Asian Financial Forum (AFF) returns to explore collaborations

  • The 17th AFF will take place on 24 and 25 January, with active participation of over 3,000 financial experts and leaders from across the globe
  • Themed Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow, AFF aims to analyse the global economic outlook for the new year, and promote collaboration among countries and governments to achieve sustainability and seize emerging opportunities
  • The Forum will gather more than a hundred global business leaders as speakers, including representatives from Société Générale, Franklin Templeton, Gobi Partners, HOPU Investments, HSBC Asset Management, Bridgewater Associates, Prudential plc, and Standard Chartered
  • Plenary sessions will be expanded from one to two, along with two new discussion sessions on Stewarding China’s New Chapter and CIO Insights. The forum will focus on opportunities in Mainland China, ASEAN and the Middle East
  • The Dialogue with Bob Prince has been added to this year’s AFF on the second day. Mr Prince is Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund

HONG KONG, Jan 11, 2024 – (ACN Newswire) – The 17th Asian Financial Forum 2024 (AFF), co-organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is set to take place on 24 and 25 January 2024 (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This year’s AFF, themed Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow, will be the first significant financial and business event in the region this year, bringing together over a hundred speakers, influential figures in the financial industry, global policymakers and business leaders. Speakers will thoroughly analyse the global economic outlook, actively promote collaboration in accordance with the policies of national and HKSAR governments, explore sustainable economic development models and collectively identify the abundant opportunities for multilateral cooperation. The Forum is expected to draw over 3,000 elite professionals from financial and business sectors, to facilitate fruitful exchanges and strengthen ties among industry leaders.

Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF 2024 Steering Committee and HSBC’s Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, said: “The year 2024 is expected to be characterised by a slowdown in inflation and potential rate cuts. The focus of markets will be on the timing and extent of policy easing, as well as elections in multiple countries and regions. In these complex times, the Asian Financial Forum serves as a valuable platform for exchanging diverse perspectives and supporting multilateral cooperation. The collective wisdom of experts speaking at the AFF will give the participants a deeper understanding, enabling them to make well-informed decisions in the year ahead.”

Dr Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director, HKTDC, said: “Amidst global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, accompanied by various challenges, new market opportunities and partners are emerging. To build a sustainable and inclusive development model, close communication and cooperation among nations are crucial. With the theme Multilateral Cooperation for a Shared Tomorrow, this year’s AFF will explore economic policies and multilateral cooperation opportunities among governments and governments (G2G), governments and businesses (G2B) and businesses and businesses (B2B) from multiple angles. It will also address a range of timely market-related issues, further promoting sustainable development and showcasing the advantages of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.”

This year’s Forum will encompass diverse events, including over 40 thematic discussions, policy dialogue, keynote luncheons and breakfast panel, and workshops. These sessions will explore pressing topics such as the global economic outlook, opportunities in Mainland China, investment prospects, green finance, financial technology and interest-rate trends. Their objective is to provide participants with valuable insights into internationally relevant issues and global economic development trends. These events will boost Hong Kong’s ties with the international community, fostering greater connections and generating more business opportunities.

ASEAN, Middle East market opportunities take centre stage as thematic discussions expand

ASEAN and the Middle East, with their considerable economic potential, hold crucial position in driving global multilateral cooperation. This year’s Forum has garnered enthusiastic responses, and a surge in participation from ASEAN, the Middle East and other parts of the globe is expected. To facilitate broader discussions and embrace sustainable economic development, the Plenary Sessions have been expanded from one to two, enabling financial leaders from ASEAN, the Middle East and other regions to convene and deliberate on future fiscal policy trends. Topics of significant focus will include the opportunities in the mainland, ASEAN and the Middle East.

On the first day of the AFF (24 January), Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, will preside over two Plenary Sessions. At the morning Plenary esteemed speakers including Ali bin Ahmad Alkuwari, Minister of Finance of Qatar; Julapun Amornvivat, Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand; Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance of Egypt; and Marko Primorac, Minister of Finance of Croatia, will share their countries’ respective outlooks on financial policies. At the afternoon Plenary, distinguished speakers including Muhammad Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank; Prof Hala Elsaid, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Egypt; Alexandra Jour-Schroeder, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union at the European Commission; Suahasil Nazara Vice Minister of Finance, Indonesia and Dilma Rousseff, President of New Development Bank, will analyse the influence of multilateral cooperation on regional economic development, financial crises and sustainable economic growth.

