HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, the 14th HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and 21st Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 9 to 12 January 2023. The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair are organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), while the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair is jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

John Tong, HKTDC Toys Advisory Committee Chairman, Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director and Judy Cheung, Deputy General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, attended the press conference to share highlights and innovative products.
Exhibitors at the Toys & Games Fair displays an AR Animal Revival – Lion toy. By scanning the link on the lion’s body, it shows a lion in vivid detail, enabling children to learn about the animal’s habits and habitat and capture a photo with the lion by smartphone.
The Pandas’ Bamboo House from a Hong Kong exhibitor is made of wood and eco-friendly, renewable materials to nurture children’s imagination and creativity while raising their awareness about the environment.

The pandemic and disruption on cross-border trade flows between Mainland China and Hong Kong has affected Hong Kong’s export. However, the resumption of cross-border land transportation between the Mainland and Hong Kong will help strengthen the momentum of Hong Kong’s export growth to the Mainland. Although total exports of last year have not been announced, it is expected to fall 6%. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s tight regional supply chain with some Asian markets led to double-digit export growth. In the first 11 months of 2022, Hong Kong’s exports to ASEAN grew by 9.9% year-on-year, while they surged 11.6% and 11.2% to Taiwan and Korea, respectively.

Looking ahead to 2023, while trade frictions between the US and China persist and the geopolitical situation between Russia and Ukraine remains tense, cross-border land transport between Hong Kong and the Mainland is expected to return to normal in February to March this year. Coupled with exports to the ASEAN markets, the HKTDC forecasts a 5% increase in Hong Kong’s total exports in 2023.

Sophia Chong, the Deputy Executive Director of HKTDC, said, “With the theme of Play To Bond – Family and Beyond, the three fairs will feature more than 1,000 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, including diverse group pavilions. The Toys & Games Fair’s Mainland China pavilion will showcase over 250 exhibitors. Supported by the Guangdong Province’s Department of Commerce’s Cantonese Business Go Global, over 120 Guangdong exhibitors will participate in the Fair. In response to the imminent border reopening and resumption of quarantine-free travel between Mainland China and Hong Kong, the HKTDC will welcome over 1,000 Guangdong enterprises representatives.”

Ms. Chong continued, “The Baby Products Fair will once again have a Korean pavilion, showcasing high-quality Korean baby products. The HKTDC has invited many local and overseas entities to visit the three fairs, including importers, department stores, specialty shops, retail chains and etailers.”

Innovative products by over 120 international brands
The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair will offer a number of themed zones for easy sourcing.

The Brand Name Gallery at both fairs will feature unique and innovative products by over 120 internationally renowned brands, including Eastcolight, Hape, KEEPPLEY, Rastar, Welly, Marcus & Marcus and more.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair’s Kidult World will features products for grown-ups, such as classic comic book character models and Hong Kong Softee Car Building Blocks, while the Smart-Tech Toys zone will showcase toys and games using innovative technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR). Green toys, currently the industry’s must-haves, will also be on view.

With the support of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Hong Kong Children, Babies, Maternity Industries Association, the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair will again feature two pavilions, offering a wide range of baby products to buyers. The popular Korea Pavilion will have on display baby fashion, health and bath products, maternity products and more, while the Strollers and Gear zone will showcase a range of strollers, car seats and bassinets. Other zones include Baby Bedding Items and Furniture as well as Feeding and Nursery Products.

Jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair will feature the latest in creative art supplies, gift stationery, and school and office supplies. The organisers continue to cooperate with renowned industry associations in different regions, including the Malaysia Stationery Importers and Exporters Association, the Federation of Stationers and Booksellers Association of Malaysia, the Taiwan Association of Stationery Industries and the Thai Stationeries and Office Supplies Association, to promote the fair to their respective members.

A series of exciting events to network and stay informed
One of the flagship events, the Hong Kong Toy Industry Conference 2023, will be held on 10 January. On the theme of The Future of Play, a representative from Euromonitor International will analyse key trends in the toy industry in 2023. Industry experts from Animoca Brands, Medialink Group and Eastcolight will talk about the key to success in brand development while representatives from iClick Interactive, AlipayHK and Toy2R Group will share how e-commerce is shaping the way for the toyindustry. In addition, there will be seminars on smart toys and electronic games, an overview of baby products market trends, the latest toy safety regulations, testing and certification and other topics.

The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair will run under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, which comprises four key exhibition elements, including HKTDC-organised physical fairs, HKTDC’s smart business-matching platform Click2Match, online-to-offline seminars under the Intelligence Hub and the hktdc.com Sourcing platform.

This extends face-to-face interactions from physical exhibitions to an online smart business matching platform to help enterprises connect with business partners proactively. EXHIBITION+ provides round-the-clock services that boost the flexibility and effectiveness of business promotion for SMEs and offer benefits such as extended fair periods, expanded platforms and enhanced opportunities.

The HKTDC encourages exhibitors and buyers to make full use of the Click2Match platform, while participating in the physical exhibitions to explore more business opportunities. The Click2Match platform for the three fairs will be accessible until 19 January, which is equivalent to extending the exhibition period by one week.

The Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (10-11 January) and the Asia Financial Forum (11-12 January) will be held concurrently with the three fairs, to kick off the trade sourcing cycle in 2023.

Fair Websites
– HKTDC Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair: http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: http://hkbabyfair.hktdc.com/
– Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: http://hkstationeryfair.com/
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3Gj6rbD

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.

Media enquiries
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

Heavyweights to speak as AFF opens conference year

  • Forum returns in physical format, drawing more than 100 policymakers and business leaders as speakers

The 16th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held on 11 and 12 January next year in hybrid format.

Ban Ki-Moon, eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations and more policymakers and business leaders will deliver keynote speeches at AFF 2023.
Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Christiana Figueres, Co-Founder of Global Optimism and Former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Themed “Accelerating Transformation: Impact – Inclusion – Innovation”, the Forum will include addresses from more than 100 global business leaders, policymakers, financial and wealth management experts, entrepreneurs, tech giants and economists who will share their views on issues related to global finance, economy, trade and sustainability. The Forum will also provide a platform to connect participants for business and investment opportunities to strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.

As the restrictions on arrivals have been relaxed, more international business travellers are expected to visit Hong Kong and participate in international conferences. To promote the vitality of the city, the HKTDC has curated a variety of exclusive benefits for AFF delegates from overseas, enriching their stay beyond the two-day forum.

