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Over thirty senior business leaders from various sectors, including banking, healthcare, real estate, infrastructure, and AI technology, convened yesterday to explore how Hong Kong's inaugural five-year plan could convert regional and national policy goals into concrete investment and business prospects. The exclusive SCMP C-Suite roundtable, jointly organized by the South China Morning Post and the Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), honored Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po as the guest of honor and featured HKIC CEO Clara Chan as a speaker.

Under the banner "From APEC Consensus to Action: Hong Kong’s Five-Year Plan and Strategic Role in China's Next Phase of Growth," the dialogue addressed how Hong Kong's development strategy aligns with China's 15th Five-Year Plan, discussing the ramifications for businesses and investors. Following the recent APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Hong Kong, which prioritized digital infrastructure financing and financial inclusion, attendees scrutinized how long-term development targets could be transformed into commercially feasible investment prospects.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po elucidated Hong Kong's economic priorities, reaffirming the city's standing as an international financial center and a nexus for innovation and talent linking Mainland China with the global marketplace. The discourse delved into how these advantages could bolster nascent industries and Chinese enterprises venturing overseas.

The Northern Metropolis was a focal point, with participants deliberating on opportunities for cross-border cooperation in technology, healthcare, infrastructure, financing, and regulatory alignment to spur its advancement. Financial Secretary Chan urged business leaders to tour the region to witness the magnitude of the development firsthand.

Moreover, the conversation turned to HKIC's utilization of patient capital to entice private investment, foster technology enterprises, while pursuing financial returns and enduring economic benefits for Hong Kong. Collectively, the deliberations provided a snapshot of Hong Kong's forthcoming economic trajectory, illustrating how strategic public investment, private capital, and cross-border collaboration could convert policy aspirations into tangible business opportunities.

As part of the SCMP C-Suite roundtable series, this assembly underscored the significance of convening prominent business leaders, investors, and policymakers for frank discourse, informed viewpoints, and meaningful connections on the issues shaping Hong Kong's future.