On the same day Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, will host the Policy Dialogue where esteemed representatives from the Asian Development Bank, Central Bank of Mongolia,  Deutsche Bundesbank, Dubai Financial Services Authority, and International Monetary Fund will convene under the theme Towards International Economic and Financial Cooperation to exchange perspectives on global monetary policies.

Global leaders and Nobel laureates take the stage at keynote luncheon sessions

Another noteworthy aspect of the Forum will be two Keynote Luncheons featuring esteemed guests. Prof Jeffrey D Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and Prof Douglas W Diamond, Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences in 2022 and Merton H Miller, Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, have been invited to deliver insightful speeches. Prof Sachs will delve into the topic of sustainable development, while Prof Diamond will discuss the future trajectory of United States Federal Reserve interest rate moves and the risks associated with economic development.

Dialogue with Bob Prince added as a special session

An additional session, Dialogue with Bob Prince, has been added to this year’s AFF on the second day. Mr Prince, Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, will appear to share valuable investment insights and provide perspectives on the importance of multilateral cooperation.

Staying ahead of market trends with Stewarding China’s New Chapter and CIO Insights

In response to dynamic market opportunities and evolving industry trends, this year’s AFF will introduce Stewarding China’s New Chapter and CIO Insights, closely aligned with market conditions. The session Stewarding China’s New Chapter seeks to explore the mainland market potential and analyse collaborative prospects with other regions, underscoring the role and advantages of Hong Kong. CIO Insights will bring together chief investment officers from renowned international institutions to share unique perspectives on the investment landscape within the current macroeconomic environment. The HKTDC and Knowledge Partner PwC will also present the findings of a joint survey on the industry’s views and outlook on artificial intelligence. The results of this survey will be announced on the first day of the Forum.

The highly anticipated Global Economic Outlook, Global Spectrum, Dialogues for Tomorrow, and Fireside Chat sessions will return, covering topics such as asset and wealth management, insurance and risk management, multilateral capital market cooperation, food technology and supply chain security, financial technology, RMB internationalisation, financial technology, Web 3 and virtual assets, impact investing, and financial cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Islamic finance. Prominent speakers include Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Chairman of Société Générale; Fang Feng-lei, Founder and Chairman of HOPU Investments; Jenny Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton; Nicolas Moreau, Global Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Asset Management; Thomas Tsao, Co-Founder of Gobi Partners; Anil Wadhwani, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential plc etc.

AFF Deal-making and exhibition connect investors and start-ups, driving innovation

To facilitate more substantial cooperation, the HKTDC and Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA) are co-organising the AFF Deal-making. This platform enables participants to engage in one-on-one meetings, connecting them with funds and investment projects from around the world. The event will focus on key industries such as financial technology, environment, energy and clean technology, medical technology, deep technology and consumer goods. This year’s AFF Deal-making is expected to attract about 200 investors and approximately 400 projects. Following the conclusion of the Forum, participants can utilize online matching services for virtual meetings until 30 January (Tuesday) to continue exploring key opportunities in different fields.

The Forum continues to feature exhibition zones including Fintech Showcase, Fintech HK Startup Salon, the InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone to introduce cutting-edge applications of financial technology and showcase future unicorn innovation concepts. The exhibition zones are expected to bring together over 140 local and global exhibitors, international financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups, investment promotion agencies and sponsors, including Knowledge Partner PwC, HSBC, Bank of China, Standard Chartered Bank, UBS, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Huatai International, Cyberport and more.

The Global Investment Zone includes participation from countries such as Canada, Dubai, Egypt, Finland, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mainland China, Malaysia, Mauritius, Portugal and Spain. Investment promotion agencies from these countries will introduce local investment environments and potential projects on-site. The InnoVenture Salon is dedicated to supporting start-up development and provides a platform for more than 100 start-ups to connect with international investors and potential partners,  of which 60 fintech start-ups from Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, France, Japan, Korea, the Mainland, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam under the FintechHK Startup Salon will showcase innovative concepts in areas such as AI, blockchain, insurtech, payment technology, regulatory technology, and wealthtech.