Speakers include the Former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

As the premier financial and business forum and the first large-scale business exchange event kicking off the new year, AFF assembles more than 100 heavyweight thought leaders to examine ways to formulate better business strategies and develop a blueprint for sustainable growth after a turbulent 2022, and explore how global corporates can work together to create a resilient economic landscape through innovation and inclusion. This year’s forum draws a number of policymakers and business leaders to share their views, including the following three eminent keynote speakers:

– Ban Ki-moon, eighth Secretary-General of the UN
Ban Ki-moon served as Secretary-General of the UN between 2007 and 2016. During his tenure, he focused on the response to global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and food and energy crisis. He will deliver his keynote address and share his insights on coping with global challenges and promoting sustainable development with multilateral cooperation on the first day of Forum (11 January).

– Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Helen Clark was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. Throughout her tenure, she engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres. She will deliver her keynote address under the theme of equality and diversity on the second day of Forum (12 January).

– Christiana Figueres, Co-founder of Global Optimism and Former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Christiana Figueres is an internationally recognised leader fostering climate action. As the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change from 2010 to 2016, she actively coordinated climate change initiatives to jointly deliver the 2015 Paris Agreement. She will discuss the latest trends in climate action and net-zero policies on the second day of Forum (12 January).

Discussion sessions on hot market topics
The two-day Forum will include more than 40 discussion sessions, featuring heavyweight financial, government and business leaders to shed light on major topics, including global economic outlook, regional trade collaborations such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, asset and wealth management, environment, social and governance (ESG) and green finance, insurance and risk management, family office ecosystem, philanthropy and impact investing, financial inclusion, decentralised finance (DeFi), Web3 and Metaverse, monetary reforms and central bank digital currencies (CBDC) opportunities.

In the main panel discussions, international financial and business leaders including Valerie Baudson, Chief Executive Officer of Amundi; Takeshi Kunibe, Chairman of the Board, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Robert F. Smith, Founder, Chairman & CEO of Vista Equity Partners; Mark Tucker, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings; Dr Jose Vinals, Group Chairman, Standard Chartered; Dr Ridha Wirakusumah, CEO of Indonesia Investment Authority and James Turner, Group Chief Financial Officer, Prudential will examine macroeconomic trends amid the epidemic recovery and external uncertainties, and key market opportunities.

Tackling environmental challenges, energy and food crises has become top of the agenda on global level. Rapid development of Web3 and other financial technologies have also shaped the future of economy. In light of this, AFF will establish the Global Spectrum series, together with the Fireside Chat, to discuss various disruptive innovations and initiatives in society, covering venture capital and start-up ecosystem, transition to net-zero and ESG standard-setting, food security, health equity, metaverse and non-fungible token (NFT) and more. Speakers include Prof KC Chan, Senior Advisor, WeLab; Luanne Lim, Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC; Benedicte Nolens, Head of the Hong Kong Centre, BIS Innovation Hub; Alfred Chuang, General Partner, Race Capital; Andrew Schwabecher, CEO & Representative Director, Japan Computer Vision Corp. and Adam Litle, Chief Executive Officer, Sound Agriculture. The Dialogues for Tomorrow series will also invite forward-looking industry leaders, including Sebastian Fahey, EVP, Managing Director, EMEA and Executive Lead, Metaverse, Sotheby’s; Jeremy Coller, CIO, Managing Partner and Founder of Coller Capital and Charles Li, Founder and Chairman of Micro Connect.

AFF Deal Flow in hybrid mode with extended period
In addition to gathering global financial and business leaders to share insights, the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association will again co-organise the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session. The first two days of the matchmaking meeting (11 and 12 January) will allow participants to meet at the physical Forum venue, and continue online till 17 January with a digital extension, offering investors and project owners prolonged period to connect and explore collaboration opportunities. The matchmaking projects will cover industries ranging from deep technology, digital technology and media, medical technology, education and infrastructure to real-estate services. A function for identifying ESG-integrated projects debuted last year has also been enhanced to facilitate business matching.

Nearly 100 exhibitors showcase new technologies and investment opportunities
The AFF will also house nearly 100 local and overseas exhibitors, international financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups and investment promotion agencies and sponsors including PwC, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, HSBC, UBS, China International Capital Corporation, Huatai International, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and Cyberport to showcase leading financial technologies. Three highlighted zones, including Fintech Showcase, InnoVenture Salon and FintechHK Start-up Salon will allow on-site participants to experience technologies of tomorrow.

Wide array of exclusive discounts and privileges for overseas delegates
As the first large-scale business exchange event in 2023, the HKTDC has curated a variety of exclusive travel, food and hotel discounts and privileges in collaboration with Hong Kong Tourism Board, Klook, LKF Concepts and hotels to encourage AFF delegates from overseas to make the most out of their stay and experience the vitality of Hong Kong outside the Forum.

Participants who register now can enjoy an early bird discount. More activity details, speaker line-up and media registration arrangements will be announced in early January.

Website
– Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en
– AFF Programme List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/info-programme
– AFF Speaker List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speaker
– Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3FklQrP

Members of the media interested in interviewing AFF 2023 speakers can send an email to tleung@yuantung.com.hk or ayiu@yuantung.com.hk on or before 5 January 2023.

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.

Media enquiries
Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Tiffany Leung, Tel: +852 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
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
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

HKTDC Export Index 4Q22: Hong Kong exports expected to grow 5% in 2023

  • Normalisation of cross-border trucking boosts export momentum

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) projects that Hong Kong’s exports will grow 5% next year – a recovery from the 6% decline this year. HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan said: “Hong Kong’s exports will gradually regain growth momentum amid the receding pandemic, easing of COVID-19 restrictions and resumption of cross-border land transportation.”

HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan (R) and Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang announced the HKTDC Export Index for the fourth quarter of 2022 and export forecast for 2023 at a press conference today (15 December)
HKTDC Director of Research Irina Fan
HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang

The latest HKTDC Export Index survey shows that significantly more exporters indicated businesses were no longer suffering from pandemic-related problems (up 10.6 percentage points from the previous quarter to 32.7%), with progress made towards resolving the challenge of high transportation costs and logistics bottlenecks.

