Hong Kong shows off its fun and serious sides to attendees of the Asian Financial Forum
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Event brief
Jointly organised by the HKSAR Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 17th Asian Financial Forum (AFF), held earlier in January 2024, was the first face-to-face gathering since the pandemic.
This event has traditionally been of vital importance to Hong Kong’s thriving economy, as it encourages business and trade collaboration in the region.
The two-day forum this year was packed with sessions in multiple formats, including the Global Spectrum series, Fireside Chat series, Dialogues for Tomorrow series, and thematic workshops.
Event highlights
Themed Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow, AFF explored economic policies and multilateral cooperation opportunities between governments, governments and businesses, and businesses.
More than 700 one-on-one meetings were arranged over the two days, successfully connecting investors with project owners and facilitating the exploration of opportunities for industry and investment cooperation.
Several MoUs and agreements materialised during the event, such as the Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between Hong Kong and Croatia; and the MoU between the Financial Services Development Council and Financial Sector Development Program of Saudi Arabia.
To deepen overseas participants’ understanding of financial development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, the HKTDC arranged visits to relevant regulatory bodies, such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, as well as Shenzhen.
Event organisers also partnered with several organisations, such as the Hong Kong Tourism Board, to entice overseas attendees with leisure, sports and dining experiences during their stay in Hong Kong. Attendees enjoyed privileged access to the airport lounge, free admission to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, a one-hour night tour of the city onboard an open-top Big Bus or sailing on the iconic Aqua Luna junk. Dining discounts and guided tours by the Lan Kwai Fong Group, dining discounts at Harbour City and Times Square, and discounted passes for Hong Kong attractions were also available through Klook.
Challenges
Reflecting on the event, HKTDC said hosting a large-scale international conference like AFF involved extensive coordination and tactical planning. The project took nine months to a year to prepare.
As the organiser of 2024’s first major business event in the region, HKTDC’s AFF team was committed to telling a good story of Hong Kong and promoting large-scale conferences and exhibitions.
Event The 17th Asian Financial Forum
Organisers Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Venue Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre
Date January 24-25, 2024
No. of attendees 3,600 financial and business elites from over 50 countries and regions, including over 70 delegations from overseas and China