Standard Chartered hosts SME seminar to explore new opportunities in supply chain diversification and digitalisation
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Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Limited ('Standard Chartered Hong Kong') today hosted a seminar for small and medium-sized enterprises ('SMEs') on 'Embracing Global Dynamics through Supply Chain Diversification and Digitalisation'. The event brought together over 200 SMEs from Hong Kong and Mainland China to explore opportunities arising from the transformation of cross-border business and digitalisation.
The opening ceremony of the seminar was officiated by Mary Huen, CEO, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered; Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA); Stephen Man, Head of Wealth Management and Retail Banking, Standard Chartered Hong Kong; and Winne Tung, Head of SME Banking, Standard Chartered Hong Kong.
Mary Huen, CEO, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered, said, "Amidst uncertainties in the global trade market, Standard Chartered, as a partner of SMEs, remains committed to streamlining the loan application process for import and export trading firms by leveraging commercial data from e-commerce platforms. This supports SMEs' digital and cross-border transformation, addressing their need to expand into emerging markets in the Global South, including mainland China and ASEAN. We will continue to collaborate with the HKMA and other industries to support the development of SMEs, enabling them to diversify manufacturing bases and supply chains while seizing new opportunities through upgrades and transformation."
This is the second year in a row that Standard Chartered Hong Kong has held the SME seminar. This time, the Bank invited experts from the fields of economics, investment, taxation, law, and digital innovation to share the latest market trends and business insights. As corporates increasingly look for overseas expansion and supply chain diversification, the seminar sought to help SMEs better understand and seize the emerging opportunities.
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Standard Chartered Hong Kong is also an active participant in industry initiatives, such as the HKMA's Commercial Data Interchange ('CDI') project, and the proof-of-concept Commercial Credit Reference Agency 2.0 that further simplifies the financing process and promotes the development of digital economy. In 2024, the number of SME loan applications processed automatically through CDI, using directly obtained corporate credit records, increased by 30% year-on-year.
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