Yet, more respondents said buyers haggled over prices (25.7%, up 9.3 percentage points) and reduced order sizes (40.1%, up 5.0 percentage points). Most respondents said they expected sales next year to decrease (49.4%) or remain on a par with sales this year (28.3%). “Lingering geopolitics, coupled with the risk of global stagflation, has dampened consumer sentiment and business confidence,” Ms Fan explained.

Recessions risks
The risks of an economic slowdown or recession in major markets (36.2%) and difficulties in cross-border travel (21.1%) have become exporters’ key concerns. In response, most said they would develop new products (50.0%), stabilise cash flow (34.6%) and cut costs (30.5%) in the coming year. Other business strategies to be adopted included lowering minimum order quantities, increasing the use of e-commerce for sales and purchases as well as enhancing marketing, promotional or business matching activities.

“High inflation and high interest rates will weaken purchasing power and consumers’ desire in the European and American markets. Meanwhile, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has become the bright spot for the city’s exports. Local exporters should also pay more attention to the opportunities in the Mainland China market. Product-wise, toys and timepieces related to smart and intellectual property (IP) will have higher chance,” Ms Fan said.

Sentiment edges down
The HKTDC interviewed some 500 Hong Kong exporters in mid-November for the survey to gauge business confidence about near-term export prospects. Respondents come from six major industries – clothing, electronics, jewellery, machinery, timepieces and toys. Readings above 50 indicate a positive sentiment, while below 50 is negative.

The HKTDC Export Index dropped 3.1 points from the previous quarter to 29.7. “The uncertainties led by slowing global demand has affected exporters’ sentiments,” said HKTDC Assistant Principal Economist (Greater China) Alice Tsang.

Machinery, watches outperform
Ms Tsang added that machinery (38.3, up 3.4 points) was the most upbeat sector, followed by timepieces (36.8, up 3.0 points), while jewellery recorded a sharp fall of 13.4 points to 30.8. Other sectors such as toys (28.9, down 8.1 points) and fashion (23.8, down 7.4 points), also dropped significantly.

It is worth nothing that all major markets recorded declines. Exporters have more confidence in Asian countries, with Japan topping the table at 47.2, followed by Mainland China (44.4) and the ASEAN bloc (43.5). They, however, remained less optimistic about the EU (40.4) and the US (40.2) markets, as persistent inflationary pressures and the likelihood of recession were set to hamper demand.

Growth in Asia
In the first 10 months of 2022, Hong Kong’s total exports fell 4.4% over the same period last year. This was mainly due to pandemic disruption on cross-border trade flows between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the city’s exports to key major Asian markets saw double-digit growth, as the intra-regional supply chain expanded. For instance, Hong Kong’s exports to the ASEAN bloc increased 12.6% year-on-year, while they surged 15.0% and 13.5% to Taiwan and Korea, respectively.

However, Hong Kong’s exports to the US showed no growth and shipments to the EU fell 2.9% during the same period, as aggressive central bank monetary tightening, high energy and food inflation as well as the lingering Russia-Ukraine conflict dampened consumer and business sentiment.

New products, new opportunities
Looking ahead, it is expected that toys exports will benefit from new 3D live-action games, and other peripheral products derived from film, TV and video games. Household electrical appliance exports will also pick up next year, as many restaurants, hotels and offices resume normal operations.

New products, such as robot vacuum cleaners and sound-activated light switches, also appeal to consumers. Moreover, smartwatches with more advanced health and wellness functions, such as electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and blood oxygen readouts are becoming more popular.

To view our press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

References
– HKTDC Research website: http://research.hktdc.com/
– HKTDC Export Index 4Q22: Local Exporter Confidence Falters in Face of Global Economic Slowdown https://bit.ly/3FNwCIz
– Covid Legacy and Global Economic Downturn Impact Hong Kong’s 2023 Export Outlook https://bit.ly/3FOh7QH
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3FOi7nI

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.

Media enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC’s Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Beatrice Lam, Tel: +852 2584 4049, Email: beatrice.hy.lam@hktdc.org

Entrepreneur Day and Start-up Express help innovators adapt to the post-pandemic era

Guiding entrepreneurs through maturing ecosystem

Seeking a balance between the youthful enthusiasm of start-ups and steady performance of established firms has become a key issue for Hong Kong, as its entrepreneur ecosystem matures. The HKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-day) and Start-up Express International, organised by The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), brought together industry leaders, experts, start-ups and participants to discuss the shift towards sustainable and inclusive growth within the international start-up universe and how start-ups can address the pressing challenges of the post-pandemic era. The three-day E-Day ran from 30 November to today and included the debut of the Start-up Express International entrepreneurship development programme.

Under the theme “Balance Beyond the Boom”, the E-day attracted over 9,000 attendees and viewers from 44 countries and regions to the hybrid exhibition and seminars
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, E-day incorporated the 12th World SME Summit, co-organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business
Overseas start-ups from Mainland China, Germany and Korea discuss health tech trends with three Hong Kong Start-up Express winners

Under the theme “Balance Beyond the Boom”, E-day and Start-up Express International offered physical and online seminars and exhibitions. More than 60 industry experts and renowned speakers analysed venture capital trends, offering insights on emerging industries and strategies for business expansion in a post-pandemic new normal through a series of forums, exhibitions, workshops and networking events. The event attracted over 9,000 attendees and viewers from 44 countries and regions to the hybrid exhibition and seminars.

HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said: “E-day saw entrepreneurs from different sectors exchange their views on the various trends shaping the world of business. In particular, we are delighted that outstanding Hong Kong start-ups shone alongside their global peers at the pioneering Start-up Express International. The contest between local and international start-ups inspires enhanced business models and nurtures start-ups locally and globally. We believe E-day has served as an exceptional occasion to showcase Hong Kong’s supportive infrastructure for the incubation of young businesses which will surely attract even more outstanding start-ups looking to expand operations in Hong Kong.”

Fundraising in a competitive environment
Winning an investor’s trust takes more than just a compelling pitch. Gaining trust has become even more challenging during the pandemic, where investors are cautious with fund deployment. On the first day of E-day, Eric Manlunas, Founder & Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners, shared how venture capital firms had positioned themselves amid heightened volatility in the plenary session T-Chat – Global VC Investment: Rise or Fall. Mr Manlunas offered guidance on how early-stage businesses can convince investors of their potential and thrive, especially when venture capital investors are cautious about expanding portfolios.

