Calvin, Edward Yau and Lucas at Greater Bay Entrepreneurship Day

During the 50th World Economic Forum Davos Annual Meeting, AMTD Group successfully held “Greater Bay Entrepreneurship Day”. AMTD Group is a leading diversified conglomerate in Asia, as well as the only Hong Kong financial institution that is a World Economic Forum Strategic Partner Associate. Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong SAR, officiated the ceremony and delivered keynote speech. Mr. Lucas Palacios, Chile’s Minister of Economy, Tan Sri Dato' David Chiu, Chairman of Far East Consortium, Dr. Annie Koh, Vice President of Business Development, V3 Group Professor of Family Entrepreneurship and Professor of Finance (Practice) of Singapore Management University, and over 200 leaders and elites in political, business, academia, media from different countries and regions joined the event and listened to the innovative dream and passion of young entrepreneurs from the Greater Bay Area and the ASEAN markets in the new era. The event is part of Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurship Association’s endeavor to provide for young entrepreneurs in Asia to express themselves, exchange and collaborate with their global peers. AMTD Group led the establishment of “Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurship Association” at the 2019 World Economic Forum Davos Annual Meeting.

Mr. Calvin Choi, the Chairman and CEO of AMTD Group, Founder and Chairman of AMTD Foundation, Young Global Leader of World Economic Forum, Vice-Chairman of Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Fund, Chairman of the Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurship Association, Member of Hong Kong Cyberport Advisory Panel, delivered an opening speech. He highlighted that, as a comprehensive financial institution rooted in Hong Kong, based in the Greater Bay Area and backed by China, and as the largest independent investment bank in Asia and the only Hong Kong financial institution that is a World Economic Forum Strategic Partner Associate, AMTD Group promotes the connectivity and integration between Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, the ASEAN countries and across the world. It offers platforms and opportunities for global connections, business cooperation, interactive innovation for young entrepreneurs, well supported by its economic influence on the Greater Bay Area and the ASEAN countries, and the strong scalability and capabilities of the AMTD SpiderNet Ecosystem.

Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong SAR, affirmed and praised AMTD on its support for entrepreneurship and innovation of young entrepreneurs in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the ASEAN countries, especially its contribution to the construction of Hong Kong's smart city. He said, in the era of smart economy, Hong Kong, as an international city in Asia, can continuously provide development opportunities across the world, and Hong Kong has unrestricted openness, and there is no boundary for accommodating capital, talent and technology. These are the unique competitive advantages of Hong Kong.

Dr. Annie Koh, Vice President of Business Development, V3 Group Professor of Family Entrepreneurship and Professor of Finance (Practice) of Singapore Management University, delivered a keynote speech. She praised AMTD Group for its unique vision of establishing its own commercial ecosystem - SpiderNet to integrate business resources. She also encouraged young entrepreneurs to enhance their global perspectives, strengthen communication among people from different cultures and backgrounds, and exchange ideas to stimulate innovation.

Moderated by Ms. Li Lei, CEO of AMTD Digital, Mr. Steven Lam, Co-Founder and CEO of GoGoVan; Mr. Louis Liu, Co-Founder and CEO of FOMO Pay; Mr. Calvin Tse, CEO of Kam Kee Holdings Limited, Visiting Professor and CPA (Practicing); Mr. Stephen Wong, Co-Founder and CEO of Dory Technology; and Mr. Chao Zhu, Co-Founder and CEO of Asset Pro, discussed the opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation in the Greater Bay Area as panelists. Dr. Feridun Hamdullahpur, Board Member of AMTD Group and AMTD International and President of the University of Waterloo; Dr. Annie Koh, Vice President of Business Development, V3 Group Professor of Family Entrepreneurship and Professor of Finance (Practice) of Singapore Management University; and Dr. Timothy W. Tong, CEO of AMTD Foundation, Chairman of Hong Kong Laureate Forum, Independent Director at Xiaomi Group, Director of Airstar Bank and former President of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, exchanged views on nurturing talent in the Greater Bay Area.

AMTD has been committed to promoting youth innovation and education in Hong Kong and other parts of the Greater Bay Area, encouraging youth in the Greater Bay Area to integrate their career paths into the country's overall development, and to contribute to a better Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. During the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Annual Meeting in Davos, AMTD announced the inauguration of Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurs Association (GBYEA), which was established by leading innovative enterprises in the Greater Bay Area. The Association is committed to connecting domestic and overseas resources and channels, promoting start-ups of the Greater Bay Area to seize opportunities, and to boost innovative developments in the Greater Bay Area. In addition, AMTD actively participated in the establishment of the Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation where Mr. Calvin Choi, Chairman and CEO of AMTD Group, was appointed as the Vice-Chairman. The Foundation promotes dialogue and integration of youth and entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area. AMTD also actively supported Hong Kong Army Cadets Association, encouraged and promoted the fostering of strong will of Hong Kong youth. Mr. Calvin Choi has also been nominated as the Honorary Chairman of Hong Kong Army Cadets Association. Moreover, AMTD and Hong Kong Polytechnic University have jointly launched “AMTD FinTech Centre of PolyU Faculty of Business”, the first university-industry collaborated Fintech centre in Hong Kong; AMTD also worked with University of Waterloo to establish “AMTD-University of Waterloo Innovation Hub”, and jointly initiated “Global Talent Programme”, and “Postdoctoral Research Programme” with Ms. Donna Strickland, Nobel laureate, Canadian Physicist, Professor of University of Waterloo. AMTD is dedicated to promoting talent cultivation in the Greater Bay Area, supporting Hong Kong Trade Development Council to launch the startup incubation programme, as well as fostering more talents with global vision and innovation in the Greater Bay Area.