AEC x AGI Hong Kong Forum

Event Overview

The AEC × AGI Hong Kong Forum took place in late 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Co-hosted by AGI Holding and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI), the forum convened over 200 executives, regulators, and tech innovators from Greater China and the GCC. Its agenda focused on three pillars: fintech collaboration, halal supply-chain digitization, and industrial IoT for smart manufacturing. The two-day agenda included keynote addresses, panel sessions, startup pitch competitions, and structured matchmaking tables.

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AGI Holding’s Participation

• Opening Session:
  • AGI’s Chairman opened the forum with remarks on “Bridging Hong Kong Innovation to Gulf Opportunity,” detailing regulatory alignment, market potential, and strategic priorities for cross-regional partnerships.
• Panels Chaired by AGI:
  1. Fintech in GCC Markets: AGI moderated dialogue between Hong Kong banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered) and GCC regulators (Dubai Financial Services Authority, Bahrain CBB), discussing dual-language mobile wallets and cross-border payment gateways.
  2. Halal Supply-Chain Digitization: AGI’s Supply-Chain Director presented a case study on Allezz sauces and Oyster Mushroom Farm’s export process, demonstrating IoT-driven tracking from lab to container.
  3. Industrial IoT & ESG Manufacturing: AGI’s Tech Director introduced the AI Vision WebXR platform—an immersive WebXR application enabling real-time digital twin construction of greenhouse and manufacturing operations.
• Matchmaking & Networking:
  • Facilitated 50+ pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings pairing Hong Kong venture capitalists (AsiaTech Ventures, Cyberport VC) with AGI’s Gulf network (agribusiness, real estate, digital media).
  • Hosted a “Speed Pitch” segment: 20 start-ups (10 from Hong Kong, 10 from GCC) pitched in 5-minute slots to AGI’s C-suite and investor panels, resulting in four pilot agreements for IoT pilots.
• White Paper Release:
  • AGI published and distributed “Gateway to Gulf–China Trade,” a 20-page digital report profiling regulatory landscapes, market-entry strategies, and case studies on AGI’s own expansions. Over 200 attendees downloaded the white paper on site.

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Key Highlights

• Fintech Sandbox Announcement: FHKI, AGI, and Dubai SME agreed to launch a fintech sandbox in Dubai, targeting Arabic-Chinese dual-language PoS solutions by Q3 2025.
• Co-Investment MoU: Signed with AsiaTech Ventures to co-invest up to $10 million in GCC-focused IoT and AI startups; first-round funding expected in Q1 2025.
• Food-Export Pilots: Three Hong Kong importers (ParknShop, CitySuper, Wellcome) committed to trial shipments of Allezz sauces and Royal B honey into UAE retail. Shelf trials scheduled for November 2024.