Two-Day Internet Economy Summit Maps Out Data-Driven Economy with Tech Gurus and Business Leaders

The keynote speaker line-up featuring thought leaders from tech giants including AWS, Alibaba, Microsoft, Twitter as well as the World Economic Forum

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HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 15 April 2019 – Jointly organised by the Hong Kong
SAR Government and Cyberport, the Internet Economy Summit (IES) kicked off
today at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The two-day Summit
gathers some of the tech world’s most respected figures, entrepreneurs and investors
to explore the opportunities and challenges that digital technology will bring
to us down the road.

 

In its fourth edition, this year’s keynote speeches
and panel discussions will be held across six specialist forums anchored around
the central theme of “Digital Economy * Redefines our Future”. More than 70 heavyweight
speakers including senior representatives of tech giants such as Amazon Web
Services (AWS), Twitter, Alibaba Group, ZhongAn and Microsoft will take the
stage.

 

Mrs
Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong
Kong SAR and Mr Yang Xiaowei, Deputy
Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China delivered the opening
remarks and officiated the opening ceremony. Mr Chen Xinhua, Member of the Standing
Committee of the CPC Hangzhou Municipal Committee, shared with the audience
Hangzhou’s experience in using technology to foster social and economic
transformation during his opening speech.

 

Mrs Carrie Lam addressed at her opening speech, “Over
the past 50 years, the Internet has evolved miraculously from a network of a
few computers to one that connects billions of people, machines and devices
around the world. The Internet is now the bedrock of innovation and technology.
It’s at the heart of cloud computing, big data analytics, the Internet of
Things, fintech, blockchain, AI, robotics and so much more to come. The
opportunities they create extend to every business sector, every societal
issue, from health and ageing to education, sustainability and the environment.
This two-day Summit will be an excellent opportunity for you to share insights
into the latest digital technologies and the huge potential the Internet can
bring about through transforming businesses, societies and economies.”

Gathering of global tech
giants

Following the opening ceremony on the first day was
the Visionary Forum, which featured heavyweight
international speakers, including Mr Bob Kimball, Amazon Web Services’ General
Counsel; Ms Angel Zhao, Alibaba Global’s Business Group President; Ms Maya Hari,
Vice President, Asia Pacific, Twitter; Professor Steven Weber of UC Berkeley
School of Information;  Mr David Aikman,
Chief Representative Officer, Greater China, Member of the Executive Committee
of World Economic Forum; Dr Nigel Duffy, EY Global Artificial Intelligence
Leader; and Ms Sandra Särav, Global Affairs Director, Government CIO Office, the
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of Estonia.

 

How innovative technologies
help businesses seize new opportunities across the Greater Bay Area (GBA) was further
discussed during the Chambers Forum in the afternoon. The Forum is supported by six
major chambers of commerce, namely The Hong Kong Electronic Industries
Association (HKEIA), the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, the
Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), the Federation of Hong Kong
Industries (FHKI), Hong Kong Young Industrialists Council (HKYIC) and the Chinese
General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong. The panel discussions explored trending
topics such as open data opportunities, digital supply chains, AI and digital
transformation, digitalising the GBA and smart living.

 

Key Figures to Address
Topical Technology Issues

The second day of IES
will feature four specialist sessions that will shed light on how innovations will
transform and reshape the New Economy.

 

The FinTech
Forum will feature “The New Era of Finance Redefined”. Experts
from the financial and technology communities will share topics such as virtual
banking, InsurTech and blockchain-based smart contracts. The three further
forums in the afternoon are jointly organised by the Hong Kong Science and
Technology Park (HKSTP), Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and Hong Kong
Applied Science and Technology Institute (ASTRI) respectively and will discuss
issues including AI, Enterprise 4.0 and cybersecurity. The organisers will also
arrange a special “investor matching” session to allow investors from
all over the world to meet one-on-one with high-potential start-ups and tech
firms to explore investment opportunities.

 

Dr Lee George Lam, Chairman of Cyberport, said: “The arrival of 5G, connectivity of
everything, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are ushering in a new
digital revolution, which will profoundly change the way we live, work and do
business. This year’s IES gathers some of the world’s leading tech executives,
entrepreneurs and investors to explore the most important disruptive
innovations in business and technology, offering an exciting sneak peek into
the future.”

 

“These discussions will be particularly of interest
to business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs who want to stay ahead of the
curve by embracing the latest technology trends and opportunities to transform
their business model, develop new products and services, and take advantage of
the new economy,” Dr Lam continued.

 

The
concurrent International ICT Expo and the Hong Kong
Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development
Council (HKTDC) run between 13 and 16 April. The two shows gather more than
3,600 exhibitors from 27 countries and regions, showcasing cutting-edge
solutions and electronic products. Among them are 15 Cyberport’s start-ups, showcasing
their smart city and smart living related products and solutions.   

 

For more details about the event, rundown and speaker
line-up, please visit: www.ieconomysummit.hk

 

For more high-res event photos, please download via
this Dropbox
Link.