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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School hosted its inaugural Greater Bay Area (GBA) CEO Forum today (29 April), bringing together more than 200 prominent business leaders, policymakers and industry experts to explore strategies for thriving in and shaping the future of the GBA ecosystem.

In his official address, The Honourable Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said that with the implementation of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the GBA is entering a new phase of growth, and this will create major opportunities for Hong Kong. He said Hong Kong can contribute to the national priorities through its strengths in finance, innovation, talent and international connectivity. Looking ahead, he stressed “Finance+”, “AI+” and supply chain and high value-added services management would be key drivers of Hong Kong’s future development and competitiveness.

He stated: “The GBA is no doubt one of the most promising regions in the world for investment, innovation and business growth, and Hong Kong stands at the heart of this opportunity. To realise our full potential, we need strong public-private collaboration. I therefore invite you to bring your market insights, entrepreneurial energy and valuable experience to help shape Hong Kong’s future.”

Delivering the keynote speech, Dr Fred Hu Zuliu, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Primavera Capital Group, underscores the GBA as the safe harbour for businesses and investors everywhere as the region plays an indispensable role in advanced manufacturing and global supply chain, steadfastly maintaining hyper-connectivity with the rest of the world through robust trade and capital flows, and demonstrating remarkable resilience and stability amid the highly volatile global environment. The GBA not only possesses cutting-edge digital, energy, and transport infrastructure, but also a deep pool of talent, and a world-leading innovation cluster, hence is well positioned to be a powerful growth engine for China and the world for years to come.

In his welcome remarks, Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, highlighted the University’s deep involvement in the GBA over the past two decades, including the recent inauguration of the CUHK InnoHub for New Quality Industries in Qianhai in March 2026. He reaffirmed that CUHK will continue to be guided by the principles of resource sharing and complementary strengths, noting: “By deepening our partnerships across GBA cities, we aim to contribute to the region’s development into a world-class hub for talent and technology. In doing so, we seek to play our part in the broader trajectory of the development of our country and beyond.”

The Forum was convened at a pivotal moment, as 2026 marks the launch of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, while geopolitical uncertainties and the dual-edged nature of AI continue to reshape the global business landscape. In response to these evolving dynamics, CUHK Business School conducted the GBA Executive Survey to uncover valuable insights into the region’s emerging priorities and opportunities.

Highlighting the survey findings, Professor Zhou Lin, Dean of CUHK Business School, said: “Overall, 60% of business leaders express high to very high confidence in the region’s regulatory environment, market stability and connectivity. Talent remains the region’s greatest hurdle, with 66% of firms facing acute shortages. By bridging our institutional stability with the Chinese Mainland’s immense scale, Hong Kong is emerging as a dual safe harbour for fintech and digital governance. This is the meeting point where the twain truly meet to shape the future of global business landscape.”

The Forum also featured two panel discussions addressing pressing themes shaping the GBA’s future. The first examined developments in the financial sector and the region’s positioning among the world’s leading bay economies. Panellists included Mr Vincent Chui, Head of Wealth Management, Asia Pacific, Morgan Stanley; Mr Martin Matsui, Former Chief Strategy Officer, Exchange Fund Investment Office, Hong Kong Monetary Authority; and Mr Yan Xuan, Senior Fellow, The Pacific Forum. The session was moderated by Dr Eric Lam, Senior Lecturer in CUHK’s Department of Finance. The discussion explored the unique advantages that position the GBA as a global financial powerhouse and considered how Hong Kong can continue to serve as a vital super-connector for markets and capital.

The second panel focused on technological transformation and the evolving consumer landscape. Panellists included Ms Cindy Chow, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund; Ms Freda Ng, Managing Director, ParknShop Hong Kong; Mr Sean Tam, Lead Corporate Instructor and Head of Content, Preface; and Mr Chris Tung, Group Chief Marketing Officer and China Chief Executive Officer, Shangri-La Group. The session was moderated by Professor Mandy Hu, Director of CUHK’s Centre for Consumer Insights. The discussion examined how the region can leverage AI to transform business models and consumption patterns in a technology-driven era.