Exclusive offers for AFF participants

As the first major financial and business event in the region for the year, the AFF is committed to telling the good story of Hong Kong and promoting large-scale events or exhibitions. Organisers have arranged experiential activities for overseas participants, including one-time privileged access to the airport lounge, free admission to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, 1-hour night tour of Hong Kong aboard an open-top Big Bus or Hong Kong’s iconic Aqua Luna red-sail junk boat arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Furthermore, participation in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon 2024, dining discounts and guided tours by the Lan Kwai Fong Group, dining discounts at Harbour City and Times Square, and discounted passes for Hong Kong attractions through Klook will be available. These initiatives aim to provide overseas visitors with a firsthand experience of the vibrant colours, rich culture and dynamic lifestyle that Hong Kong has to offer.

Websites
Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/aff/
Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme
Speaker List: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakers

Members of the media interested in interviewing speakers at the Asian Financial Forum can email awong@yuantung.com.hk or tleung@yuantung.com.hk by 16 January 2024.

Photos Download: https://bit.ly/3SnNqfD

Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive, Hong Kong, of HSBC (second from right); Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC (second from left); Loretta Fong, Mainland China and Hong Kong Sustainability Deputy Leader, PwC Hong Kong (first from left); and Amy Lo, Chairman, Executive Committee, Private Wealth Management Association (first from right) held a press conference today to introduce the programme and speaker’s line-up for the 17th Asian Financial Forum.

Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive, Hong Kong, HSBC

Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC

Loretta Fong, Mainland China and Hong Kong Sustainability Deputy Leader, PwC Hong Kong

Amy Lo, Chairman, Executive Committee, Private Wealth Management Association

Media enquires

Yuan Tung Financial Relations:
Anson Wong, Tel: (852) 3428 3413, Email: awong@yuantung.com.hk
Tiffany Leung, Tel: (852) 3428 2361, Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk
Hing-fung Wong, Tel: (852) 3428 3122, Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Katy Wong, Tel: (852) 2584 4524, Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org
Snowy Chan, Tel: (852) 2584 4525, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn


Topic: Press release summary

13th Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference opens

The 13th edition of the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) 2023, jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), commenced today (21 November) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

In her welcoming remarks, Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), stated,
In her welcoming remarks, Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), stated, “With collaboration the lynchpin of the success of the logistics, maritime and aviation industries, all sectors of society must come together to address supply chain vulnerabilities”

This annual gathering for the logistics, maritime and aviation sectors attracts industry professionals from around the world. Themed Future-proofing Supply Chains: Diversification – Decarbonisation – Digitalisation, the conference draws nearly 70 speakers to share their insights in 20 forums, fostering exchange and discussion on industry developments. Fu Xuyin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China delivered the Keynote Address in person, and Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government Paul Chan was the Guest of Honour and delivered Opening Remarks.

Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, delivered the opening address
Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, delivered the opening address

Welcoming participants, Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “With collaboration the lynchpin of the success of the logistics, maritime and aviation industries, all sectors of society must come together to address supply chain vulnerabilities. Industry players, supply chain management service providers and shippers from all over the world once again gather in Hong Kong for this annual event, underlining the city’s status as a key logistics, maritime and aviation hub. ALMAC highlights the myriad of opportunities arising from increased regional connectivity, with a focus on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as well as the development of railways connecting China to Europe. In light of the importance of greener, more sustainable supply chains today, industry leaders will discuss the opportunities and challenges that come with reducing emissions across supply chains as well as the circular economy. We also have sessions on how you can better integrate sustainability into your business operations.”

The Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) 2023, jointly organised by the HKTDC and the HKSAR Government, commenced today (21 November) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run until tomorrow
The Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) 2023, jointly organised by the HKTDC and the HKSAR Government, commenced today (21 November) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run until tomorrow

In his speech, Mr Chan, the Financial Secretary, mentioned: “There will be more business with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Middle East and indeed the Belt and Road countries. In other words, the demand for logistics, maritime and aviation services with and within this region will rise rapidly. The trade figures published by China and economies in these regions have demonstrated such a clear trend. And Hong Kong will remain committed to our super-connector role and be a platform providing high value-added logistics, maritime, aviation, financial and risk management services. We will continue to be a steadfast supporter of free trade and multilateralism, advocating for the reduction in trade barriers, and the free flow of goods and services, people and capital.”

Reshaping global supply chains: accelerating diversification

Supply chains are essential for trade and business development. In recent years, global geopolitical factors, freight supply imbalances, surging transportation costs and labour shortages have challenged the industry, highlighting the need to establish people-centric, innovation-driven, collaborative and sustainable supply chains executed in real time. RCEP has created the world’s largest free trade area, contributing to the consolidation and strengthening of regional industrial supply chains.