Innovators transform entrepreneurship and economy
As non-fungible tokens (NFTs) transcend their initial role as assets and have evolved into a marketing tool, more entrepreneurs are considering NFTs as core business functions. The seminar “NFT: Eye Candy or Key to Gold?” debated whether NFTs are pure gimmicks or can expand business in a concrete way. Representatives discussed the tangible impact NFTs had on brand value and how they boosted business opportunities.

Meanwhile, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, E-day included the 12th World SME Summit, co-organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business. Under the theme “Achieving re-industrialisation through innovation in the new era”, Herbert Chia, JP, Venture Partner of Sequoia Capital China, and Dr Denis Yip, CEO of ASTRI, discussed how small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs in Hong Kong could transform and re-industrialise via digitalisation and application of emerging technologies including 5G, IoT and metaverse.

The hot investment trend of sustainability has joined hands with innovation and entrepreneurship to promote a circular economy. The E-day gathered like-minded companies to explain creating sustainable supply chains, contributing to a more sustainable society. Melanie Kwok, Assistant General Manager (Sustainability) of Sino Group, outlined the Group’s experience in implementing sustainability strategies and how start-ups had helped the conglomerate achieve sustainability goals and created shared values. Ms Kwok said the Group was delighted to collaborate with two Hong Kong start-ups – archiREEF and Clearbot – to drive conservation and environmental protection in Hong Kong, and looked forward to more projects on sustainability.

Fresh start-ups meet regional names
On the final day, technology start-ups described their successful growth into regionally known brand names. For instance, Jong Yoon Kim, CEO of Yanolja, a leading Korean travel-tech unicorn, explained how it managed to ride out the COVID-19 storm as well as its plans to equip itself for a new wave of growth as international borders re-open. Mr Kim pointed out that big-tech companies such as Amazon, Netflix and Google had come to dominate many global industries but such a player had yet to emerge in the travel sector, presenting an opportunity for Yanolja to potentially fill that void. He also shared the vision and strategy to transform Yanolja into the world’s leading global travel platform.

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) is a short-term payment model that has grown in popularity among merchants and consumers, especially within the retail industry. In the afternoon, Trasy Lou Walsh, Regional Managing Director (SG, MY, HK, PH) of Atome, Asia’s leading BNPL brand, described the model’s landscape and its increasingly intense competitive environment as more credit card companies and banks joined the field to provide similar payment solutions to businesses.

Start-up Express International
To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Start-up Express entrepreneurship development programme organised by HKTDC, Start-up Express International debuted on the second day of E-day, fostering discussions among innovative minds from all over the world across overseas start-ups and their local counterparts. The programme aims to encourage high-calibre foreign start-ups to set up in Hong Kong, and is supported by global partners from Belgium, Mainland China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

During Start-up Express International, 10 overseas winners shared the stage with eight Hong Kong Start-up Express laureates to discuss industry insights and their entrepreneurship journeys. The 10 global winners were selected by a panel of professional judges earlier. They are:

– inContAlert from Germany
– Contents.com from Italy
– Closer Inc. from Japan
– VegeSense; KnowCarbon; InxMed from Mainland China
– OTECH (Otsuka Technology) from Singapore
– AON from Korea
– MOBIQU from Turkey
– rThreat from the United States

A replay of the event, including highlights of the expo and forum, is available on-demand until 2 January 2023: https://eday.hktdc.com/conference/eday/en/programme

Websites
– HKTDC Entrepreneur Day: https://portal.hktdc.com/eday/en
– Start-up Express International: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/start-up-express-international
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3FhlKCl

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.

Media enquiries
Please contact Hill+Knowlton Strategies:
Joyce Kwong, Tel: +852 6842 5929, Email: joyce.kwong@hkstrategies.com
Nannerl Yau, Tel: +852 6846 7888, Email: nannerl.yau@hkstrategies.com

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

‘Balance Beyond the Boom’ – HKTDC Entrepreneur Day helps start-ups prepare for the post-pandemic landscape

  • Inaugural ‘Start-up Express International’ gets international and local start-ups talking

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announces the launch of Entrepreneur Day, a three-day (30 November to 2 December) event with the theme of ‘Balance Beyond the Boom’. Packed with a hybrid mix of online and physical seminars and exhibitions, the event explores a diverse range of developments in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through forums, exhibitions, workshops, and networking events in the “Start-up Arena”, industry leaders, experts, start-ups and participants learn how to achieve business success in the post-pandemic world. The first-ever “Start-up Express International” will also be held on 1 December bringing together local and international start-ups to exchange views and share experience, as well as encourage overseas expansion.

Organised by HKTDC, Entrepreneur Day began today. Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, delivered the welcoming remarks.
During the seminar, “T-Chat – Global VC Investment: Rise or Fall”, Eric Manlunas, Founder & Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners, Duncan Chiu, Council Member (Technology and Innovation) of HKSAR Legislative Council, and Karena Belin, Co-founder of AngelHub & WHub, provided their outlook for the global venture capital market next year.
The “Start-up Zone” and “The Boosters” showcased over 30 start-ups and start-up supporting companies.

Welcoming participants to the event, Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “We are delighted to host Entrepreneur Day in hybrid format for the first time. The pandemic has caused considerable disruption to market economies across the world. It has also hit entrepreneurs hard. Yet, I am encouraged by the new and emerging opportunities entrepreneurs are seizing, including in the digital economy. Indeed, entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of our global economy. Just like the pandemic, they disrupt the status quo. They challenge convention to enable progress. They accelerate innovation and economic growth across the globe.”

“Under the theme ‘Balance Beyond the Boom’, we will explore the trajectory of the global start-up ecosystem since the start-up boom and help start-ups gain a foothold in key markets, especially the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. To celebrate the Start-up Express’s 5th anniversary, we will launch its international series on Entrepreneur Day, when outstanding overseas early-stage start-ups will be invited to share the stage with Start-up Express winners.”

