More than 600 young professionals, government officials, and business leaders gathered at the Conrad Hong Kong on 5 October for the third Global Youth Powerhouse Summit, organized by Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy. The event, held entirely in English, coincided with the release of Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026–2030) and the latest Policy Address, providing a timely platform to discuss artificial intelligence, geopolitics, education, capital markets, life and health technology, and start-up financing. The summit's significance lies in its ability to bridge young talent with international resources and capital, as evidenced by the presence of venture funds managing an estimated US$10 billion in assets. These funds, including the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners GBA, and MindWorks Capital, have invested in over 600 start-ups across more than 30 economies and backed at least nine unicorns. Their participation signals strong confidence in Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem and its potential to drive the new economy.
In a pre-recorded video speech, Chief Executive John Lee encouraged young professionals to seize the opportunities of the times, stating, "For our young people, I firmly believe that your opportunities ahead outweigh the difficulties. The HKSAR Government will join hands with all sectors to build platforms for you to thrive in Hong Kong, in our country, and in the global arena." Deputy Secretary for Justice Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan emphasized the rapid pace of change and the need for young professionals to act as "super-connectors" and "super value-adders" in the Greater Bay Area. Dr Kevin Lau, Founding Convenor of the organizing group, highlighted the summit's role in connecting capital with Hong Kong's next generation, noting that artificial intelligence can assist but not replace human care in healthcare.
Panel discussions covered critical topics. The AI session, moderated by Stephaine Chan, explored how small and medium-sized enterprises, NGOs, and schools can adopt AI, with speakers from Huawei and the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund addressing talent and trust issues. The geopolitics panel, moderated by James Chau, examined Hong Kong's role as a super-connector, with Professor Frederick Ma asserting, "We are part of China. And yet we are under one country, two systems connected to the rest of the world. That is the power of Hong Kong." The education session focused on Hong Kong as Asia's education hub, with speakers from top universities discussing the integration of AI in curricula and the demand for Hong Kong education. The capital markets panel, featuring Bonnie Y Chan of HKEX and Clara Chan of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, discussed AI listings and asset tokenization. The life and health technology session, moderated by Professor Lo Yuk-lam, examined how AI can strengthen Hong Kong's health industry competitiveness.
The closing start-up pitching session connected 15 start-ups with 11 venture funds. Mr LU Chin Yung of Invest Hong Kong praised Hong Kong's business environment, saying, "Hong Kong is great in a lot of rankings in the world and this is not given, this is hard earned by your parents, by some of you sitting here. But as a young founder in Hong Kong, if you come to Hong Kong, you get to enjoy all this very safe environment." The summit also featured consular representatives from up to 20 countries, underscoring its international reach. With previous editions attracting over 17,000 online participants from more than 30 countries, the event continues to grow in influence.
The implications of this summit are profound. It demonstrates Hong Kong's resilience and attractiveness as a global hub for innovation and finance, even amid geopolitical tensions. By facilitating direct engagement between young professionals and industry leaders, it cultivates a pipeline of talent ready to drive the new economy. The alignment with government policies, such as the Five-Year Plan and the GBA Task Force, ensures that these efforts are supported at the highest levels. As Hong Kong transitions to a knowledge-based economy, such initiatives are vital to maintaining its competitive edge. The organizing body, Hong Kong Youth Professional Global Advocacy, plans to continue building the summit into a platform for dialogue, further solidifying Hong Kong's position as a super-connector. For more information about the organization, visit https://hkypga.com/. Photos and video from the event can be accessed at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XowvT4PLTkLo-Vx6k8UJ_YyuM0O0wSlQ?usp=sharing. This story was distributed via Media OutReach Newswire.
