Mr. John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, during his opening remarks, highlighted that China’s National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development support Hong Kong to become a leading international innovation and technology (I&T) center.
With that, Hong Kong is now poised to start a new chapter of digital economy development through the persistent pursuit of I&T advancement.
Echoing the theme of this Summit, he stressed that Hong Kong must embrace the sweeping changes brought about by the digital revolution, in order to emerge stronger than ever in a smarter future.
As the only city in the world where global advantages and China’s advantages converge, Hong Kong will continue to be the ideal base for Mainland enterprises to develop their global reach and a launchpad for foreign companies to gain access to the Mainland Chinese market. He assured that it is the HKSAR Government’s top priority to ensure that business and investment prospects in Hong Kong will continue to flourish in the years to come.
John Lee’s opening remarks during DES 2023, his first international public appearance since Hong Kong reopens after COVID-19, also injected the long-awaited confidence and assurance to many of Singapore’s investors, business owners, and startups to return to Hong Kong since the 2019–2020 Hong Kong Riot and the implementation of the National Security Law in June 2020.
Who does not want a safe and stable investment environment?
Asia’s flagship innovation and technology event, the Digital Economy Summit (DES), is jointly organized by the HKSAR Government and Cyberport. The two-day summit gathers the world’s influential leaders in technology, business, academia, and government, to explore the significance of technological innovations in boosting economic growth and accelerating the formation of resilient and futureproof digital societies.
DES 2023 aims to inspire regional and global visions for a better digital future. More than 100 renowned international speakers share their insights over the two days in eight specialist forums under the theme “Emerging with Resilience: Fostering a Smarter Future”.
DES 2023 attracted a record attendance of more than 4,000 onsite and online this year, gathering leading technology, business, academia, and government decision-makers from more than 40 countries and regions.
Cyberport is Hong Kong’s digital technology flagship and incubator for entrepreneurship with over 1,900 members including over 800 onsite and close to 1,100 offsite start-ups and technology companies. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology, thereby creating a new economic driver for Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners and integrating new and traditional economies by accelerating digital transformation in public and private sectors.