Charting the way forward with advice from experts
Entrepreneur Day featured several seminars beginning with “T-Chat – Global VC Investment: Rise or Fall?”. According to data from Dealroom, venture capital firms invested more than $675 billion in start-ups worldwide in 2021 or double the amount from the previous year. However, global capital markets have seen heightened volatility this year despite the fading impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eric Manlunas, Founder & Managing Partner of Wavemaker Partners, Duncan Chiu, Council Member (Technology and Innovation) of HKSAR Legislative Council, and Karena Belin, Co-founder of AngelHub & WHub, reviewed their investments in 2022 and shared their outlook for the global venture capital market next year. They also offered advice on how entrepreneurs can better equip themselves to raise funds in a potentially difficult environment.

Eric Manlunas said: “Despite the uncertainties of the current macro environment, global venture capital is here to stay, given the social utility it provides. Venture capital is a strong catalyst for innovation and business formation, thus its purpose is more compelling than ever [before], in spite of the current macroeconomic challenges”.

Duncan Chiu said: “Keep tracking talents. Talents attract talents. Fintech is not just [about] technologies, but still has to comply with international regulations”.

In a fast-changing world, start-ups need to be able to adapt to a dynamic environment while still being cautious about funding. The “Capture Funds at Critical Times” workshop featured Mingles Tsoi, Chief eXploration Officer of ParticleX, who has guided local and international technology start-ups through the challenges of fundraising, and Brian Tsui, Co-Founder of the Chicago Booth Angels Network, who shared their personal experience and advise to start-ups on their fundraising strategies and planning.

Enhancing customer experience with NFTs to create business opportunities
With non-fungible tokens (NFTs) becoming the talk of the town, Lucas Cheung, Managing Partner of leading Asian brand technology firm Gusto Collective, and Nick Lau, founder of digital luxury Web3 platform WEAR, shared their insights on the application of NFTs in the entertainment and fashion space. Cheung discussed how his company has enhanced brand value and opened doors to new opportunities through immersive customer experiences. Lau shared how WEAR has integrated physical products with digital collectibles and the company’s successful collaborations with world-renowned brands.

Propelling re-industrialization of Hong Kong – the springboard to the GBA
With a mature ecosystem for start-ups to thrive in, Hong Kong is well-known for its business-friendly environment and for incubating outstanding enterprises. In the panel discussion “Entrepreneurship in HK – Scaling up through Hong Kong”, previous winners of the Start-up Express competition shared their experience of starting a business in the city. The panel discussion involved Justin Chan, CEO & Co-Founder of Gense Technologies, KK Chiu, Co-Founder & CEO of Zeek, and Mazing Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Lify Company Limited.

The 12th World SME Summit, co-organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Businesses, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and aimed to facilitate re-industrialisation in Hong Kong. The summit had the theme of “Achieving re-industrialisation through innovation in the new era” with discussions considering ways to expedite Hong Kong’s re-industrialisation efforts. In the session, Herbert Chia, Venture Partner of Sequoia Capital China, pinpointed the benefits of applying innovative technology from an investor’s perspective.

Turning waste into gold for a circular economy
With investors increasingly looking to support the recycling sector, Shrikanth Narasimha, Director of Sustainability and Supply Chain, Far East, Mainetti (HK) Limited, detailed the development of closed-loop recycling of plastic materials and the use of blockchain in the recycling process. Meanwhile, Rachel Barr, Vice President of Sustainability from the Israeli start-up UBQ Materials, shared the firm’s work to transform domestic waste into plastic products in collaboration with Mainetti (HK), while Ricci Wong, Founder and CEO of social enterprise HK Timberbank, explained how his start-up helps sort, cut, and dry damaged trees, recycling them into commercial timber and furniture.

Exhibiting innovations from emerging industries
The Entrepreneur Day exhibition also gathered more than 130 start-ups showcasing innovative products and technology as well as support services for the start-up ecosystem. The exhibition helped participants find business opportunities, secure professional advice and connect with potential business partners. The “Start-up Zone” showcased start-ups from a wide array of industry verticals ranging from medical and biotechnology products, green and food technology, to fintech and edtech. “The Boosters” featured organisations and government bodies supporting start-ups with the latest market insights and consulting services.

Start-up Express International – Fostering connections between local and global start-ups
To mark the 5th anniversary of “Start-up Express”, a start-up incubation programme, the HKTDC will launch “Start-up Express International” tomorrow during Entrepreneur Day 2022 where ten international start-ups from countries including Belgium, Mainland China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States with diverse technology backgrounds like health, education, smart cities, and agriculture, to blockchain, robo-technology, and marketing, will share their experiences together with the local winners of Start-up Express.

The HKTDC selected 30 international start-ups before choosing the final ten. Among those 30 international firms, many of which have won awards in the Mainland and overseas, are InxMed, a biotech company in Mainland China working on developing innovative therapies for tumour resistance and metastasis; inConAlert, a German healthtech company offering a wearable medical sensor; Mobbi, an Italian technology start-up that introduced the world’s first portable power bank rental app; and SynCom Agritech, a Japanese agritech start-up. They all hope to contribute to solving livelihood, social and environmental problems through innovative business ideas and new technology.

The top 10 winners of the competition were: inContAlert from Germany, Contents.com from Italy, Closer Inc. from Japan, VegeSense; KnowCarbon; InxMed from Mainland China, OTECH (Otsuka Technology) from Singapore, AON from South Korea, MOBIQU from Turkey, and rThreat from the United States. The winning start-ups will gain access to marketing and technical support, as well as consulting services and concessionary rents by HKTDC, helping them set up a business presence in Hong Kong.

rThreat, one of the winning start-ups, said: “We would like to thank HKTDC for arranging Start-up Express International as it has allowed us a chance to learn from our peers from around the globe, establish business relationships and explore potential business partners.”

The judging panel for Start-up Express International this year comprised Fred Li, Executive Director at Gobi Partners, Francis Pun, Promotions and Community Development Lead at Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and Clara Hong, Senior Manager of Ecosystem Development at Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited.

Alongside Entrepreneur Day, the Business Intellectual Property of Asia Forum will be held from tomorrow to 2 December, serving as an ideal platform for global IP experts and business leaders to investigate the latest trends in the Asian IP market and look for opportunities.

Exhibition and Forum Website
– Entrepreneur Day: https://eday.hktdc.com/conference/eday/en
– Start-up Express International: https://portal.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/s/start-up-express-international
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3VI4VGh

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.

