On January 7, 2025, the "2025 International Forum for Impact Investing" was grandly held in Hong Kong. It is co-hosted by the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC), the Chinese Academy of Financial Inclusion Hong Kong Foundation (CAFI HK), the United Nations Climate Change Global Innovation Hub (UGIH), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Investment and Technology Promotion Office Shanghai (UNIDO ITPO Shanghai), and the World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME). With the theme "New Vision, New Fortune," the forum aims to create a diverse and open platform for cooperation and communication in the global investment community through the sharing of practical cases of impact investment and discussions on international cooperation frameworks.
The forum was hosted by Joyce Zhang, Senior Deputy Director General of FCSSC. Wu Zhong, Director General of FCSSC, Wang Xiaojun, Trust Fund Director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, and Simon Clements, Deputy Director, China Office, UN World Food Programme, delivered opening speeches. As a representative of the organizing committee, Wu Zhong emphasized that "impact investment is not just a financial investment; it is a responsibility undertaken with a global and humanitarian perspective. Impact investment is a proactive behavior of entrepreneurs and investors, and in this process, generating valuable, measurable social and environmental benefits is equally important as achieving financial returns."
The forum comprised a full day of activities, including keynote speeches, fireside chats, a launching ceremony in the morning, and six parallel sessions and impact investment solution roadshows in the afternoon. During the keynote session, Zhang Laiwu, Chief Economist of FCSSC and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, delivered a speech on "Impact Investment Strategies and Policies." He highlighted that the arrival of the digital age presents a historic opportunity to address the challenges of risk management and performance measurement currently faced by impact investment. There is hope to achieve a win-win situation for wealth, social, and environmental benefits.
Throughout the forum, several significant ceremonies took place, including the 10th-anniversary celebration of FCSSC, the launch ceremony of the Research Network and Knowledge Hub for Sustainable Agriculture, and the official launch of GSG China National Partnership. The ceremonies were attended by Bei Duoguang, Chair of Executive Council, International Forum for China Impact Investing, and Liu Qianqian, Deputy Director General of FCSSC, among others. These events showcased the achievements of FCSSC and its international partners in conducting extensive cooperation across various fields in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals over the years.
The afternoon parallel sessions focused on six major topics: "Impact Investing: Enterprise Going Global and New Energy," "Leverage Wealth for Impact," "Impact Transparency - Adopting Global Standards with Local Contexts," "Reimagining Social Impact Solutions," "New Technologies Promote the Impacts of Investment," and "Impact Investment and Sustainable Agriculture." Through roundtable discussions and audience interactions, these sessions provided participants with diverse perspectives and opportunities for in-depth exchange. Additionally, at the impact investment solution roadshow, startups were able to connect with investors to seek funding support for their projects.
The forum attracted over 200 pioneers in the investment field from international organizations, governments, businesses, and academia. Distinguished guests included Simon Clements, Deputy Director, China Office, UN World Food Programme; Massamba Thioye, Head of UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub and UNFCCC representative; Zhao Xiaolei, Head of UNIDO ITPO Shanghai; Au King-lun, Executive Director, Board Member of Financial Services Development Council of HKSAR; Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen, CEO of GSG Impact; and Roy Swan, Director of Mission-Related Investments, Ford Foundation.
The International Forum for Impact Investing is expected to be held annually in Hong Kong, aiming to establish a long-term mechanism for international dialogue and cooperation in the field of impact investing. It seeks to leverage Hong Kong's unique advantages as an international financial center, further positioning the city as a frontier and hub for the development of impact investing in China.
