Company news - 24/5/2019

AMTD, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) jointly hosted the first API Exchange workshop in Hong Kong

 

On May 23rd, AMTD, the World Bank International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) jointly hosted Hong Kong's first API Exchange (APIX) workshop at the headquarter of AMTD Group, promoting the collaboration among international financial institutions and financial technology companies in Hong Kong to introduce innovative financial solutions through this platform. This reinforces AMTD’s mission to become the “Super-Connector” to enhance the connectivity between the fintech communities in Hong Kong and the ASEAN region, and further promote innovation and financial inclusion in the regions.

 The ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN), jointly founded by AMTD Group and AMTD Foundation together with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the ASEAN Bankers Associations, and the International Finance Corporation, established the world's first cross-border, open-architecture API platform - API Exchange (“APIX”) platform in November 2018. AMTD is the first corporate founding member of AFIN, and Calvin Choi, Chairman and CEO of AMTD Group and the Founder of AMTD Foundation, was invited to join the Board of Directors of AFIN as a director.

"The partnership with AFIN is a landmark for reinforcing our mission and role as the super-connector between resources and capital in the region with the rest of the world to promote technological developments and innovations to build a better and smarter world", said Calvin Choi, Chairman and CEO of AMTD Group and Member of the Board of Directors of ASEAN Financial Innovation Network, "AMTD will continue to support APIX and contribute our very best to promoting diversified and affordable financial services to everyone across ASEAN markets and beyond."

APIX has two main functions – marketplace and sandbox. The marketplace enables financial institutions and fintech companies to discover one another on a curated, global marketplace. The sandbox, meanwhile, is a virtual and secure environment where they are free to co-design, experiment with and validate new, innovative fintech solutions within the environment.

 

This API Exchange workshop attracted a number of large international commercial banks, investment institutions, fintech companies and start-ups. Rachel Freeman, Head of Asia Pacific Financial Institutions Group at IFC, Ivan Daniel Mortimer Schutts, Digital Financial Services and Payments Sector Specialist and Senior Operation Officer of Asia Pacific financial markets at IFC, and Charles Lam, Chief Financial Technology Advisor at Hong Kong Cyberport were invited to attend.

 

API Exchange workshop attracted a number of large international commercial banks, investment institutions, fintech companies and start-ups

 

Dr. Frederic Lau, Vice Chairman of AMTD Group, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of AMTD, and introduced the AMTD’s development in investment banking, virtual banking, asset management, risk management and strategic investments, as well as AMTD’s efforts in promoting fintech in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Michelle Li, Head of Research of AMTD Group, moderated the panel discussion about “Financial Services in the API economy” with the participating experts from the financial industry. Raymond Yung, Vice Chairman of the AMTD Global Advisory Committee made a closing speech through which he encouraged peers in the financial industry to join hands with AMTD and contribute to the innovations and developments of the industry.

 

Dr. Frederic Lau, Vice Chairman of AMTD Group, delivered the welcome speech

 

 

Raymond Yung, Vice Chairman of AMTD Global Advisory Committee gave the closing speech

 

Michelle Li, Head of Research of AMTD Group, moderated the panel discussion

 

AMTD has always been committed to promoting the cooperation and communication of fintech communities between Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Singapore's Deputy Prime Ministers Heng Swee Keat and Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited AMTD and have a cordial exchange with Calvin Choi, Chairman and President of AMTD Group. In 2017 and 2018, AMTD joined the Monetary Authority of Singapore to host the world's largest fintech event - the Singapore FinTech Festival. AMTD has also established a deep cooperative relationship with the Singapore Exchange and has conducted many seminars on the development and innovation of the ASEAN capital markets and the business opportunities in China.

 

Recently, AMTD became the first corporate founding member and jointly established the ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) together with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the ASEAN Bankers Associations, and the International Finance Corporation. Moreover, AMTD has also built its own network of investments in Southeast Asia, including the joint investment with Southeast Asia's leading venture capital firm Insignia Ventures Partners in Indonesia's leading fintech platform AwanTunai. AMTD also collaborated with the Singapore Government Investment Corporation (GIC), the Singapore Economic Development Board to invest in various leading innovative technology companies including Dianrong and Appier.

 

Calvin met with Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore

 

Calvin met with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the then Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore

 

AMTD has been co-hosting the “Singapore FinTech Festival with the Monetary Authority of Singapore for two consecutive years. Calvin Choi attended the plenary session with Bill Winters, Standard Chartered’s Global CEO and Torres Vila, BBVA’s Global CEO

 

AMTD Group and the Monetary Authority of Singapore hosted the “Fintech and Digital Innovation: Connecting the future of Hong Kong and ASEAN markets” event for the financial industry. Roy Teo, Executive Director of Financial Centre Development Department and FinTech & Innovation Group at the Monetary Authority of Singapore attended the event and delivered a speech

 

Calvin attended SGX Beijing Representative Office’s 10th anniversary celebration

 

AMTD and Singapore Stock Exchange organized a joint event

 

AMTD Group announced that it has co-led the A round financing of AwanTunai, Indonesia's leading FinTech platform, together with Insignia Ventures Partners