Media enquiries
Please contact Hill+Knowlton Strategies:
Joyce Kwong, Tel: +852 6842 5929, Email: joyce.kwong@hkstrategies.com
Nannerl Yau, Tel: +852 6846 7888, Email: nannerl.yau@hkstrategies.com

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Sunny Ng, Tel: +852 2584 4357, Email: sunny.sl.ng@hktdc.org

Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference concludes

Industry heavyweights explore opportunities to work together

With a lengthy history as a global trading port, Hong Kong this week hosted the 6th edition of Hong Kong Maritime Week. The week’s flagship event was the 12th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), which came to a close today. This signature two-day event for the maritime, air freight, logistics and supply chain management sectors and shippers from diverse manufacturing industries drew more than 90 industry experts and leaders sharing insights at over 30 sessions. ALMAC this year attracted more than 14,000 online and physical participants from over 50 countries and regions.

The 12th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, jointly organised by the Government of HKSAR and HKTDC, concluded successfully today, attracting more than 14,000 physical and online participants from over 50 countries and regions.
Daryl Tay, President, North Asia District of UPS Parcel Delivery Service, said RCEP opens up huge opportunities in Asia.
Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary General of International Chamber of Shipping, said fuel producers and shipowners needed incentives to invest in the uptake of new fuels.

Themed “The Future of the Sustainable Supply Chain: Connectivity, Collaboration, Innovation”, the hybrid-format conference attracted industry players from around the world who expanded business connections and explored partnership opportunities both face-to-face and virtually. Satellite conference venues across Mainland China, the wider Asian region, Australia and Europe also hosted physical events. In addition to relaying the conference from Hong Kong, some satellite venues invited experts to address logistics issues and share their experiences as well as join face-to-face exchanges and business matching activities.

Collaboration on supply chain integration to create opportunities
In the first Power Dialogue session, industry leaders discussed how Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) economies create opportunities by integrating regional trade and supply chains, and discussed strategic plans to capture opportunities. Daryl Tay, President, North Asia District of UPS Parcel Delivery Service, said RCEP opened huge opportunities in Asia. Regional collaboration was the key, so it was important to help SMEs understand the agreements and capitalise on RCEP opportunities.

GBA, decarbonisation and sustainable development
Connectivity is a major component of cooperation among the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) cities. The two maritime forums on day one brought together experts from maritime and technology sectors to examine Hong Kong’s unique role as an international maritime hub. Speakers discussed shipping sustainability, decarbonisation and digitalisation through practical collaborative action and uncovered potential opportunities and benefits switching to sustainable and digitalised shipping. Simon Bennett, Deputy Secretary General of International Chamber of Shipping, said moves towards sustainable supply chains through measures, such as greener fuels, played a key role in supply chain optimisation. Limited time meant it was important that economic measures be developed at a global level because, despite positive progress, investors needed a prompt signal, while fuel producers and shipowners should have incentives to invest in new fuel uptake.

Exhibitors showcase logistics solutions
Complementing the conference, an exhibition featured more than 50 stalls showcasing supply chain solutions and innovative logistics technologies to help SMEs enhance supply chain management. The HKTDC organised business matching meetings for participants and exhibitors to facilitate collaboration.

Hong Kong Maritime Week flagship event
ALMAC is the flagship event of Hong Kong Maritime Week, organised by the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board. The sixth Hong Kong Maritime Week runs from 20 to 26 November to showcase the vibrant Hong Kong maritime industry and promote Hong Kong as a preferred base for maritime business.

ALMAC: https://www.almac.hk/main/en/
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3V2OPqy

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.

Media Enquiries
Please contact Impact Communications Company:
Cindy Chung, Tel: +852 9166 0827, Email: cindy.chung@impact-cc.com
Raymond Lee, Tel: +852 6539 4089, Email: raymond.lee@impact-cc.com

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Clementine Cheung, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

The 12th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference Opens

Industry Experts to Explore Collaboration, Supply Chain Integration and Opportunities

The 12th edition of the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC), jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in person and online. This year’s ALMAC is expected to attract over 14,000 viewers from over 50 countries and regions. At this annual signature event for the maritime, air freight, logistics and supply chain management sectors and shippers from different industries, more than 90 industry experts and leaders will share their insights at close to 30 sessions.

Dr Peter Lam, HKTDC Chairman, said the disruption and delays caused by the pandemic in the past three years have highlighted an urgent need to assess how we can manage supply chains differently, so they are better equipped to withstand future challenges.
The opening session was officiated by Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR.
The 12th edition of the Asia Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference, jointly organised by HKTDC and Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in a hybrid format.

Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC welcomed international delegates to the conference, saying: “In the past year, economies have confronted a myriad of challenges, not least the pandemic, war, inflation and rising energy prices. No country or region, including Hong Kong, is immune to these developments. This attests to how connected our world is today. We may live on opposite sides of the world from each other, but the phenomenon of globalisation has, particularly over the last few decades, intertwined our fates ever closer. The logistics, maritime and aviation industries are a principal driver and guardian of our interconnectedness. In today’s increasingly globalised world, they flourish most in an environment of stability. The resilience and sustainability of global supply chains guarantee their continued growth. The disruption and delays caused by the pandemic in the past three years have highlighted an urgent need to assess how we can manage supply chains differently, so they are better equipped to withstand future challenges.”

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, officiated at the online opening, saying: “There is clear and compelling direction in the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the development plan for the Greater Bay Area. Together, they confirm Hong Kong’s future as both an international shipping centre and a premier international aviation hub. To achieve those goals, Hong Kong will continue to integrate into our country’s overall economic development. We will fully embrace the boundless opportunities they present us, in logistics – and a great deal more. There is, strategic direction, too, in this year’s theme: ‘The Future of the Sustainable Supply Chain: Connectivity, Collaboration, Innovation.’ It hammers home what we need to realise the future we want.”

International speakers analyse the latest trends in the global logistics, shipping and air freight industries

This year’s conference featured a wide range of panel discussions and forums with a strong line-up of speakers. Global industry leaders discussed international and regional collaboration, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), innovation and technology, and sustainable developments from a variety of perspectives.

In the keynote address this morning, Xiangchen Zhang, Deputy-Director General of the World Trade Organization, examined how governments and businesses in the international arena may join forces to mitigate the impact of supply chain disruption.

“Challenges and opportunities are the two sides of the same coin. To address common challenges in global supply chains, we will rely on connectivity, collaboration and innovation,” said Zhang.

