• The only Insights Forum session hosted by a major Chinese financial institution and a top Chinese university
• The first International Fintech forum hosted by Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in an overseas venue
• CCB Singapore joined the Green Circle, a flagship sustainability ecosystem program initiated by Gprnt, as one of the pioneer members

Singapore – November 6, 2024 - China Construction Bank Corporation Singapore Branch ("CCB Singapore"), collaborating with Southwestern University of Finance and Economics ("SWUFE"), a renowned university in China, held an international forum on Fintech and Sustainability at the Singapore FinTech Festival’s (“SFF”) Insights Forum on November 5, 2024. Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy Managing Director (Markets and Development) of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”, Singapore’s Central Bank) delivered a welcome address, where he congratulated CCB Singapore and SWUFE for the collaboration in hosting the forum, and welcomed CCB Singapore as one of the pioneer members of the Green Circle, a flagship sustainability ecosystem program initiated by Gprnt.  

Over 100 guests including representatives from the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of P. R. China in Singapore, business associations in Singapore, Chinese financial institutions and tech companies, attended the event.

Photo: Sun Nianbei, General Manager of CCB Singapore, Leong Sing Chiong, Deputy Managing Director of MAS (Markets and Development), Kang Yiming, Counsellor of the Embassy of P.R.China in Singapore, Li Zhisheng, Vice President of SWUFE and guests

CCB Singapore and SWUFE established a strategic partnership on Fintech in 2023.  SWUFE has held six International Fintech Forums in China, featuring a Nobel Prize laureate in Economics in each session. The 2024 Forum was the first time SWUFE brought it overseas, joining hands with CCB Singapore and choosing the SFF as a platform for its debut. The Forum was also the only one that was hosted by a large Chinese financial institution and a major Chinese university in the two-day Insights Forum of the SFF 2024.

Sir Oliver Hart, winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Economics, delivered a video speech on the outlook and challenges of CSR and ESG. The speech reiterated the impact of business activities on the environment, discussed the concept of maximization of shareholder welfare instead of shareholder interest, the roles of government in dealing with climate change and the roles of MNCs in facilitating international cooperation. Pamela Mar, Managing Director of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) and Senior Fellow at the Asia Global Institute, provided insights in digital solutions to supply chain sustainability and sustainable finance.

Photo: Panel discussion

CCB Singapore and SWUFE demonstrated the fruits of their collaboration to date, in using technology to assist the digital transformation of the banking industry. In the panel discussion hosted by Yap Poh Seng, Chief Commercial Officer of CCB Singapore, panellists Lionel Wong, Executive Director of Gprnt, Zhao Jingmei, Professor and Executive Vice Dean of School of Finance, SWUFE, Gu Lingyun, Founder, Chairman and CEO of IceKredit, and Vinothan Tulisinathzan, Counsellor (Investment) and Director of Malaysia Investment Development Authority Singapore, discussed their respective roles in enabling sustainable growth with Fintech solutions. In the company showcase session, three tech companies shared their technologies and products in tackling some of the acute environmental and health issues today.

Sun Nianbei, General Manager of CCB Singapore, commented, “Digital finance, Fintech and green finance are important parts of our business strategy for both CCB Singapore and our head office. With a commitment to contributing to a green and digital economy in Singapore, we are glad to join our partner SWUFE and host the Forum at the SFF. We had very meaningful discussions with policy makers, regulators, scholars and the Fintech industry from China, Singapore and beyond, and I’m sure these will lead to more collaborations and more impactful fintech innovations in the future.”

Li Zhisheng, Vice President of SWUFE, said: “SWUFE has proactively adapted to the changes in the evolving economy, new technologies and business models in recent years. Utilising basic theories, key technologies and application scenarios in Fintech, we focus on tackling some of the most important issues while nurturing the development of higher education in finance. We are pleased to host our first International Fintech Forum overseas in Singapore together with CCB, and SFF has been a great platform for us to share SWUFE’s views on responsible finance and responsible Fintech.”

        The Singapore FinTech Festival, launched in 2016, is an annual global gathering of policymakers, regulators, central bankers, fintechs, technologists, investors and the finance industry. Designed to foster impactful connections and collaborations, SFF is a platform to explore the intersections of cutting-edge financial solutions, evolving regulatory landscapes, and the latest technological innovations. SFF champions sustainable practices, emphasising responsibility in every aspect of the festival.