Prominent industry leaders, including Gladis Araujo, Former Global Supply Chain Strategy Vice President of at Mattel Inc and Business Partner & Chief Supply Chain Officer at Prodensa Group, and Phil Showering, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Ghassan Aboud Group and Chief Executive Officer at Gallega Global Logistics, discussed global supply chain challenges and potential under the theme Driving Global Economic Growth through Supply Chain Transformation. During the session, Mr Showering said: “Pandemic has pushed all the industry stakeholders to change and prioritise collaboration for the first time. Work with all kinds of suppliers and ports to develop new trade lines, as well as with government entities, and with countries. We can facilitate collaboration through electronic trade, breaking down new barriers.”

As global trade evolves, supply chains continue to diversify, prompting businesses to actively recalibrate and decentralise supply chain networks. Adeline Franger Chouraqui, CEO, CMA CGM Greater China; Thomas Kowitzki, Vice President, Global Head of China Rail, DHL Global Forwarding and Semyon Pak, Managing Director for International Business and Member of the Management Board, Kazpost JSC, shared insights at the Power Dialogue session Spotlight on Asia: Reshaping the Global Supply Chains. They explored cooperation in areas such as RCEP, the GBA, railway transportation and multimodal transportation, emphasising the need to strengthen regional connectivity.

Digital transformation fortifies Hong Kong’s shipping, aviation hub status

The Policy Address by HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee last month presented several recommendations to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international shipping centre and aviation hub. These included establishing a smart port to strengthen competitiveness by setting up a port community system to facilitate the flow and sharing of data among operators and other stakeholders in shipping, ports and logistics.

International technology company representatives, including Andrés de León, Chief Executive Officer, HyperloopTT; Rachelle Woodsford, Global Head of Strategic Customers, Dronamics; Kyongsoo Noh, Chief Operating Officer, Seadronix Corp; and Nathan Zeng, CFA, Senior Director of Global Technology Services, Hai Robotics, discussed revolutionary solutions and cutting-edge technologies driving the modernisation of logistics and intelligent supply chains.

Challenges and opportunities of green transformation

As the International Maritime Organization, under the United Nations, set the net-zero target for carbon emissions from international shipping at 2050, green business has become an irreversible trend. Peter Hui, Vice Chairman, Textile Council and Willy Lin, Chairman, Hong Kong Shippers’ Council, will delve into implications of impending carbon taxes and other environmental, social and governance (ESG) measures during tomorrow’s SCM & Logistics Forum.

Shippers – including industries from various sectors in apparel, sports, electronics and e-commerce – join this year to gain insight into innovative logistics solutions. At tomorrow’s Shippers’ Forum – themed E-commerce Logistics and FulfillmentLai Tze Siung, Chief Logistics Officer, Pomelo Fashion, Ma Wei, General Manager of JD Logistics Hong Kong Express Business and Mao Lingke, General Manager of Air Freight Department, Cainiao Global Supply Chain, will present best practices on e-commerce logistics and fulfillment, covering such areas as warehouse optimisation, last-mile delivery, supply chain traceability and visibility, to empower businesses to streamline operations and stay competitive in the e-commerce landscape.

Facilitating business networking is a key focus point for the HKTDC and is an important aspect of this event, enabling collaboration and mutual success across various industries. The exhibition segment is also a conference highlight as nearly 100 exhibitors showcase cutting-edge logistics and supply chain solutions from around the world. The inaugural Logtech Salon will display robots, artificial intelligence systems and data systems tailored for the industry, giving insiders valuable insights into developments and applications of innovative technology in the field.

ALMAC: https://www.almac.hk/main/en/
ALMAC programme: https://almac.hktdc.com/conference/almac/en/programme
ALMAC speaker list: https://almac.hktdc.com/conference/almac/en/speaker

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3MUDI0R

Media Enquiries
Please contact Raconteur Limited:
Molisa Lau, Tel: (852) 6187 7786, Email: molisalau@raconteur.hk
Betsy Tse, Tel: (852) 9742 7338, Email: betsytse@raconteur.hk

HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Clayton Lauw, Tel: (852) 2584 4472, Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org

About HKTDC

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn


Topic: Press release summary

Hong Kong – Asian Cinerama: Hong Kong Film Festival dazzles audiences in Dubai (with photos)

Asian Cinerama: Hong Kong Film Festival dazzles audiences in Dubai (with photos)

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     ​With the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO), Create Hong Kong, and the Film Development Fund, a festival dedicated to Hong Kong films returned for the second year in a row to Dubai’s silver screen during November. Presented by the Asian Film Awards Academy, the Asian Cinerama: Hong Kong Film Festival showcased a selection of new and restored Hong Kong films to local audiences.

