Interest in healthcare and medical developments continues to grow, as economies worldwide recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Market leaders and industry players again congregated at the HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair showcasing medical trends and innovations. Now in its 13th edition, the fair continued to draw an international crowd, including representatives from the Consulates General of Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, and the United States. The physical-online hybrid format, in which the event was conducted, encouraged both on-site and online interactions.
Hong Kong earlier this month hosted its second Asia Summit on Global Health (ASGH), as the city continues to garner international attention after further loosening COVID-19 restrictions. This year’s theme – “Charting a New Course in Healthcare through Collaboration” resonated strongly with Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab (main picture), Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization. In her video speech at the event’s opening session, Dr Jakab said the pandemic had infected more than 600 million people globally and claimed 6.5 million lives, so there was an “opportunity and, indeed, an obligation to learn from this pandemic” and accelerate progress on universal healthcare through concerted efforts in science, research, innovation, data and digital technologies.
More than 200 Thai business leaders joined a lunch seminar organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) in Bangkok yesterday (21 November), affirming the Thai business community’s confidence in Hong Kong’s role to help businesses in the region grow and tap into opportunities in Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Under the dual pressure of Mainland China’s tightening housing policy and higher operating costs, real estate enterprises in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) must break new ground for growth. A whitepaper co-produced by Ernst & Young Transactions Limited (EY) and Hong Kong’s Urban Land Institute (ULI) outlines the role of property technology (proptech) in this transformation.
As Hong Kong reaffirms its role as a global financial and logistics centre, and works towards becoming an innovation & technology (I&T) hub, the city is hosting heavyweight events, including the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit and Hong Kong FinTech Week.
A serial entrepreneur based in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, France-born Sophie Martineau set up her medical supplies business Aquila Healthcare under the brand AquilaVIE in 2020. The launch was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, when demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks rapidly outpaced supply.
Innovation was front and centre in the maiden Policy Address of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday. The innovation and technology (I&T) concept ran through many of the moves Mr Lee plans for the city, ranging from expanding Hong Kong’s role as a renminbi trading centre and fintech hub to becoming a magnet for technological talent. Fintech plans include laying the groundwork for a digital Hong Kong dollar.
Businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) are pinning their hopes on Asian economies, particularly Mainland China and countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), going forward, while the financial sector is seen as having the best prospects overall.
After the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government eased COVID-19 entry restrictions last month, ending the hotel quarantine requirement for inbound visitors, the city is gearing up to receive a rush of travellers. The Travel Industry Council expects departures to surge as much as 50% over the next few months. To lure visitors back to the city, meanwhile, the Hong Kong Tourism Board is set to offer 500,000 free airline tickets next year once all remaining travel restrictions are dropped.
The rise of so-called “fast fashion” over the past two decades enabled consumers to buy a wider range of clothes at low prices, rapidly boosting the fashion industry worldwide – but the fast fashion trend has led to a string of environmental and sustainability concerns.
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