Category: Media-OutReach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 January 2025 – The 18^th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) concluded successfully on January 14 after a two-day run at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, which drew more than 3,600 participants, including over 130 high-level speakers, and facilitated 700-plus one-on-one AFF Deal-making meetings to link up sources of funds with investment projects around the globe.

The Asian Financial Forum draws 3,600-plus policymakers and business leaders from over 50 countries and regions.

Co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) under the theme Powering the Next Growth Engine, the atmosphere at AFF “was vibrant and charged with positive energy”.

As the year’s first large-scale international financial and business event in the region, AFF 2025 leveraged Hong Kong’s role as an international financial centre to strengthen the international communication platform, foster multilateral cooperation and promote mutually beneficial outcomes.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region John Lee met with visiting senior officials of foreign governments and the President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Jin Liqun, expressing gratitude to them for serving as speakers at the AFF. Mr Lee said that as a member of the AIIB, Hong Kong would make good use of its own robust financial system and unique advantages in bridging Eastern and Western cultures to contribute to the long-term development of the AIIB.

In line with the HKSAR Government’s initiatives to promote sustainable development, one of the sessions featured experts including Sue Lloyd, Vice Chair of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), who delved into the adoption of financial disclosure standards to enhance confidence in Hong Kong’s capital markets.

Another highlight of AFF 2025 was the inaugural Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Chapter, connecting finance leaders from Hong Kong and GCC member states with a view to strengthening bilateral financial cooperation and investment.

The first-ever Gulf Cooperation Council Chapter is successfully held at the Asian Financial Forum on January 14.

In addition, pioneers from a range of industries participated in sessions such as CIO Insights, Dialogues for Tomorrow and Global Spectrum, focusing on hot topics ranging from fintech and capital markets to female entrepreneurship and philanthropy. In a session titled Global Spectrum – The Role of Large Companies in Supporting Start-ups and Social Enterprises, Joe Tsai, Chairman of the Alibaba Group, shared his views on how large companies spur economic development.

This year’s AFF Deal-making, co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association, brought together more than 270 investors and over 560 investment projects with more than 700 one-on-one meetings held. They covered a wide spectrum of sectors such as fintech, healthtech, deep tech, consumer goods, infrastructure and real estate, environment, energy and environmental technology.

The lively atmosphere at the venue was enhanced by the presence of several on-site exhibition zones, which helped to create business connections and promote networking. They included the Fintech Showcase, Fintech HK Startup Salon, the InnoVenture Salon, and the Global Investment Zone. Among the 140 exhibitors were international financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups and investment promotion agencies.

The AFF is a signature event of 2025 International Financial Week, which runs from January 13 to 17 and brings together more than 20 partner events to create synergies in the industry. Three other events which ran concurrently with the AFF include Hong Kong International Fundraising Roundtable 2025, Malaysia–Hong Kong Islamic Finance Roundtable, and the Family Office Symposium.

AMMAN, JORDAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 January 2025 – The 2024 top 6 workplaces in Jordan have been revealed according to the annual prestigious Best Places to Work certification program, recognizing organizations that excel in creating outstanding work environments and promoting employee engagement in Jordan.

Leading the list is Novartis Jordan, an affiliate of the global healthcare leader, renowned for its strong focus on employee well-being and development. Novo Nordisk Jordan follows closely in second position, celebrated for its employee-centric culture and commitment to health and development. AstraZeneca Jordan ranks third, recognized for fostering an inclusive, innovative workplace that empowers employees to thrive.

In fourth position is Jordan Ahli Bank, celebrated for its customer-centric approach and a work environment that encourages professional growth. Estarta, a technology and services company, ranks fifth position for its collaborative culture and innovative workplace initiatives. Finally, Money for Finance, a leading financial services organization, rounds out the top six ranking, recognized for its focus on employee development and creating a supportive environment for all team members.

These six organizations exemplify the best of Jordan’s workplace culture, offering environments where employees are valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their full potential. Their commitment to excellence continues to set a high standard for companies across the region.

In Jordan, the program collaborates annually with many organizations to provide actionable insights and promote people-first strategies that strengthen organizational success.

For more information, please visit the program website: www.bestplacestoworkfor.org.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 January 2025 – Around 3,600 policymakers, business leaders, investors and scholars from around the world are attending the 18^th Asian Financial Forum (January 13-14) in Hong Kong, the region’s first major finance event in 2025. Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, AFF features high-level discussions, deal-making and networking as well as insights from some 130 elite speakers on the latest developments in global financial markets and investment opportunities. With a focus on Middle East markets, this year’s programme includes a new Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Chapter (January 14).

Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive Mr John Lee and representatives from around the globe attend the Asian Financial Forum.

In his opening remarks, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR)’s Chief Executive, John Lee, highlighted the city’s status as an international financial centre. “Thanks to ‘one country, two systems’, we enjoy the strong support of our country China, while developing ever-expanding global ties, making Hong Kong the world’s foremost ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’. Our established common law regime dovetails with the legal system of many major global financial hubs. Our professionals are proficient in both Chinese and English, and well-versed with the business practice of both China and the rest of the world,” he said.

The Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), Pan Gongsheng, said that, with strong support of the Central Government and the leadership of the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong has been actively enhancing its traditional advantages and grasping the new development opportunities, which has continuously stimulated great creativity and vitality, consolidating and bolstering its status as an international financial centre.

To fully support Hong Kong’s development as an international financial centre, Mr Pan said the PBOC would focus on four key directions: first, to support the development of Hong Kong’s capital market and continuously deepen the mutual access between the financial markets of the two places; second, to expand and strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an offshore Renminbi business hub; third, to enhance Hong Kong’s functions as an international asset and wealth management centre; and fourth, to resolutely safeguard Hong Kong’s financial stability and security.

During the first Keynote Luncheon, Financial Secretary Paul Chan underlined the city’s competitive edge, including a full range of funding options catering to the divergent needs of governments and enterprises at different development stages to fund their projects and scale up; and the innovative financial strategies to enhance product offerings such as securitisation of infrastructure loans and catastrophe bonds.

Former Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, Professor Justin Yifu Lin delivered the main Keynote Luncheon speech, sharing insights on the shifting global economic landscape, its impact on the international markets, and China’s current trajectory and its evolving role in the world.

Distinguished speakers from Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Luxembourg and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development participate in a plenary session themed “Innovation: The Solution to Unlock the Next Growth Engines”.

The debut GCC Chapter (January 14) was hailed as a significant milestone in financial services collaboration between Hong Kong and the GCC countries. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, identified green finance, securities market, Islamic finance and asset and wealth management as areas with enormous potential for bilateral co-operation. Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, emphasised the GCC’s aspiration to enhance dialogue and co-operation to achieve mutual prosperity.