Hong Kong to champion multilateral cooperation during Asian Financial Forum, first business event of 2024

Hong Kong is preparing to host the 17th Asian Financial Forum 2024 (AFF), the first significant international financial and business event of the year. The objective of this event is to underscore Hong Kong's role as an international financial centre. The event, scheduled for January 24 to 25, is anticipated to assemble over 100 global policymakers and business leaders as speakers, with more than 3,000 participants from around the globe, according to the organiser, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC).

The keynote speakers will include Professor Douglas Diamond, the Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences for 2022, from the University of Chicago, and Prof Jeffrey Sachs, the president of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Other notable figures such as Bob Price, co-chief investment officer for Bridgewater Associates, Rene Buehlmann, CEO of investments at Abrdn, and Janet Perumal, director of investments, Asia at Wellington Management, will be among the speakers at “CIO Insights”, a newly introduced session at the AFF, together with Chinese financier Fang Fenglei, the founder of private equity firm Hopu Investment. Fang will speak at the China’s New Chapter session.

The AFF aims to provide industry professionals with opportunities to seize potential business and foster cooperation. The event will feature a deal-making session, giving investors and project owners ample time to connect and explore potential collaborations. Luanne Lim, CEO of HSBC Hong Kong and the chairperson of the AFF steering committee, emphasised the importance of multilateral cooperation in the financial services industry. She stated, “The importance of fostering multilateral cooperation cannot be overstated, as it paves the way for speakers and thought leaders from across the globe to facilitate exchanges between nations and regions. ” The event’s theme, “Multilateral Cooperation for Shared Tomorrow”, will set the tone for the finance world’s development direction in the coming year. She also highlighted Hong Kong’s legal system and its role as a global offshore yuan business hub, which contribute to its status as an international financial centre.