     Running from November 10 to 16 (Dubai time) at Dubai’s Cinema Akil, the highly anticipated film festival screened seven Hong Kong films across a range of genres, including martial arts, thrillers and romantic dramas. Aside from the film “Mad Fate” which kicked off the festival, local audiences also enjoyed “A Light Never Goes Out”, “Back Home”, “The Narrow Road”, “Where the Wind Blows”, “Made in Hong Kong” and “The Way of the Dragon”.

     Ng Wing-sze, actress in “Mad Fate” and “Back Home”, travelled to Dubai to attend the opening night reception of the film festival held by the Dubai ETO and to interact with local film enthusiasts after the screenings of her films. 

     Speaking at the reception, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Damian Lee, said that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been promoting Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries in order to strengthen Hong Kong’s positioning as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

     “To that end, the Chief Executive has recently announced in the Policy Address the establishment of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, which will proactively promote the development of arts, culture and creative sectors. A total of HK$4.3 billion will also be injected to the Film Development Fund and the CreateSmart Initiative to provide incentives for attracting private sector capital and expanding new markets,” he said.

     Looking ahead, the Dubai ETO will continue to promote cultural exchanges through its regular offerings as well as novel events. 

PT PLN receives 2 Asian Experience Awards 2023, for Customer Service Innovation, Digital Transformation

PT PLN (Persero) received two awards from The Asian Business Review at the Asian Experience Awards 2023. The awards, for Ux and Dx in the Energy category, were presented by Simon Hyett, Contributing Editor, The Asian Business Review, to Darmawan Prasodjo, the President Director of PLN, at the Asian Experience Awards in Singapore on Thursday, October 5th.

The Indonesia User Experience of the Year and Indonesia Digital Experience of the Year awards in the Energy category were presented directly by Contributing Editor of Asian Business Review, Simon Hyett [R], to the President Director of PLN, Darmawan Prasodjo [L], at the Asian Experience Awards 2023 in Singapore on Thursday, October 5th.
The Indonesia User Experience of the Year and Indonesia Digital Experience of the Year, 
presented to President Director Darmawan Prasodjo, PLN, at the Asian Experience Awards 2023.

PLN received two awards in the energy category: Indonesia User Experience of the Year for the PLN Mobile application and Indonesia Digital Experience of the Year for the company’s digital transformation. This achievement is the outcome of PLN’s transformation and innovation, which has enabled it to give excellent service to consumers.

According to the Asian Business Review, PLN, an Indonesian state-owned enterprise, demonstrates the most advanced innovation in the energy sector, especially electricity. The coveted prize was granted to PLN as a worldwide acknowledgement of its achievements among 16 countries and 60 well-known Asian companies. PLN is the only company in the energy sector to get an award at this event.

Darmawan Prasodjo, President Director of PLN, said this achievement is concrete proof of PLN’s innovation and transformation, which continues to be oriented towards customer focus. “PLN has continued to carry out digital-based transformation from primary energy, power generation, transmission, distribution, financial systems, procurement systems, and customer service during the last three years. This digital transformation has proven to boost company efficiency,” Darmawan said.

Darmawan further stated that the digitalization carried out by PLN and its subsidiaries simplifies, accelerates, and integrates the whole business process. It can also be monitored and controlled in real-time. “PLN continues to progress and develop in line with the changing times. Therefore, the digital-based transformation that we carry out should be massively done, changing the service system that was previously slow and unresponsive to be fast and very satisfying,” Darmawan explained.

One of the results of this transformation is the existence of the new PLN Mobile application. PLN’s success in changing and managing its mobile application has received recognition at the international level “The new PLN Mobile is able to answer customer needs as a one-stop solution application. Some of the services offered by the new PLN Mobile application range from new power installation requests, electric bill payments, token purchases, better complaint handling, and EV digital services to the marketplace. As a result, nearly 44 million users have downloaded PLN Mobile, and the rating has reached 4.9 out of 5,” he added.

Darmawan stated that PLN will continue to drive the spirit to improve the quality of PLN in serving customers. “This achievement adds to our awards, acquired both domestically and internationally. I dedicate this achievement to all parts of the PLN team who continuously provide the best service for the community,” stated Darmawan.

