This year’s SmartHK – an annual event focused on boosting connections between Hong Kong and cities in Mainland China – has successfully concluded in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu province.
This year’s event brought together 40 leaders from business and academia to discuss business opportunities in a range of areas, including financial services, innovation & technology (I&T), green development, culture, creativity and more.
“Technological innovation is key to driving high-quality development,” said Fang Wei, Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government Vice Governor, speaking at the opening ceremony.
“Jiangsu’s market and industrial advantages and Hong Kong’s scientific research and financial advantages can accelerate the pace of innovation across industries and enable China to be self-reliant in the area of science and technology,” he added.
Some 30 start-ups also pitched their innovations and solutions to Jiangsu investors and partners in a special Smart+ session. These startups were from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and InnoClub, a platform co-created by the HKTDC and Hang Seng Bank Limited to help SMEs innovate.
The event facilitated some 400 business meetings, connecting Jiangsu and Hong Kong companies, while more than 60 enterprises and start-ups showcased the latest I&T products and services from Hong Kong in an exhibition.
“Jiangsu and Hong Kong have a long history of cooperation, given strong bilateral economic and trade ties and frequent cultural exchanges,” Paul Chan, Hong Kong SAR Government Financial Secretary, said at the opening ceremony.
As of last year, Hong Kong entrepreneurs have invested in more than 35,000 projects in Jiangsu, while nearly 2,300 Jiangsu businesses have set up in Hong Kong, he pointed out.
Last year, the trade volume between Jiangsu and Hong Kong increased by almost 35%, to surpass CNY85 billion (~US$11.9 billion).
Green development was a key topic at this year’s SmartHK, with a focus on cooperation opportunities between Hong Kong and Jiangsu.
Dr Shelley Zhou, Head of Corporate Sustainability of Hang Seng Bank Limited, delivered a keynote speech on market trends and international standards of green finance and sustainable development.
Business leaders also covered a range of other sustainability related topics, including ESG information disclosure, carbon neutrality and green tech and sustainable financing, among others.
This year’s SmartHK Nanjing was organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Department of Commerce of Jiangsu Province and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government.
SmartHK has been held in major cities in Mainland China since 2011, promoting Hong Kong’s international network and professional services through conferences, seminars, business matching sessions and more.
