From January 13th to 14th, the 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Themed "Powering the Next Engine of Growth," the forum explored new forces driving the future economy, attracting approximately 3,600 financial and business representatives from over 50 countries and regions.
As a leading global payment platform, Waffo was invited to participate, joining industry titans to explore frontier financial trends and gain critical market insights.
130+ Global Leaders Gather to Forecast Financial Trends
The Asian Financial Forum (AFF) is a premier event co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Since 2007, it has successfully gathered global leaders to discuss Asian market trends.
This year's 18th edition saw over 130 global political and business leaders, technology experts, and economists convene.
The two-day event featured over 40 keynote speeches, policy dialogues, fireside chats, and workshops, focusing on critical topics such as:
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Global Economic Outlook
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Opportunities in China
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Investment Prospects
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Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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FinTech Innovation
AI and FinTech: The New Engines of Growth
A key highlight of the forum was Hong Kong's reinforced status as a global financial hub.
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Rankings: Hong Kong ranks 1st in Asia and 3rd globally in the Global Financial Centres Index.
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Competitiveness: In the 2024 World Competitiveness Yearbook, Hong Kong ranked 5th globally and 1st in international trade and business legislation.
The forum emphasised three future directions for Hong Kong:
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Consolidating Competitiveness: Strengthening its role as an international asset and wealth management centre, including expanding "Bond Connect" with the Mainland market.
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Exploring New Growth: Building an international gold trading centre and promoting FinTech development.
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Expanding Global Networks: Particularly with countries participating in the "Belt and Road" initiative.
Guest speakers reached a consensus: traditional growth models face resource and environmental constraints. Innovation elements like AI, Renewable Energy, and FinTech are poised to become the vital drivers for future economic and human development.
Waffo at AFF: Bridging Global Payments for Enterprises
Waffo participated in the forum to align its strategy with these frontier trends and expand its international vision.
For enterprises aiming to grow amidst a global economic slowdown, globalisation is no longer just an option—it is a necessity. Beside technical innovation, leveraging domestic and foreign capital is key.
As a global payment platform serving cross-border enterprises, Waffo adheres to a user-centric philosophy. By participating in AFF, Waffo aims to:
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Understand the shifting global landscape and financial policies.
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Optimise product services based on macro trends.
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Better empower Chinese enterprises going global.
Trust and Compliance: Waffo’s Global Standard
Security and compliance are the bedrock of Waffo's service.
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Security: Waffo is PCI DSS certified, meeting the highest international security standards.
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Licensing: Waffo holds the Money Service Operator (MSO) licence issued by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department.
Currently, Waffo integrates 300+ emerging payment methods via a unified API, providing seamless payment services to 350 million users across 20+ countries and regions.