This was followed by the Plenary Session featuring global business leaders, including Mathieu Renard Biron, Managing Director of Global Freight Forwarding of Kerry Logistics, Ludovic Renou, CEO of CMA CGM China and Wilkie Wong, Chief Financial Officer of Esquel Group, who discussed how business evolution and supply chain transformation can steer business growth and achieve sustainable development amidst the current economic climate by building connectivity, fostering collaboration and driving innovation.

Mathieu Renard Biron said: “Given all the disruptions of supply chain in the past two years, more opportunities will be coming from Asia while leading to the change of people’s expectations and experiences.” He added that collaborations and partnerships are needed to foster innovation. The use of AI machine learning technology, for example, is part of our new normal.

Air Freight Forum: Hong Kong as an international aviation hub in the post-pandemic era
As an international aviation hub, the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is one of the busiest and most advanced airports in the world. The Air Freight Forum, co-organised with the Airport Authority Hong Kong, discussed HKIA’s “Airport City” vision covering the third runway, express air cargo terminal expansion, the new premium logistics centre, staff training strategies and the synergy created by HKIA and airports in Mainland China.

Maritime Forum: The Way forward
Connectivity is a major component of cooperation among GBA cities. In the first of two Maritime Forums on day one, leaders from the maritime and technology sectors examined Hong Kong’s role as an international maritime hub in the GBA. Industry experts engaged in conversation on shipping sustainability, decarbonisation and digitalisation in the second Forum.

The Power Dialogue, titled “Asia for Asia – Powering the Growth of Supply Chain Networks”, featured Kian Chuan Chang, Regional Director of Customs Brokerage & Trade Compliance of GEODIS APAC (Holdings), Wingco Lo, Executive Vice President of The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Daryl Tay, President, North Asia District of UPS Parcel Delivery Service and Eva Tsang, Assistant Vice President and Executive Director Opal Cosmetics Group. They looked at how RCEP creates opportunities through the integration of regional trade and supply chains and shared their strategic plans for capturing future opportunities.

In the Thematic Session, Terence Chiu, Commissioner of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation, together with Ivy Tse, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of FreightAmigo, shared how businesses can capture opportunities created by supply chain integration in the GBA. This session provided practical insights and solutions for SMEs looking for expansion into the GBA.

Tech experts at InnoTalks underscored game-changing innovative solutions and technologies that are driving advancements in modern logistics and smart supply chain development, helping companies to stay ahead of shifting consumer demands and expectations.

Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Exhibition: Connecting logistics technology and solution providers with shippers
Over 50 exhibitors showcased their latest logistics and supply chain solutions, and innovative technologies to help SMEs enhance their global supply chain management. The HKTDC also arranged business matching sessions for participants to drive more business cooperation.

In addition to the main physical event in Hong Kong, the HKTDC organised ALMAC satellite conferences in Chengdu, Fuzhou, Wuhan, Taiwan, Budapest, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Milan, Paris, Sydney and Warsaw. In addition to running a live broadcast of the Conference, some experts participated in selected satellite venues to address logistics issues and shared experiences from a local perspective.

Shipper’s Forum shares latest fulfilment trends
The newly introduced Shippers’ Forum, titled “E-commerce Fulfillment in Asia”, will be held tomorrow (23 November) with Jenny Hui, General Manager of eBay Hong Kong, Taiwan and Global Emerging Markets sharing latest fulfilment trends and best practices for delivering reliable and agile fulfilment solutions.

In the Power Dialogue on the same day, Pippo Au, Head of Supply Chain of Maxim’s Group and Suzanne Cheung, Head of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability of Swire Coca-Cola Hong Kong, will highlight how companies are marching towards a sustainable supply chain.

In the Closing Session, Chee Choong Ng, Senior Vice President & Managing Director Hong Kong & Macau, DHL Express (Hong Kong), Fox Chu, Partner of McKinsey, John Parkes, Managing Director – Integrated Logistics of Kerry Logistics and Graziano Terenzi, CEO of Inglobe Technologies, will discuss the metaverse and how the logistics industry can make use of robotics, extended reality, augmented reality and other technologies to drive industry development.

Flagship event of Hong Kong Maritime Week
ALMAC is Hong Kong Maritime Week’s flagship event and is organised by the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board and supported by the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council.

ALMAC: https://www.almac.hk/main/en/
ALMAC programme: https://almac.hktdc.com/conference/almac/en/programme
ALMAC speaker list: https://almac.hktdc.com/conference/almac/en/speaker
Photo download: https://bit.ly/3TZdIC6

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.

Media Enquiries
Please contact Impact Communications Company:
Cindy Chung, Tel: +852 9166 0827, Email: cindy.chung@impact-cc.com
Raymond Lee, Tel: +852 6539 4089, Email: raymond.lee@impact-cc.com

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: +852 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org
Clementine Cheung, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: clementine.hm.cheung@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Healthcare and Medical Leaders Gather to Shape the Future of Global Health

New research and innovations in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) are injecting new momentum and creating new opportunities for the regional and global healthcare and medical sectors, as highlighted in the two-day Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH). The second ASGH and the physical element of the 13th edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Healthcare Fair concluded successfully today.

The second Asia Summit on Global Health, co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and HKTDC, and the physical part of the 13th HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair conclude successfully today.
Kenneth Tsang, CEO of Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong and Kyle Wong, PanopticAI CEO & Cofounder (R) signed a MOU on digital healthcare solution improvement on the first day of the Summit, witnessed by Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director (L).

As the flagship events of the first International Healthcare Week initiated by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the summit and fair attracted close to 30,000 online and physical participants from 68 countries and regions. More than 280 one-on-one Deal Flow Matchmaking sessions and 600 business meetings have also been arranged to assist participants in seizing business possibilities. Riding on this year’s success, the HKTDC plans to expand International Healthcare Week in May 2023. In addition to forums and exhibitions, it plans to include more healthcare and medical-related activities to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a leading hub in this globally important industry.

Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, said, “The importance of the medical and healthcare sector to the global economy cannot be overstated, especially during the past three years. As markets across the world gradually recover from the fallout of the pandemic, the health crisis needs to be tackled in tandem. This can only be achieved through collaboration. The pandemic knows no borders and collaboration should not either. It is vital that diverse sectors and players come together and share insights and practical solutions to ensure better efficiency and sustainability in healthcare for the world.”