Apart from companies in the energy sector, at this event, awards were also given to companies engaged in other fields, such as Oil & Gas, won by Petronas Malaysia; Telecommunications, won by China Mobile International Singapore; and banking by Khrungthai Bank PCL from Thailand.

About PLN

PT PLN (Persero) is a state-owned electricity company that continues to be committed and innovative in carrying out a mission to illuminate and move the nation. With a vision to become the leading electricity company in Southeast Asia, PLN is moving towards becoming the number one choice for energy solutions. PLN is committed to transformation with aspirations of being Green, Lean, Innovative, and Customer-focused to provide electricity for a better life. PLN can be contacted through the PLN Mobile application available on the PlayStore or AppStore. https://portal.pln.co.id

Contact
Gregorius Adi Trianto
Corporate Communications & CSR,
Executive Vice President, PT PLN
Tel. +82-21 7261122
https://portal.pln.co.id


Topic: Awards

Bank BTN recognized with Asian Experience Awards 2023 for Credit and Customer Service Transformation

PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk (“Bank BTN”; IDX: BBTN) has received two awards from The Asian Business Review at the Asian Experience Awards 2023 ceremony held on Thursday, October 5, 2023, in Singapore. BTN received the awards in the categories of Indonesia Service Experience of the Year and Indonesia Partner Experience of the Year.

Director of Institutional Banking of BTN, Hakim Putratama, received an award from Contributing Editor Charlton Media Group (CMG) Singapore, Simon Hyett, at the Asian Experience Awards 2023.

Hakim Putratama, BTN Director of Institutional Banking, receiving awards from Simon Hyett, Charlton Media Group (CMG), at the Asian Experience Awards 2023 on Oct. 5 in Singapore. BTN was honored with Indonesia Service Experience of the Year and Indonesia Partner Experience of the Year.

Bank BTN was honored with the Service Experience of the Year award for successfully transforming its credit services, while the Indonesia Partner Experience of the Year award was presented for a successful transformation that made it easier for customers to transact through thruogh housing ecosystem or the digital mortgage ecosystem approach.

Nixon LP Napitupulu, CEO of BTN, said the awards from The Asian Business Review boost the company’s confidence in realizing its vision to become the best mortgage bank in Southeast Asia. “The various international awards that BTN has received indicate that the transformation we have undertaken is on the right track. These achievements also support the implementation of BTN’s vision to become The Best Mortgage Bank in Southeast Asia by 2025.”

According to Nixon, as a housing finance-focused bank, Bank BTN continues to undergo transformations to enhance its performance. “We’ve centralized the Consumer Credit Process by establishing 10 Regional Loan Processing Centers (RLPC), and for the Commercial Credit Process, we’ve set up 6 Commercial Banking Centers (CBC),” emphasized Nixon.

Nixon said Bank BTN has also established Sales Centers focused on selling Non-Subsidized Housing Loans for the Emerging Affluent segment. “There are three Sales Centers in Indonesia: Kelapa Gading Sales Center in Jakarta, Bumi Serpong Damai Sales Center in Tangerang, and Surabaya Sales Center in East Java. For SME and KUR credit disbursement, Bank BTN has also formed SME Processing Centers in several branch offices,” Nixon added.

Hakim Putratama, Director of Institutional Banking at BTN, said “BTN’s efforts to improve its performance and business processes have been recognized by international institutions. We greatly appreciate these awards. They are the result of the hard work and collaboration of all BTNers and serve as an encouragement for BTN to deliver even better performance.”

Hakim said in terms of wholesale and retail funding services, “BTN began acquisitions by approaching the housing market, as well as the healthcare and education industries. As of August 2023, BTN has successfully increased fee-based income in wholesale banking by more than 283% by implementing the housing ecosystem approach,” he stated. 

Hakim said that BTN has managed to transform into a transactional bank in the last two years. “This allows customers associated with the housing ecosystem to comfortably conduct transactions with BTN, which is evident from the increase in Accounts and Fee-Based Income. Transacting with BTN helps better mitigate the risk associated with the use of credit funds.”

As of the end of 2022, approximately 53.5% of Bank BTN’s loans were allocated to sustainable business activities, with total sustainable financing amounting to Rp147 trillion.

Contact: investor_relation@btn.co.id   Web: https://www.btn.co.id


Topic: Awards