Speech by SFST at 2026 International Forum for Impact Investing (English Only)
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Regina (Convenor of the Non-official Members of the Executive Council, Mrs Regina Ip), DG Zhong Wu (Director General, Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, Dr Wu Zhong), Chairman Bei (Chairman, GSG Impact China National Partner, Dr Bei Duoguang), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is an honour to join you today at the International Forum for Impact Investing, themed "Impact in Action: Forging Resilient Futures". I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the esteemed organisers for bringing together such a dynamic assembly of thought leaders, innovators, and practitioners. Your collective efforts in convening this forum underscore the vital role of collaboration in advancing sustainable development, and it is fitting that Hong Kong, as a bridge between East and West, hosts this pivotal dialogue.
This year's theme resonates deeply in our current global context, where the imperatives of resilience - against climate change, economic disruptions, and social issues - demand not just vision, but decisive action. As we navigate a multipolar world, the discussions ahead will illuminate pathways to a sustainable future, from investing in human resilience amid AI-driven transformations and climate displacements, to harnessing technological innovations in agriculture and beyond. Panels on sustainable investments across Asia, the potential of impact enterprises, development finance solutions through blended finance, and the journeys of Asian family offices in wealth stewardship all highlight the forum's focus on turning impact into tangible outcomes. These conversations are not abstract; they are calls to mobilise capital for a more equitable and sustainable world, and I am confident that the insights shared here will inspire partnerships that extend far beyond today.
Hong Kong is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, leveraging our status as an international financial centre to emerge as a leading hub for green and sustainable finance. Aligned with the Central People's Government's 14th Five-Year Plan and our own targets to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050 and halve emissions by 2035, we have seen remarkable growth in this sector. In 2024 alone, green and sustainable debt issued in Hong Kong surpassed US$84 billion, with bonds capturing 45 per cent of the Asian market for the seventh consecutive year. Our Government Sustainable Bond Programme has issued the equivalent of US$32 billion since 2019, including innovative tokenised green bonds - the world's first multi-tranche digitally native ones and those integrating e-CNY and e-HKD in settlements. These issuances not only fund environmentally beneficial projects but also demonstrate Hong Kong's innovation in blending fintech with sustainability.
To further catalyse this ecosystem, we have extended the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme to 2027, subsidising issuance and external review costs for bonds and loans, including transition financing, with over HK$410 million granted to more than 640 instruments by December last year. Complementing this, our Pilot Green and Sustainable Finance Capacity Building Support Scheme, now extended to 2028, has approved over 9 700 applications, reimbursing up to HK$55 million to nurture talents in this field. We are also fostering a vibrant Green Fintech hub through initiatives like the Hong Kong Green Fintech Map and the Proof-of-Concept Funding Support Scheme (Green and Sustainable Fintech Proof-of-Concept Funding Support Scheme), which has backed 60 projects to commercialise solutions addressing industry pain points. On the disclosure front, our Roadmap on Sustainability Disclosure mandates publicly accountable entities to adopt International Sustainability Standards Board standards by 2028, supported by the Hong Kong Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
Additionally, the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited's Core Climate platform, with over 120 participants and credits from more than 60 verified projects, positions us as a connector in the international carbon market, bolstered by memoranda of understanding with Greater Bay Area Exchanges.
These initiatives reflect Hong Kong's commitment to channelling capital toward resilient futures, where impact investing drives not only financial returns but also social and environmental progress. By integrating sustainability into our financial ecosystem, we are creating opportunities for investors, enterprises, and communities alike. As we face global challenges together, Hong Kong stands ready to partner with you in forging these resilient pathways.
In closing, I wish this forum every success. May our discussions spark actions that build a more sustainable world for generations to come. Thank you.
Ends/Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 10:56
Issued at HKT 10:56
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