A collaborative article by the Asia Business Council and McKinsey delved into the perspectives of business leaders in Asia as they navigate an emerging and potentially more turbulent era, in terms of world order, technology, demographics, resource and energy systems, and financial capitalization. Overall, they believe the region can sustain its growth but will need strategic adjustments to address disruptions and volatility in a multipolar world.
Biotech is especially important given the ageing population and economic ambitions of Hong Kong – and China as a whole. For the world, biotech protectionism will lead to more expensive treatments and greater health insecurity.
The steady rise of AI technology has left governments, industries and institutions scrambling to catch up and establish rules of the road. As a knowledge-based economy, Hong Kong can lead the way in building a regulatory framework that limits the harmful impact of AI and maximises its benefits.
Asia’s economic growth and development have been unparalleled over the past 75 years. Poverty has declined continuously and more rapidly than at any time in recorded history, and significant welfare gains have been achieved. These achievements have been driven by Asia’s growing participation in international trade and global value chains, which underpin the globalization process. More broadly, globalization refers to the integration of economies that has been achieved through growing levels of international trade, finance, and investment, and through the mounting exchanges of people, ideas, and data.
In Asia, as a more internet-savvy and health and environmentally conscious consumer takes center stage, emerging technologies are offering new opportunities and innovative solutions for people from diverse backgrounds and geographies.
More companies are collaborating to explore how the technology can make operations more efficient, which could form the building blocks of the next-generation internet. Just as the internet allows information and innovations to be shared across borders, the world will benefit most from having an open metaverse.
The metaverse is rich with opportunities for digital design and trade, while Asia already boasts high numbers of users and creators. As an innovation hub and key player in the Greater Bay Area, Hong Kong can lead the regional development of a tech-enabled creator economy.
With an abundance of capital and talent, Asia’s growing tech hubs are luring investors away from Silicon Valley. Start-ups seeking to solve global issues such as climate change, ageing-related illnesses and supply-chain bottlenecks will offer solid opportunities.
Technology has changed the game, making it easier to acquire and improve language and communication skills. An international business hub like Hong Kong, where languages are critical for deal-making, must leverage technology to promote learning.
Technology and COVID-19 have led to increasing adoption of cashless transactions. More and more, consumers are buying online, and vendors are rushing to adjust their business models to accommodate remote buying and touchless payments. In the face of this change, what does going cashless mean for different economies?
