17 December 2015 – A prominent annual fixture on the international financial calendar, the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) 2016 returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 18-19 January. The AFF, now in its ninth edition, is organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Under the theme of “Asia: Shaping the New Paradigm for Growth”, AFF 2016 will gather government, finance and business leaders from around the world to network and exchange insights on international financial and business trends.
Global vision
“The AFF, with Asia as its base, has a far-reaching global vision and unique positioning,” said Helen Wong, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive, Greater China, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. “The forum not only reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre but also highlights our strategic role in bridging China and the global markets.”
Raymond Yip, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Launched in 2007, the AFF brings together highly influential leaders in the global financial and business arena to discuss the latest developments and trends in Asian markets. AFF 2015 attracted more than 2,600 participants from 39 countries and regions. The 2016 forum will focus on topics ranging from the opportunities and challenges facing the Chinese mainland to the development prospects of ASEAN countries, as well as the abundant opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative to Hong Kong and other countries and regions along the Belt and Road routes.”
Renowned speakers to provide policy insights
Regulatory reform has been a key feature of the post-financial crisis era and subsequent recovery. AFF 2016 will welcome Dr. Ben S. Bernanke, former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System (2006-2014), as its Keynote Luncheon speaker on 19 January to share his insights on the outlook for the world economy. Other financial regulators coming to the AFF to offer policymakers’ perspectives include Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Malaysia’s Bank Negara, Steven Maijoor, Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority, György Matolcsy, Governor of Hungary’s Magyar Nemzeti Bank, and Kiatchai Sophastienphong, Vice Minister for Finance of Thailand.
Chinese outbound investment opportunities under the microscope
With China actively exploring outbound investment opportunities in recent years, Ding Xuedong, Chairman & CEO of China Investment Corporation, China’s main sovereign wealth fund and Jin Qi, Chairman of Silk Road Fund, a key driver of the Belt and Road Initiative, will share their insights on the global investment environment and the opportunities it presents.
Panel discussions to feature international thought leaders
The slow economic recovery in advanced economies and uneven pace of growth in different regions present challenges to the banking sector. Leading international bankers, including Stuart Gulliver, Group Chief Executive of HSBC Holdings, Piyush Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of DBS Group, Jiang Jianqing, Chairman of ICBC, Jean Lemierre, Chairman of BNP Paribas, Niu Ximing, Chairman of Bank of Communications, and Wang Hongzhang, Chairman and Executive Director of China Construction Bank Corporation will discuss strategies and opportunities from different perspectives.
Market interests in the China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economies remain high, the AFF will also welcome influential players to share their views on the region’s prospects. They include Neil Shen, Founding & Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital China, Wang Jianlin, Chairman of Dalian Wanda Group, Chairul Tanjung, Founder and Chairman of CT Corp, Wishnu Wardhana, President Director and Group CEO of PT. Indika Energy, and Jaime Zobel, Chairman and CEO of Ayala Corporation.
New Global Investment Summit
A highlight of the AFF 2016 will be the launch of the Global Investment Summit, focusing on the trends, developments and risks facing investors around the globe, particularly given the advent of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the increasing investment outflows from the Chinese mainland. The Summit will feature in-depth discussions with industry leaders and investment experts, including Chen Shuang, Executive Director and CEO of China Everbright Limited, Paul Gruenwald, Managing Director and Chief Economist, Asia Pacific of Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, Frank Lyn, China and Hong Kong Markets Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC will, for the first time, be the AFF’s official Knowledge Partner), KK Modi, President of Modi Enterprises, Vivek Pathak, Regional Director, East Asia and the Pacific of International Finance Corporation, and Ben Way, CEO of Macquarie Group Asia.
Investment matchmaking
Investors will also benefit from the return of our AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session, which provides pre-arranged deal-sourcing and matchmaking sessions for investment project owners, high net-worth individuals and senior professionals from intermediaries and professional services providers. It will connect Chinese investors seeking investment opportunities abroad as well as overseas project owners looking for Asian capital, while also featuring project showcases and round-table networking with industry experts. The AFF 2015 Deal Flow arranged more than 500 matching sessions involving over 150 investment projects in 22 countries and regions.
The Global Investment Zone will also return to showcase investment and partnership opportunities from 13 countries, including Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Russia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and the
United States.
Meanwhile, Financing and IPO Advisory Services will be provided on-site to encourage more businesses with financing needs to raise capital in Hong Kong and use the city’s reliable financial services intermediaries.
Event Website: http://www.asianfinancialforum.com/
Media Registration: Media representatives wishing to cover the event may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.
To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc
Media Enquiries
Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Joe Kainz
Tel: (852) 2584 4216
Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org
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