Paul Chan highlights 4 priorities ahead of Apec finance ministers’ meeting this month

APEC means Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. It brings together 21 member economies from the Asia-Pacific region. Its finance ministers’ meeting gives finance ministers and senior officials a place to discuss shared economic challenges and practical ways to support growth and stability.

Hong Kong’s meeting will focus on fiscal policies that support livelihoods, digital infrastructure financing, inclusive finance and young financial talent. These topics connect government policy with jobs, technology, access to loans and future skills. They also reflect areas where Hong Kong says it can contribute actively.

About 500 guests will attend on October 20 and 21. The meeting will let Hong Kong share its financial expertise and encourage cooperation among governments, banks, investors and technology companies. China is hosting this year’s APEC meetings, with the leaders’ gathering planned for Shenzhen in November.

Finance ministers will discuss four priorities at the Hong Kong meeting. They are fiscal policies that support livelihoods, financing for digital infrastructure, inclusive finance and young financial talent. The agenda combines immediate economic needs with longer-term investment and workforce development.

The priorities matter because public budgets affect people’s livelihoods, while digital infrastructure supports the regional economy. Inclusive finance can make borrowing easier for smaller businesses. Training young people in finance, technology and sustainability can strengthen the future talent pipeline.

Hong Kong says these are areas of strength. It has trained students and young professionals in green finance, asset and wealth management and fintech. It has also offered internships and educational courses. More than 150 young volunteers will support the meeting, gaining experience while helping visitors experience the city’s hospitality.

The meeting is expected to bring about 500 guests to Hong Kong. They will include finance ministers and senior officials from APEC’s 21 member economies. The event will take place on October 20 and 21 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

This scale gives the meeting a broad regional reach. Officials from many economies can compare policies, discuss shared financing challenges and identify opportunities for cooperation. The gathering also places Hong Kong’s financial institutions and professional services in front of important regional decision-makers.

It will be the first time Hong Kong has hosted the APEC finance ministers’ meeting. More than 150 young volunteers have been recruited to assist. China is hosting this year’s wider APEC programme, while the annual economic leaders’ gathering will be held in Shenzhen in November.

Hosting the meeting can strengthen Hong Kong’s reputation as an important international financial centre. Finance ministers, officials, investors and business leaders will see the city’s financial capabilities directly. The event also highlights the central government’s support for Hong Kong, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.

The meeting creates practical opportunities for exchange. Hong Kong can connect APEC governments, financial institutions, investors and technology companies. Public resources can guide projects, while market capital helps fund digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and other regional development. The gathering also gives young volunteers valuable experience.

Chan linked the meeting with the opening of the revamped Huanggang Port border crossing. Together, the event and infrastructure project show Hong Kong strengthening regional economic ties through connectivity and major events. Visitors are also expected to see the city’s innovation, technology, urban construction, culture and arts.

Green bonds raise money for projects presented as environmentally beneficial, while transition finance supports activities moving toward more sustainable operations. Together, they help projects seeking funding reach investors looking for transparent and sustainable opportunities. This makes environmental goals part of financing decisions.

The connection depends on trust and clear information. Project certification can assess whether a project meets relevant standards. Professional services can help structure and verify financing. Investors then have more information when deciding where to place capital, while projects gain access to a wider pool of funding.

Hong Kong says it acts as a regional connector between these projects and investors. About US$38 billion in green and sustainable bonds were issued in Hong Kong in 2025. That ranked the city first in the Asian market for the eighth consecutive year, strengthening its role in sustainable finance.

Small and medium-sized enterprises can struggle to obtain loans when banks lack efficient access to reliable business information. Hong Kong’s Commercial Data Interchange addresses this problem by letting businesses consent in advance to banks accessing operational data from different sources.

The key mechanism is consent-based data sharing. With permission, banks can review relevant business information more efficiently during loan assessments. Better access to data can reduce delays, support clearer decisions and make it easier for lenders to understand an enterprise’s operations. The platform therefore targets both speed and information gaps.

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority operates the platform, which Chan cited as an example of inclusive finance. It is intended to improve the efficiency of loan approvals and ease financing difficulties for smaller firms. This could help more businesses participate in economic growth as regional finance becomes increasingly digital.

Infrastructure is exposed to climate risks that can cause serious damage and large repair costs. Insurance and other risk-financing tools help economies prepare financially before disasters occur. They spread potential losses among insurers, investors and other participants instead of leaving governments or infrastructure owners to bear every cost alone.

Insurance provides protection under agreed terms. Catastrophe bonds transfer specified disaster risks to investors, who provide financing but may lose principal if a defined event occurs. Specialist underwriting and insurance-linked securities add further ways to arrange coverage. These tools can create rapid access to funds after a major event.

Hong Kong says its insurance-linked securities services, captive insurers and Marine Specialty Risk Pool can support regional partners. Catastrophe bonds and speciality underwriting could protect infrastructure and finance climate-risk responses. Chan also said these services would open broader markets for Hong Kong’s financial and professional sectors.