Shaping the Future of Global Health
The ASGH is co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the HKTDC to help the industry build connections, create business opportunities and highlight the advantages of Hong Kong’s healthcare and medical industries in scientific research, investment and financing as well as its trading platforms.

The Summit featured more than 80 speakers, including healthcare officials and members from international organisations, scientists and medical experts, investors, business leaders, financial specialists and service providers. They shared their insights on a wide range of topics, ranging from healthcare development in Mainland China, the challenges of Ebola and COVID-19, the impact of GBA’s innovation and the role of Hong Kong as both a fundraising and innovation hub. Participants also were given updates about new trends, such as the application of robotics and ethics of artificial intelligence (AI), ESG in healthcare and global challenge of mental health.

At the fireside chat on the first day of the summit, Prof Peter Piot, Chief Scientific Advisor Epidemics and Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission and co-discoverer of the Ebola virus in 1976, shared his views on the challenges in creating a more sustainable future for global health and Asia’s contribution to global health in the years to come.

Prof Piot said: “COVID has definitely been a wake-up call to the importance of developing a sustainable and equitable healthcare system. The reality is that we are very likely entering an era of pandemics, and we must be better prepared. We must also assist the least developed countries, such as [those in] Africa and Southeast Asia, in manufacturing vaccines and other essential medications and developing the infrastructure they need to be ready for the next pandemic. I see this as a collective effort that would benefit the whole world; and everyone, including governments, businesses, civil society and individuals, should contribute in their own way.”

Bring New Perspectives to Universal Issues
On the first day of the Summit, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau remarked during the panel discussion titled “The Next Development of China’s Healthcare Sector” that China had made remarkable progress in healthcare, especially in transforming treatment-oriented and hospital-based services to community-based services. Dr Donald Li, Chairman of the Elderly Commission who chaired the panel, said the high demand for healthcare services in the GBA has created many new opportunities for business and healthcare professionals.

Addressing the audience of a panel discussion titled “How Innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Area Reshapes Global Healthcare”, speakers shared that the GBA, Shenzhen in particular, would be a new base for innovation and research amid the boom of university lab research in the city.

Prof Michael Marmot, Director of the Institute of Health Equity of Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, pointed out at the thematic session titled “Adding Health to ESG: How Can Businesses Impact Health Equity?” that contribution of business and industry to healthcare was crucial. “This is because they have the capacity to improve the health and well-being of employees and customers through goods and services, whilst also making a positive impact on the communities they serve.”

Deal Flow Matchmarking to Facilitate Exchange and Collaboration
The Deal Flow Matchmaking on the first day connected funders from around the world with projects encompassing life sciences, medical apparatus and medicine, digital health, community health and more, with a total of 280 one-on-one meetings scheduled, of which 156 were successfully held on-site.

The hybrid InnoHealth Showcase and exhibition area featured more than 180 projects and solutions from healthcare-related innovative technology enterprises, connecting them with investors around the world as well as potential business partners. A number of biotechnology and healthcare start-ups also took advantage of the Business of Healthcare Advisory Zone, receiving a full range of professional advice from investors and industry experts.

PanopticAI, one of the winners of HKTDC’s Start-up Express 2021, was one example of successful business matching at the Summit. The company uses patented AI and algorithm to instantly obtain health data, such as heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and stress index of subjects through ordinary lenses. They attended ASGH in the hope to expand to the GBA and Southeast Asia. With the support of the HKTDC, PanopticAI signed an MOU with Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong on the first day of the Summit to further apply its research results in Hong Kong hospitals to help more people in needed.

Dr Yuanyuan Yu, Assistant Professor at the School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University commended the Summit’s vibrant atmosphere and she was impressed by the synergy International Healthcare Week provided. The university delegation was able to meet with a lot of potential investors, business partners and academia collaborators and they anticipate further project discussions.

Medical Fair Provides One-stop Platform for Industry Buyers and Professionals
The 13th Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair adopted the HKTDC’s new EXHIBITION+ hybrid model. Its three-day physical exhibition came to a successful close today, while the Click2Match platform that provides smart business matching to help build connections between exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals worldwide will remain active until 18 November.

The fair brought together more than 300 exhibitors from different countries and regions to feature a range of the latest medical technologies and equipment, healthcare and beauty products, healthcare solutions and related services, drawing many buyers and industry professionals to source both on-site and online.

Kenny Lam, Sales Manager of SWS Limited, a local exhibitor that offers textile management solutions for smart hospitals, said the Medical Fair provided a valuable platform for the company to showcase its automated uniform dispensing unit and respond to buyers’ enquiries. He added: “Government officials and buyers from public and private hospitals are very interested in this system after watching our on-site demonstrations. Their feedback is overwhelming!” Additionally, they said they would support this kind of locally invented systems.

Ketkanok Sasibavronyod, Senior Business Development Manager of Thailand’s leading medical device distributor BJC Healthcare Company Limited, travelled to Hong Kong for the Medical Fair to source telemedicine solutions, wearables for health monitoring, medical equipment and elderly care products. She stated: “HKTDC’s Click2Match smart business matching service is very useful. Thanks to it, I found and scheduled to meet in-person with two potential suppliers of elderly care equipment, VR training solutions for elderly rehabilitation and VR therapy solutions. The fair is a good place for me to see new trends in medical equipment too!”

The Medical Fair is co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA). During the show, more than 10 content-rich events were held, including the highlighted HKMHDIA MedTech Forum 2022, with industry professionals keen to participate. Industry players can watch videos of the forum through the fair website.

In addition to the two highlight events, the first International Healthcare Week also featured other related events, including the Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit 2022, the Hong Kong Urological Association 27th Annual Scientific Meeting and the Hong Kong International Optometric Symposium.

Websites
– International Healthcare Week: https://internationalhealthcareweek.hktdc.com/en
– Asia Summit On Global Health: https://www.asiasummitglobalhealth.com/conference/asgh/en
– Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkmedicalfair/en
– Photo download: https://bit.ly/3UwJjMI

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

Media Enquiries
For enquiries please contact:
Asia Summit on Global Health
Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Agnes Yiu, Tel: +852 3428 5690, Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hk
Fung Wong, Tel: +852 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Janet Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4369, Email: janet.ch.chan@hktdc.org
Sam Ho, Tel: +852 2584 4569, Email: sam.sy.ho@hktdc.org

Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.org