Davos feels different for many reasons this year, but the first thing that has struck me is the warmer weather as we’re meeting later in the year than usual. I have replaced my snowboots for my sunglasses!
Whatever the time of year though, the scenery here is stunning and it has been great to be out and about in the fresh Swiss air seeing both old and new friends, with everyone bringing energy and vibrancy to this in-person event.
After a two-year hiatus the opportunity to connect with people from across the world to discuss how we best address some of the world’s major challenges and opportunities is well overdue and, arguably, more necessary than in any year in my recent memory.
On Sunday alone, I came into contact with politicians, business executives, writers, hedge fund managers, academics and journalists and I am looking forward to meeting and talking with many more people in the coming days.
Fostering connections is vital to advancing as a society and a global effort is needed to help drive dialogue, tackle the issues we face and build a future in which we can all thrive. And I am pleased to report that the passion and energy I have seen on show so far has been inspiring.
I am very proud to be flying the flag for Hong Kong in Davos this year – there are not many participants from Asia, so I am looking forward to promoting Hong Kong’s continuing role as an IFC.
I have already taken the opportunity in conversations to underline Hong Kong’s vital role as a superconnector and its credentials as a green finance hub: I particularly enjoyed my discussion on geopolitics and the macroeconomic outlook with leading global hedge fund manager, Ray Dalio from Bridgewater, and my seminar with former US Vice President and environmentalist, Al Gore, on sustainability and stakeholder capitalism – two subjects especially close to my heart.
And we’ve only just really got going this week - the HKEX delegation has a timetabled 40+ bilateral meetings, a host of media interviews and other engagements on the schedule - it’s going to be a fantastic week. We are proud to be here at a time when the world needs more connections, not less – and we will do all we can to ensure that we convey the important role that Hong Kong will play in the future.
Next on the agenda for me is a panel on ESG and a keynote speech that I am giving at a lunch hosted by Caixin. I’m looking forward to the discussions and will be updating you on it all in my next diary post on Wednesday.